FAQ: Frequently asked questions flyer click here updated 6/1/21

Merger Decree

FAQ: Frequently asked questions flyer click here updated 5/1/21

FAQ: Frequently asked questions flyer click here updated 4/24/21

We invite your input in to the merger process. Take this brief anonymous survey: click here

Directions to St. John of the Cross, 1263 West Street, Middlebury CT

From 910 Main St S, Southbury, CT 06488 to 1263 West St via I-84 E and CT-188 N.

14 min (9.3 mi)
14 min in current traffic

1. Head east toward Main St S
2. Slight right
3. Turn right toward Main St S
4. Turn right toward Main St S
5. Turn right onto Main St S
6. Turn left onto CT-172 S
7. Turn right onto the I-84 E ramp to Waterbury
8. Merge onto I-84 E
9. Take exit 16 for CT-188 toward Middlebury
10. Turn right onto CT-188 N
11. Turn right to stay on CT-188 N
12. Arrive at location: 1263 West St
For the best route in current traffic visit https://maps.app.goo.gl/VSvgNcVEzF7icXdh8

 

 

Sacred Heart Parish in Southbury and St. John of the Cross Parish in Middlebury merger process updates:

April 24th
Sacred Heart and St. John of the Cross
Merger Update
Greetings Friends,
Following is a progress report on the process of parish planning and restructuring in which Sacred Heart Parish and St. John of the Cross Parish are involved. It is a process of creating something new with God’s help.
Often parishioners will ask why such restructuring is necessary now. There actually seem to be three reasons:
  • A significant cultural shift is happening in our nation that those who study such things have been noticing for a while. The number of people actively joining and participating in organized religious communities is decreasing. Pew and Gallup have tracked it over the years. If you have not read about it in the polls, you have probably noticed it in your own household, within your circle of friends or within our own parish.
  • As a result, fewer people regularly worship together. In our Catholic community that means fewer people participate regularly in the celebration of Mass and in the important support of their parish by sharing their time, talent and treasure.
  • And, of course, another result of this cultural shift is that fewer men are entering seminary or considering the priesthood as a way of life. Our Catholic tradition, for good or for ill, depends a great deal, some would say “too much”, on the ministry of priests.
We have been studying the various dimensions of the life of both our parishes and have made some decisions regarding Mass times, Faith Formation and Financial management:
  • Both Sacred Heart campus and St. John of the Cross campus buildings, our worship spaces, will remain open and in use. The schedule of Masses, which will take effect, beginning Monday June 7, 2021, will be as follows:
Weekend Masses
Saturday Vigil
5PM at Sacred Heart campus
Sunday Mass
7:30AM and 9AM at Sacred Heart campus
11AM at St. John of the Cross campus
Daily Mass
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
8AM at St. John of the Cross campus
Thursday and Friday
8AM at Sacred Heart campus
  • The Faith Formation program of our new parish will be an intergenerational program that will include parents who participate along with their children. It will also be open to all parishioners with or without children. This program will be modeled on the GIFT program which Sacred Heart has used for the past 16 years and which St. John of the Cross has incorporated as a part of their program these past years.  Due to space restrictions this approach to Faith Formation was not available in its full format. St. John of the Cross members can now experience the full program due to added facility space available to the parish community.
  • We have begun the complex process of merging the financial accounts and functions of our individual parishes into one to better serve our new parish.
We are inviting the parishioners of both parishes to an open house with the opportunity to ask questions about this process. These sessions will take place on:
Sunday May 2, 2021 from 2-4PM at Sacred Heart campus
and
Monday May 3, 2021 from 6-8PM at St. John of the Cross campus. 
We will begin both sessions with prayer, offer an opportunity for parishioners to ask questions and then to tour the particular facility in which it takes place.
We are approaching this restructuring process in an organized way. Over the next months, we will have more to announce about our progress:
  • In May we hope to announce the name of our newly merged parish and its office hours and office staff.
  • In June, we hope to talk about how the many ministries of our individual parishes will now serve our new parish and to facilitate ministry meetings with similar and shared purposes
  • Sometime in late summer or early fall, we will have a parish celebration and getting-to-know-you opportunity of some sort depending on the status of Covid at that time.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Archbishop Leonard P. Blair, of the Archdiocese of Hartford, has granted permission to implement a planning process for the eventual merger of Sacred Heart Parish in Southbury and St. John of the Cross Parish in Middlebury.  The anticipated retirement of Monsignor Joseph Donnelly from Sacred Heart in June 2021 and the ongoing pastoral plan to restructure and consolidate the two parishes presented the opportunity to begin a process to create a new faith community to best serve parish members and the local community.

This merger is the result of ongoing restructuring that will ultimately strengthen parish communities throughout the Archdiocese positioning them for future growth and sustainability. It is hoped that the result will be revitalized parishes throughout the Archdiocese that are better equipped to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of future generations.  The recommendations and resulting mergers are an outcome of the Archdiocesan-wide Pastoral Planning initiative, which began in 2017.

Reverend Lawrence Symolon Pastor of St. John of the Cross will become the pastor of the new faith community.  A transition team with members from both parishes has been established to begin this process and over several months will work with parish staff and parishioners from strategic committees to work thoughtfully and responsibly in building the new parish community with campus locations in both towns. The process is designed to be as collaborative and consultative as possible. The Archdiocese will provide ongoing guidance and support during the transition process.

Transition Team Members: Monsignor Joseph Donnelly, Reverend Lawrence Symolon, Deacon Michael Walsh, Sr. Pat Torre, DW, Ami Conlan, Karen Capodanno, Joseph Connolly, Elizabeth DePalma, Robert Loiseau, and Annette Williams are available for conversations and questions as the process unfolds.  Updates will be available through parish websites, bulletins and other media outlets.