By Katherine Long | Editor
Four Catholic parishes in Oswego are embarking on a yearlong process to form one faith community that will worship on one church campus, parish leaders have announced.
In letters mailed to parishioners and provided in parishes, and in announcements made at Masses last weekend, the pastoral leaders of St. Paul, St. Stephen, St. Joseph, and St. Mary said they would begin a process July 1 to “define the future of the Oswego Catholic Community.”
“In recent decades, much has changed in the landscape and texture of the Catholic Church in Oswego. As we move forward in faith, our goal is to maintain a dynamic, healthy and vital Catholic community in Oswego. As parish communities we have observed and discussed our new situation and now is the time to move into the future,” said Father John Hogan of St. Mary; Father Guy Baccaro of St. Paul; Deacon Nick Alvaro of St. Joseph and St. Stephen; and Msgr. James Lang, Vicar for Parishes, in one of the letters.
Changes in demographics, human and financial resources, and sacramental participation spurred initial pastoral planning efforts in the diocese more than 30 years ago. The new work announced by the Oswego parishes stems from those ongoing efforts and reconfiguration plans first announced by the diocese in 2007.
Click here to read the letter sent to parishioners’ homes and click here to read a longer letter made available in parishes.
The Sun will provide updated and ongoing coverage throughout this process.
