Road to Renewal Update

Dear Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and St. John the Evangelist Parishioners,

This correspondence is to provide an update on what is happening in the Road to Renewal Process in this part of our beloved Southern Tier. Bishop Mike Fisher, Fr. Bryan Zielenieski, Vicar of Renewal and Development, Fr. Michael Reyes (Administrator at St. Bonaventure Church) and I, as your pastor, sat down together in July to discuss what the Diocesan plan was for us to move forward in our proposed family of parishes involving the Basilica, St. Bonaventure and St. John the Evangelist (Family #24). Since the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Name Province are scheduled in October, 2023 to formally announce their consolidation as one of six provinces, understandably, they have been unable to make a decision as of yet, with regard to staffing and/or leading our family of parishes. At this meeting, Bishop Mike and Fr. Bryan have asked me and Fr. Reyes to move forward and to collaborate on a plan during the remaining summer months and during the fall season to help the three parishes function as a family. Regardless of who is eventually named to lead the Family, Fr. Reyes and I were asked to work together as a ministry team.

An In Solidum model, consistent with Canon Law, was proposed. The Bishop and Fr. Bryan sought to help structure the planned team ministry to aid both pastor and administrator to collaborate together while solely running their respective parishes, but yet would be united in a common goal of movement in a process of renewal. According to the guidelines of this model, a moderator would be named that would be a liaison to the Chancery who would be a contact for the proposed linked-parish community. The ministry team would work cooperatively to help bring together the six pillar foundational groups providing meaning to the family and to help determine what special aspects of each parish’s unique gifts can be used to strengthen the Allegany/Olean Catholic Community. It was suggested, and I supported, that Fr. Reyes be named the moderator of the family. I was recently informed that Fr. Michael Reyes and the Provincial of the Holy Name Province Franciscan Friars could not commit to Fr. Reyes being the moderator given that their reorganization has yet to occur.

Even though the In Solidum model does not seem to be the right fit at this time for our parish communities, we still continue to plan and move forward with the development of our six foundational pillar groups as we await the results from the reorganization of the Franciscan community in October.

I am proud to be the pastor of our linked parish communities of faith. I am truly blessed and graced to be your pastor and I look forward and I am excited about all that we can do together in the coming months and/or years that the Lord provides to us. I promise you that I will continue to lead our parishes with joy, enthusiasm, and with a committed zeal as long as God allows.

God’s goodness and His blessings,
Fr. John