Eight parishes, six missions considered for merger

The archbishop calls for a special day of prayer June 19 in the Archdiocese of Miami, as he “will have to make some difficult decisions” in the coming months, “including the possibility of merging some parishes.”

Posted: 06.04.09 | Updated: 08.18.09

The parishes and missions that are under consideration for merger and the parishes which will receive the merged parishes and missions are shown at left in color coded pairs. Those to be merged are shown with a red circle and line.

Clicking on a symbol will reveal additional information about the respective parish or mission.

This map was updated Aug. 18, 2009 to reflect new information.

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MIAMI | In a letter read at all the parishes the weekend of May 23-24, Archbishop John C. Favalora called for a special day of prayer June 19 in the Archdiocese of Miami, as he “will have to make some difficult decisions” in the coming months, “including the possibility of merging some parishes.”

“Please pray for me as I reflect on the many needs in our archdiocese,” he wrote, asking that on that day, the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, “all parishes will have a period of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament” as a sign of “ecclesial solidarity” among all Catholics in south Florida.

Following are some questions and answers regarding the possible merging of parishes in the Archdiocese of Miami. Look for continuing updates and stories in upcoming issues of The Florida Catholic and the archdiocesan Web site.

What is a parish?

A parish is a community of the Catholic faithful established by the bishop, usually having territorial boundaries.

How many parishes are there in the Archdiocese of Miami?

There are 117 parishes, 3 missions and 8 ethnic apostolates in the Archdiocese of Miami, all rich with cultural diversity and people who are in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

How many Catholics are there in the Archdiocese of Miami?

The official Catholic Directory states there are 800,000 practicing Catholics; however, based on services provided through parish-based ministries and social services, the Archdiocese of Miami estimates 1.3 million Catholics in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

Is the Archdiocese of Miami closing parishes?

It is incorrect to state that parishes are closing; some are being joined to neighboring parishes. For more than 50 years the Archdiocese of Miami has established parishes to meet the growing needs of its Catholic community. In recent years, the archdiocese has experienced certain changes in demographics as well as in the economic, pastoral and social needs in some parishes. Some of the changes in demographics have resulted in new parishes, especially in the western sections of the archdiocese.

How do you expect parishioners to respond?

Emotional ties to individuals’ parishes are expected, as such connections are an important part of one’s faith journey. Catholics can see this as an opportunity to share the gifts Jesus has given them with others in a new parish.

Why is there a plan to merge parishes?

This restructuring plan calls for parishes to come together as a larger faith-filled community; it is not a movement to restrict worship for Catholics, but to enhance it. The receiving pastors will surely honor the cultural and devotional practices of their new parishioners. This could include establishing a shrine to the patron saint of the former parish.

How were the parishes chosen to merge?

Archbishop Favalora received recommendations and consulted with an advisory board of pastors, the archdiocesan finance council and his administrative staff. The archbishop is now beginning a period of consultation with the affected parishes through their pastors.

How does the Archdiocese of Miami move forward on the process of merging parishes?

The archbishop is asking the affected pastors to meet with their parish and finance council members and assess the proposed mergers and discuss these possibilities with their parishioners.

After these consultations, the archbishop will make his final decisions in early August. These will be announced to all in the Archdiocese of Miami.

What will happen to the church buildings that are no longer occupied?

All properties will be assessed and recommendations made by various consultative bodies as to the best use for the properties.

How many parishes are being affected?

There are eight parishes, and six missions and apostolates that are merging with parishes.

When will these mergers become effective?

The effective date for the mergers will be announced by the archbishop in early August.

Are these mergers happening because of a lack of priests in the archdiocese?

No. There are 432 priests, which is a sufficient number to service the Archdiocese of Miami.

Is this decision being made because of the settlement of lawsuits against the archdiocese?

No. Finances of parishes are not used for lawsuits and as stated in our Safe Environment annual reports, insurance monies have been used to settle lawsuits.

What are the advantages of merging parishes?

One of the advantages is the ethnic groups of the archdiocese will now become part of larger parish communities, which reflects the greater diversity of the Catholic Church in south Florida. As the universal Church, Catholics provide an understanding of one another as Jesus Christ taught us.

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