Five Catholic parishes, missions in Keweenaw to be linked
Five Catholic parishes, missions in Keweenaw to be linked
MARQUETTE — The Catholic Diocese of Marquette’s 2004 pastoral plan for parish ministry in an age of fewer priests has yielded another parish linkage. The two Calumet parishes and the Keweenaw Catholic Missions will be linked on Friday, as called for in the pastoral plan, “A Future Full of Hope.”
On that date, Rev. Abraham Mupparathara, the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Calumet, will also become the pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, as well as Our Lady of Peace Parish in Ahmeek, Our Lady of the Pines Mission in Copper Harbor and Holy Redeemer Mission in Eagle Harbor.
A transition task force, composed of representatives from each of those parishes and missions, has been formed to assist Father Mupparathara in implementing the linkage.
Representatives of the diocese met with the task force on May 25 to review the pastoral plan and brief the members on their responsibilities.
In a letter read at all Masses of the affected churches the weekend of May 6 and 7, Bishop Alexander K. Sample said, “This linkage was formulated in the Pastoral Plan, “A Future Full of Hope,” with input and participation from members of the affected parishes and missions.
“Although I am currently conducting additional planning with a newly formed Diocesan Planning Steering Committee, at this time I feel that implementing the linkage as called for in ‘A Future Full of Hope’ is the best course of action and is necessary.”
The pastoral plan stated that one priest would be assigned to the five parish/mission linkage, with his residence to be determined when the linkage was initiated. The plan recommended that a pastoral associate be assigned to assist with the pastoral care of those faith communities.
“A Future Full of Hope” also recommended that the linkage collaborate with all the parishes in the Houghton, Keweenaw and Baraga region in the various ministries that were specified in the area plan, namely Masses, reconciliation rites, religious education and faith formation, ministry of deacons and lay pastoral associates, and future parish programs required by the diocese.
The transition task force has worked out a summer weekend Mass schedule for the Calumet and Keweenaw churches that will be in effect from July 1 through Sept. 3. Masses will be held on Saturday at 4 p.m. at St. Paul’s and 5:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart, and on Sunday at 9 a.m. at St. Paul’s, 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart, 9 a.m. at Holy Redeemer, and 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Pines. No Masses will be offered at Our Lady of Peace during the summer.
The weekend Mass schedule for the winter will be in effect from Sept. 9 through June 23, 2007. Mass will be held on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Our Lady of Peace. A 6 p.m. Saturday Mass will be rotated on a four-month basis between the two Calumet parishes.
It will first be held at St. Paul’s from September 9 through Dec. 30 and then at Sacred Heart from Jan. 6 through April 28, 2007. The rotation plan for the Saturday evening Mass at the Calumet parishes beyond April 28 has not yet been determined. Masses on Sunday will be held at 9 a.m. at St. Paul’s and 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart. There will be no Masses offered during the winter at Holy Redeemer or Our Lady of the Pines.
The transition task force will continue to help plan and make recommendations for the parish linkage until it formally takes effect Friday.
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