St. Joseph Catholic Church - Neptune at 28172 Nature Avenue, Hinton, IA 51024-8553 US - "LE MARS AREA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY" CLUSTER

The Cluster Pastoral Council met June 29 to discuss the proposed Constitution/By-laws for the Council and upcoming Cluster social activities including a hog roast, swim night, and Explorers game. THE CLUSTER PASTORAL COUNCIL meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Cluster Eucharistic Adoration for cluster unity and vocations will be offered Friday 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. at St. James-Le Mars. -- Cluster Mass Schedule after 15 July 2003 SUMMER [First Monday of May to Last Sunday of October] Saturdays St. Joseph-Le Mars 5:00 p.m. St. James-Le Mars 5:30 p.m. Assumption-Merrill 6:00 p.m. Sundays St. Joseph-Le Mars 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. St. James-Le Mars 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. St. Joseph-Neptune 8:30 a.m. Assumption-Merrill 10:30 a.m. St. Joseph-Ellendale 8:00 a.m. St. Joseph-Struble 10:00 a.m. WINTER [First Sunday of November to Last Sunday of April] Saturdays St. Joseph-Le Mars 5:00 p.m. St. James-Le Mars 5:30 p.m. Assumption-Merrill 6:00 p.m. Sundays St. Joseph-Le Mars 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. St. James-Le Mars 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. St. Joseph-Neptune 10:30 a.m. Assumption-Merrill 8:30 a.m. St. Joseph-Ellendale 10:00 a.m. St. Joseph-Struble 8:00 a.m. -- PRESENTATION TO: -GEHLEN CATHOLIC SCHOOL Board of Education--12 February 2003 -ST. JOSEPH-NEPTUNE—13 February 2003 With the declining number of priests in our Diocese, Parish clustering began in January 1995 under the title Ministry 2000. Every parish was clustered with one or more parishes in order to help parishes around the diocese serve the spiritual needs of their people with the declining number of priests. At that time the parishes of St. Joseph-Ellendale, St. James-Le Mars, St. Joseph-Le Mars, Assumption-Merrill, St. Mary-Maurice, St. Joseph-Neptune, and St. Joseph-Struble were designated as a cluster. These parishes were to be served by: 1. One pastor at St. Joseph-Le Mars 2. One pastor at St. James-Le Mars 3. One pastor at St. Joseph-Neptune 4. One pastor at St. Joseph-Ellendale and Assumption-Merrill 5. One pastor at St. Joseph-Struble and St. Mary-Maurice with ministry to Gehlen. In Phase I, the following was to happen: 1. One pastor at St. Joseph-Le Mars 2. One pastor at St. James-Le Mars 3. One pastor and one Pastoral Administrator at St. Joseph-Neptune, St. Joseph-Ellendale, and Assumption-Merrill. 4. One Sacramental Minister (priest) at St. Joseph-Le Mars and a Pastoral Minister serving St. Joseph-Struble with ministry to Gehlen. 5. St. Mary-Maurice to oratory status. In Phase II, the following was to happen: 1. One pastor and one associate pastor for St. Joseph-Le Mars and St. James-Le Mars. 2. Review of the viability of St. Joseph-Neptune, St. Joseph-Ellendale, and St. Joseph-Struble. 3. One Pastoral Administrator at Assumption-Merrill. 4. One Sacramental Minister (priest) at St. Joseph-Neptune with diocesan responsibilities. However, that plan was ‘killed’ in July 1997 when area pastors petitioned Bishop Soens to designate two clusters rather than one. This request was granted and the St. Joseph parishes of Struble, Le Mars, and Neptune constituted one cluster; St. James-Le Mars, Assumption-Merrill, and St. Joseph-Ellendale comprised the second cluster. Each cluster was to form Cluster Councils to work together to share human and material resources. The plan was for committees and leadership persons to work together to create an expanded community. Areas of worship, faith formation, administration, community building, financial viability and service were to be examined. In April 1999 the St. Joseph parishes of Le Mars, Neptune, and Struble formed a cluster council and began working collaboratively on some activities, spiritual enrichment, and in search for a Director of Religious Education for the Le Mars area. In mid-May 2002, after the announcements of the new priests’ assignments, the pastors/people expressed a sigh of relief that we had been spared the loss of any priests as other areas of the diocese had. But the writing is ‘on the wall’—we are next. On August 9th the five priests of the Le Mars area met to discuss what we will face in July 2003. The reality was raised that by 2010 the 96 priests currently serving the Diocese would be 49 and it will be impossible for the Le Mars area to have five priests. In addition, there are several counties in our diocese that now have only one priest for two to four parishes! And by 2012, there may only be 2 priests in Plymouth County. From this meeting came the historic meeting of 10 September 2002 with representatives from all six parishes who discussed the reality and decided to reform the one cluster and begin meeting on a regular basis as a Cluster Council. On 9 January 2003 this Cluster Council decided to call itself the Cluster Pastoral Council to plan and envision the pastoral, catechetical, and spiritual decisions for the Cluster and to form the Cluster Finance Council to envision the administrative and financial decisions for the Cluster. The Cluster Pastoral Council membership consists of the five priests and two lay representatives from each parish. The Cluster Finance Council membership consists of the five priests and the two lay directors from each parish. Each group is still in the discussion stage. Nothing definitive has been decided other than: 1. To form one Cluster consisting of six parishes. 2. To permit parishioners of our six parishes to place their contribution envelope in any collection basket of the six parishes and this envelope will get back to the proper parish. 3. We need to plan for the lost of one or more priests that will take place on 15 July 2003. Discussions of each group include the good possibility that we will need combine our six parishes into one parish and to build a new church with a large enough seating capacity to accommodate all 1794 families in three Masses each weekend presided over by one priest. We know that in combining our six parishes we will lose some parishioners (who are in the outer regions of our cluster) to Sioux City, Akron, Sioux Center, Remsen, and Kingsley. The focus of our clustering is to provide for the spiritual needs of all 1794 families with fewer priests who are necessary for the celebration of the Eucharist, Reconciliation, and anointing of the sick. With the assistance of deacons the priests would be assisted with baptism, weddings, funerals, preaching, and visits to the sick. With the assistance of pastoral ministers the priests would be further assisted with wakes, education of parishioners not attending Gehlen Catholic School, those preparing for the celebration of the sacraments including baptism and marriage, and visits to the sick. We have much work to do. We have a long road to travel to reach the point were we are able to effectively and efficiently provide pastoral care of our people with one priest in 2010. Before we arrive there, we must decide how we will care for six parishes with only four or three or two priests. With our two Cluster Councils, we hope to save our priests from self-destruction and to promote the mission of Christ. The decisions of our priests and the Cluster Councils will mean change for everyone: every priest, man, woman, child; and Gehlen Catholic School. What form this will take, is uncertain as details need to be worked out. I ask for your support and prayers during this time of transition and change. And I ask for your trust and confidence that the priests and the representatives from our parishes will do their best to make this transition as smooth as possible, for the common good, and for the good of the Kingdom of God. -- CLUSTER NEWS: Parish clustering in the Diocese of Sioux City began in the mid-1990s in order to help parishes around the diocese serve the spiritual needs of their people. As the number of priests decline additional cooperation is needed. Consider the following question this week: How will the people of the parishes of our cluster in the Le Mars area be served by one priest in 2010? -- The pastors and 2 representatives of each of the six parishes met in Le Mars on Tuesday, September 10 to discuss present realities and initiate planning for the future. We now present to our parishes the following information about cluster activities in this part of Plymouth County. History: In January 1995, the diocese announced that all parishes of the diocese were to be clustered. The six parishes listed above and Maurice were designated as a cluster. In July 1997, area pastors petitioned Bishop L. D. Soens to designate two cluster rather than one. Bishop granted their request. The St. Joseph parishes of Struble, Le Mars, and Neptune constituted one cluster; St. James Le Mars, Assumption in Merrill, and St. Joseph in Ellendale comprise the second cluster. The St. Joseph parishes of Le Mars, Neptune, and Struble have formed a cluster council and been working collaboratively on some activities, spiritual enrichment and a search for a Director of Religious Education. What is a cluster? A cluster is two or more parishes working together to share human and material resources. It is a “both/and” reality. A parish is a parish and is also part of a cluster. The intent is for committees and leadership persons to work together to create an expanded community. Areas of worship, faith formation, administration, community building, financial viability and service are to be examined. The diocese has given general parameters and key questions to assist the creation and development of clusters. It is also recognized that each area has its unique characteristics. The specific planning is to occur at the local level. Why can’t we keep going like we have been? One of the primary issues facing the diocese is the number of priest personnel. There are presently 87 priests whose primary ministry is parish ministry; 4 of that number are already beyond the age of 70. A number of these also have responsibilities for teaching or diocesan ministry. By the year 2011, 39 of the 83 will reach the age of 70. We have 12 seminarians at present preparing for possible ordination between 2003-2010. Is there a priest at the chancery who could assist us? There are only 2 priests at the chancery in Sioux City who do not serve as a pastor of a parish. The Chancellor, Msgr. Sernett, also serves as a judge for the Tribunal. The Vocation Director, Fr. Hughes, resides in Sioux City and provides some assistance there. Who makes the decisions about which priests are moved? The Priests Personnel Board makes final decisions regarding placement of priests. What can we do? After much discussion and brainstorming, those present agreed a) to form one cluster of these six parishes as an initial step. b) to provide information and statistics in October to all parishioners c) to meet again on Tuesday, September 24. Each parish is to bring a list of activities; mass schedule will be discussed. For more information, contact your pastor or your Cluster Council representative. -- PARISH CLUSTERING began in the mid-1990s in order to help parishes around the diocese serve the spiritual needs of their people. More cooperation appears to be needed as the number of priests decline. Consider the following thoughts: -What do you want to see happen with our cluster? -With the declining number of priests, are we ready for some changes in the Le Mars area? -What is your vision for the future of our cluster? -How do we serve the needs of over 1,700 families? -Can people maintain support [time/talent/treasure] for their parishes even with reduced number of Masses? -Can the priests receive the cooperation necessary (without complaints) to care for the sacramental needs of the parishes? -What level of support will the people give the priests if/when the priests need to make decisions that affect the cluster? -What do you want/need from your priest(s)/pastor? -In the future, with the number of priests declining, how will the people of seven parishes [including Oyens] in the Le Mars area be served by THREE, TWO, OR ONE priest(s)? -Can the people of seven parishes [including Oyens] in the Le Mars area work together to increase the faith in the area and serve Christ's mission? -Why would we divide a family of six into two families of three persons each? Then why did we divide a family of six parishes into two clusters in 1997? The original cluster established in 1995 was: St. Joseph-Struble, St. Joseph-Le Mars, St. James-Le Mars, St. Joseph-Ellendale, Assumption-Merrill, St. Joseph-Neptune. In 1997 this cluster was divided into two: St. Joseph-Struble, St. Joseph-Le Mars, and St. Joseph-Neptune; AND St. James-Le Mars, St. Joseph-Ellendale, Assumption-Merrill. -- ST. JOSEPH’S HOLY FAMILY CLUSTER COUNCIL has suspended its meetings until the new cluster is firmly established. The only scheduled Holy Family activity is Christmas Caroling at local nursing homes on December 1. The Holy Family Cluster's plans for Lenten speaker in 2003 and Spring Blessing will be worked out with the new cluster.

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