February 5, 2012

Dear Parishioners,

Last week, our parish — along with all the parishes of our archdiocese – received the information that will assist us in considering the Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Commission’s proposal for a way of organizing our parishes for evangelization and revitalized mission in the future. The proposal is built on the reality that there is a need for grouped parishes to share resources. The number of priests available to serve as pastors is now limited, and over the next decade or so will be more greatly limited. The next few months will give all local-area Catholics a chance to reflect on how the process of planning for the future should happen, as the basics of a suggested plan is unfolded for consideration. One of the features of the developing plan, not at all set-in-stone but still to be vetted throughout our parishes, is the pinpointing of designated parishes, grouped into approximately 127 “pastoral collaboratives.” Each collaborative would have one shared pastor and a common staff. Our Parish of St. Julia, Weston/Lincoln (an expanded parish since 2004, as we well know) has been directed to give consideration to its being linked in this way with the newly formed Good Shepherd Parish in Wayland/Natick (itself the result of the combining in 2011 of the former parishes of St. Ann, Wayland and St. Zepherin, Wayland/Natick). The “pastoral collaborative” of these two parishes would therefore contain four churches in which Masses would continue to be celebrated. This is all just a proposal, and not a finalized directive.

On Tuesday evening, March 6th, members of our Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Council, together with members from other parishes of our vicariate (17 parishes) will gather to hear about and discuss the plan, of which the proposed grouping is but a part.
As your pastor and as a member of the archdiocesan commission, I will try my best to keep you well informed as we explore this archdiocesan project.

Another crucial matter is the steady, gradual erosion of religious liberty and conscience rights of our Catholic Church, owing to the recent interpretations offered at the national level. Please consider going to our parish website for a statement issued by Cardinal- designate Timothy Dolan on this issue. A letter from Cardinal O’Malley is being made available in both churches.

On a happier note, our registration for the first season of Why Catholic? continues this week. This is a wonderful opportunity to gather with fellow parishioners to reflect on faith, and in particular on the topic of prayer.

Sincerely,
Father George Evans