UPDATE * MAKING ALL THINGS NEW * UPDATE

Making All Things New – Update!

The last couple of weeks have seen our parish representatives attending several different meetings. Our transition plan calls for a new team to help the new pastor of St. Ann – St. Paul Parish implement the goals of Cardinal Dolan’s plan to “make all things new.” (The manual is available for viewing on-line or downloading at http://archny.org/parish-transition-manual). To that end, I have asked Vanessa Reggiardo to continue to spearhead St. Ann’s part in the process, along with Luann Kelly (one of our parish trustees), Nancy Durand, and Jim Marley. Nancy and Jim are both newcomers to the process. Nancy lives in Nyack and with her parents, and is a long-time parishioner. She is an attorney specializing in litigation and is a member of our choir. Jim is Assistant Executive Director with Good Shepherd Services, providing youth development, education and family services in the Bronx. He has lived in Nyack for many years with his wife, Betsy (who sings in our choir as well), and his children. Both Msgr. Nevin and I have agreed that Vanessa should also coordinate the work of both groups.

Many thanks to Bill Oswald, Maria Crisafi, and Ed Tangredi who have been serving on St. Ann’s core team since Making All Things New began. Each has been an active member of the parish council for years, and have graciously, enthusiastically agreed to continue the work of strengthening the pastoral life of St. Ann’s through cooperation with the parishes of our cluster (St. Francis of Assisi, St. Augustine, St. Anthony, St. Paul).

Most of our deliberations with St. Paul’s implementation team have been focused on our respective visions of the new merged parish of St. Ann-St. Paul and its possibilities. We are not at all clear on what will happen once the two parishes become united on August 1. Some changes will have to be effected early on, and some will need at least a year (when the civil incorporation of the new parish takes place). There are certainly concerns about Mass schedules and enrollment for religious education and the continuation of our ministries that can only be discussed presently. Ultimately, the pastor appointed by Cardinal Dolan will have to make the final decisions, relying on the input of our implementation and core teams. As of this writing, no one has been appointed.