A continual aging population of priests, along with the traditional summer reassignments, will mean a few changes for local Catholic parishes.
Green Bay Bishop David Ricken announced several changes in the past couple months.
Assumption BVM, Pulaski, St. Casimir, Krakow, and St. Stanislaus, Hofa Park, are served by the Franciscans in Pulaski.
The Rev. Carmen Scuderi, who serves as parochial vicar in Pulaski, Krakow and Hofa Park, is being reassigned to serve a parish in Illinois.
Due to the lack of priests the Franciscans have available, his role as parochial vicar will not be filled, according to a July 11 letter from Deacon Peter Gard, associate to the vicar of priests and pastoral leaders for the Green Bay Diocese.
“In light of this, Bishop (David) Ricken has asked that the parishes in Cecil, Krakow and Hofa Park be linked temporarily for one year to help us assess the needs of all the parishes affected,” Gard wrote.
Ricken appointed Deacon Todd Raether, pastoral coordinator at St. Martin of Tours, Cecil, to serve these parishes as their pastoral coordinator effective Sept. 1. Ricken also appointed the Rev. Peter Onyango as the priest celebrant.
The change will also mean a change in the Mass schedule. Leaders from Cecil, Krakow and Hofa Park have already started developing a new schedule that will be implemented the weekend of Sept. 6-7.
Scuderi’s departure means the Rev. James Vacco will be the only full-time priest for the Pulaski family of parishes, led by the Franciscan Province of our Lady of Guadalupe.
Among those Franciscans, 62.3% of the friars are older than 70. Many of them are dealing with the issues that accompany aging and limitations associated with the aging process, Vacco said.
Only 17% of the friars are younger than 50, which means the number of friars available to staff the number of ministries presently served with friars will not be sustainable within the next 10 years. Added to this is that of the number of men enrolled in the formation process to be a Franciscan friar, there is a significant number who do not feel called to ministry as a priest. These men want to live a Franciscan lifestyle and spirituality, but not minister in roles that require ordination.
Of the seven friars in residence at the friary in Pulaski, the age range is 70-89.
Assistance from the other priests in the Pulaski friary will be subject to their availability.
The reassignments could lead to additional changes in Mass schedules.
With Onyango named as priest celebrant at the Cecil parish, the Rev. Edward Looney, who serves as pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano, will be freed of his duties as priest celebrant and moderator at St. Martin of Tours.
“With no longer needing to accommodate the 9 a.m. Mass in Cecil, we now have the opportunity to revisit our Sunday Mass schedule and consider options that best serve our parish family moving forward,” Looney said.
Other leadership changes announced by Ricken include the following.
The Rev. Thomas Pomeroy was appointed pastor of St. Anthony Parish, Oconto Falls, and St. Patrick Parish, Stiles, effective July 1. Formerly, he was pastor of Holy Family Parish, Brillion.
The Rev. Walter Stumpf, who served the Oconto Falls and Stiles parishes until June 30, was appointed pastor of St. Joseph, Wautoma, and priest celebrant for Hispanic Masses at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Weyauwega.
Rev. Matthew Settle served as pastor of Holy Family-St. William Parish, Wittenberg, St. Anthony Parish, Tigerton, and St. Mary Parish, Marion, until June 30. He has now been appointed be pastor of St. Mary Parish and St. John Parish, Menasha.
Replacing Settle is the Rev. Mark Rydell, who was parochial vicar of Holy Cross Parish & St. Katherine Drexel Parish, Kaukauna.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
Changes coming to local Catholic churches
