"We the Community
of Saint Anne,
Accepting Christ's
Call to Holiness,
like Christ,
Hear and Proclaim
the Word of God,
Celebrate and Serve
One Another in Love."

299 Main Street
Gorham, ME 04038
(207)839-4857

Cluster 23 Information and Documents

Parishes included in Cluster 23

• Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Windham
• St. Anne's, Gorham
• St. Anthony of Padua , Westbrook
• St. Joseph’s, Bridgton
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Fryeburg (a mission church of St. Joseph’s)

Objective Statement

After careful consideration of the pastoral needs of parishioners and analysis of parish data, the Cluster Committee will recommend to the Bishop the administrative model that works best for our parish cluster, along with a plan for implementation.

Attachments

• Letter from the Bishop (October 3rd, 2006)
• Cluster Models (Diocese of Portland)
• Cluster 23 FAQ Sheet
• Pulpit Sharing February 2006
• Pulpit Sharing April 2006
• Summary Pulpit Sharing

Parish Bulletin Inserts

• June 2005 (Message to Cluster 23 Parish Bulletins)
• July 2005 (All Parishes in the Diocese of Maine)
• September 2005 (Message from Parish Cluster 23 Planning Group)
• October 2005 (Forward in Faith: Message from the Bishop’s Office)
• November 2005 (Message from Parish Cluster 23 Planning Group)
• January 2006 (Message from Parish Cluster 23 Planning Group)
• February 2006 (A New Evangelization for the Church of Maine: An Update)

Cluster 23 Meeting Minutes

• June 14, 2005
• June 28, 2005
• July 19, 2005
• August 16, 2005
• September 20, 2005
• October 12, 2005
• November 7, 2005
• January 09, 2006
• February 07, 2006
• February 28, 2006

Background for clustering of parishes in our diocese

April 2005: A Message from the Bishop's Office (excerpt)

Bishop Malone has approved a plan that will reconfigure parishes in our Diocese in order to re-energize the mission of the Church and to face the current challenges of a declining priesthood and shifting population. The plan emphasizes collaboration, local input and the role of the laity.

The plan groups all 135 parishes of the Diocese into 27 clusters that will work together, each with one pastor. Some clusters would have other priests assigned to assist. The clergy and parishioners from the clusters will determine what resources are available in terms of worship space, clergy, and lay ministers and how to make more effective use of them. Recommendations will be sent to the Bishop for his approval.

This is not a one-size -fit-all plan, nor does it target any particular churches for closure. Recommendations for possible future closures would begin on the local level through full consultation with the clergy, staff, and parishioners of a cluster. While some clusters will begin implementation this fall, the plan envisions full implementation over the next five years.

The mission of the Church will be supported throughout the plan by bringing larger groups of people together to pool their resources of time, talent, and treasure in a manner that is more effective than any individual parish could accomplish on its own. The changes will also challenge and call all Catholics to a fuller participation in the ministry of the Church due to the collaboration necessary for its implementation. The plan will remove any sense of isolation by associating parishes with other local communities who share the same faith journey. And it re-focuses each new cluster community on how to best carry out the sacraments - most especially the celebration of the Sunday Eucharist.

For a more detailed look at the reorganization plan and the clusters that will be formed, please visit the Diocesan website.