Pastor Changes Affect Two Plattsburgh Parishes

By Suzanne Moore, The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Aug. 1–PLATTSBURGH — The Rev. Timothy Canaan returns as pastor of St. John’s Catholic Church here later this month, serving Blessed John XXIII College Community Center as well.

He will fill the shoes of the Rev. Patrick Mundy, who requested permission from the Most Rev. Robert J. Cunningham, bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, to join the contemplative community of the Monastery of Mount Saviour near Elmira.

There, monks live a simple, monastic life according to the Scriptures and the Rule of St. Benedict, according to the monastery’s Web site.

“We are committed to honor and glorify God through the harmonious balance of prayer, study work and hospitality,” it says.

Mundy left Plattsburgh Sunday following a heartfelt farewell reception by his parishioners, so he wasn’t able to comment for this story.

But monastic life, said Msgr. John Murphy, vicar for pastoral services for the Catholic diocese, “is a very ancient tradition of the Roman Catholic Church.”

TOO FEW PRIESTS

The bishop’s announcement of the changes did not include a replacement in Plattsburgh for the Rev. Kevin McEwan, who serves as parochial vicar at both St. John’s and John XXIII, commonly called by its former name, the Newman Center.

“Unfortunately, today there’s not another priest to send to that assignment,” Murphy said.

Until 2005, St. John’s and the Newman Center were each assigned a pastor; the parishes were eventually linked as part of a diocese-wide reconfiguration driven by a shortage of priests.

St. John’s serves 680 families, according to the diocesan Web site, while the Newman Center has a census of 150 families along with Plattsburgh State students, year to year.

While Murphy said the appointment of a pastoral vicar to assist Canaan with the two parishes might be a future possibility, he didn’t appear hopeful.

“The number of priests we have available makes it very challenging,” he said.

In 2003, there were 92 active priests in the diocese, along with nine associated with other institutions such as Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

“The Sacred Heart priests in Watertown do cover parishes,” said the Rev. Jay Seymour, diocesan vicar for clergy. “They are very helpful to us.

Retired in 2003 were 40 priests, many of whom remained or continue to be active, saying Masses and filling in for pastors on vacation or ill, Seymour said.

“The retired priests have been a tremendous asset,” Seymour said.

Parishes totaled 119 in 2003, with 20 missions under the care of various parishes and 16 oratories, where Mass is said only on occasion.

Over five years, those numbers have shifted to 109 parishes, 13 missions and 24 oratories. The change came about according to a five-year plan created by the diocese to deal with the shortage of priests.

Some missions became oratories, said Seymour, “simply because they can’t be adequately covered. It’s just not practical now.”

The diocese now has 80 active priests, four from other institutions and 42 who are retired.

MASS TIMES TO CHANGE

Canaan, said Murphy, will serve St. John’s and Newman Center well.

“He’s energetic and enthusiastic,” he said. “The people will enjoy him.”

And the Rev. Normand Cote, priest in residence at St. John’s, who retired a few years ago from St. Joseph’s in Coopersville, will continue helping out with Masses at both churches.

Canaan comes Aug. 13, his arrival signaling another change for the two congregations.

No longer will 5 p.m. Mass be offered on Sunday at St. John’s. The Sunday morning service at 7:30 will remain the same, but the 10 a.m. Mass will change to 9:30.

Newman Center’s Sunday Mass will go from 10 to 11 a.m., and the 5 p.m. service offered when college is in session will no longer take place.

Sunday there will be a farewell reception at the Newman Center for McEwan immediately after the 10:30 a.m. Mass.

E-mail Suzanne Moore at:

[email protected]

SOME NEW MASS TIMES

St. John’s: 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. 4:30 p.m. Saturday. 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

Newman Center: 4:30 p.m. Monday and Friday. No Saturday Mass. 11 a.m. Sunday. 5 p.m. Mass during college sessions will not be reinstated.

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