Dear
Parishioners
I
write to give you an update about the pastoral re-organisation
currently in process in the deanery.
As you
will recall from earlier discussions, we have already embraced a
plan for the deanery that will give us nine parishes in the county,
some new and larger than the originals. They will be as
follows:
Falmouth and Helston *
Penzance,
St Ives and Hayle *
Camborne
and Redruth *
Truro
Newquay
St
Austell
Bodmin
(including Padstow, Wadebridge and Tintagel)
Launceston and Bude (including
Callington) *
Saltash,
Torpoint and Liskeard *
* These will be formed from
our present parishes.
I
would like the new parishes to come into existence by Easter
2008. This process should involve widespread dialogue
across the old parishes so that everyone can have a voice in the
shaping of the new. May I encourage the parishes
concerned to embark upon that dialogue as soon as possible, and be
guided by our Diocesan Vision Statement, set out below.
This vision will mean that we return to basics about ourselves as a
people called together to share the Gospel and to live it to the
fullest extent possible.
When
dialogue across the parishes is complete, I would want to receive
recommendations in writing from all relevant Pastoral Councils, so
that I can consult with the Council of Priests (as required by
Canon Law) before making final decisions.
As
these changes take place, there will be loss. We would
lose some of our Mass Centres. I anticipate the closure
of Mawnan Smith and Gunnislake. Eventually
St
Agnes and Perranporth will become one and be associated with
Newquay. Sclerder and Looe will be a dependency of the
Chaplaincy at Sclerder and have a canonical relationship with the
new parish of Saltash, Torpoint and Liskeard.
There
will also be gain, with the availability of more human resources in
the new parishes for carrying forward the mission of the Church on
every level.
None
of this development is going to be painless and I apologise to
those who may suffer more loss than gain in the immediate future,
especially regarding availability of often cherished
buildings. One of our priorities in carrying out these
changes is to achieve, for everyone, a reasonable access to Sunday
Mass and the ministry of a priest. That, however, must
always be in the context of the priority of the mission of the
Church.
May I
recall the principal features of our Vision Statement, namely, we
are called to become:
A
Celebrating Church:
Expressing what we believe in
our worship,
engaging with the gift of
liturgy, and
allowing ourselves to be
renewed in it.
A
Caring Church
Seeking to understand the
suffering of those around us,
reaching out and being Christ
to one another, and serving the world.
A
Learning Church
Deepening our understanding of
our faith,
humbling ourselves to learn
from Our Lord and each other,
and discovering our true nature
as the Body of Christ.
A
Living Church
Empowering all around
us
with the presence and joy of
the Holy Spirit,
proclaiming Christ to the
world,
and being faithful to our
mission.
May I
thank you in advance for your prayer, patience and understanding as
we begin to put in place this new period in the life of the
Diocese.
With
every good wish and blessing
Christopher Budd
Bishop of
Plymouth
Penzance
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