PLANS FOR CLOSING EVENTS AT ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CHURCH
The events for the week leading up to the Church Closing will be:
~ Sunday June 13th – last St. Thomas CCD Mass
~ Monday, June 14th - regular weekday Mass
~ Tuesday, June 15th - Adoration from 3 to 6:30PM followed by Benediction at 6:30PM
~ Wednesday, June 16th - Rosary at 12 Noon
~ Thursday, June 17th - Hymns at 6:30PM
~ Friday, June 18th - Stations of the Cross at 6:30PM
~ Saturday, June 19th - Closing Mass at 4:00PM.
The church will also be open from early morning until late at night to allow for private visitations. The tentative plan is to be open daily from 6AM until 10PM from June 13th until the conclusion of Mass on June 19th. The hall will be open each day after the activity with refreshments available, and memorabilia that has been collected will be displayed.
   Volunteers are needed to be Lectors, Altar Servers, Choir members, taking up gifts and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. We would like representatives from various Parish activities to take up the gifts (ex. Altar & Rosary, Holy Name Society, Altar servers, CCD, Cemetery Association, youth group etc.). Please see any member of the committee or drop a note into the collection if you would be able to help in any way throughout the week.
   We are selling tickets for the dinner catered by Gance’s Restaurant after the Sunday Masses. The dinner will be held in St. Thomas Hall. If you are not at a Sunday Mass, please contact a closing committee member or call Kay at the rectory. Tickets will be sold until June 6th. Checks should be made out to St. Thomas the Apostle Church. The price is $12.00 for adults; $ 6.00 ages 6-12 and 5 and under are free.
   We will be cleaning the church and hall for the closing ceremonies on Saturday, June 5th, beginning at 9:00M.

5/30/2010
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH CLOSING COMMITTEE UPDATES:
~ Closing Mass will be Sunday, July 18, 2010, at 3:00PM, Rev. Gregory Reichlen will be the celebrant. Following the closing ceremony there will be a Buffet Dinner at St. John Neumann Hall catered by Gance’s. Cost for adults is $ 12.00; ages 6-12—$6.00 and under 5 free. Tickets are available now. You can get them after Mass at St. Joseph, from any of the committee members listed below, or by calling the rectory.
~ There are many volunteer jobs to be done, please say yes when a committee person approaches you.
~ Please consider attending the closing ceremony and dinner. We’re all sad and disappointed about the closing but we have to remember the wonderful church community that we have. If we can share this closing as a community we spread the sadness over everyone and it may lessen the load. We will also be able to celebrate the many years of happiness that we have shared being at St. Joseph.
~ Any questions or ideas for the closing, please contact a member of the committee.

5/23/2010
PLANS FOR CLOSING EVENTS AT ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CHURCH
The events for the week leading up to the Church Closing will be:
~ Sunday June 13th – last St. Thomas CCD Mass
~ Monday, June 14th - regular weekday Mass
~ Tuesday, June 15th - Benediction & Adoration at 6:30PM until
11:00PM 
~ Wednesday, June 16th - Rosary at 12 Noon
~ Thursday, June 17th - Hymns at 6:30PM
~ Friday, June 18th - Stations of the Cross at 6:30PM
~ Saturday, June 19th - Closing Mass at 4:00PM.
The church will also be open from early morning until late at night to
allow for private visitations. The tentative plan is to be open daily
from 6AM until 10PM from June 13th until the conclusion of Mass on
June 19th. The hall will be open each day after the activity with refreshments available, and memorabilia that has been collected will be displayed.
Volunteers are needed to be Lectors, Altar Servers, Choir members, taking up gifts and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. We would like representatives from various Parish activities to take up the gifts (ex. Altar & Rosary, Holy Name Society, Altar servers, CCD, Cemetery Association, youth group etc.). Please see any member of the committee or drop a note into the collection if you would be able to help in any way throughout the week.
We will be selling tickets for the dinner catered by Gance’s Restaurant after the Sunday Masses. If you are not at a Sunday Mass, please contact a closing committee member or call Kay at the rectory. Tickets will be sold until June 6th. Checks should be made out to St. Thomas the Apostle Church. The price is $12.00 for adults; $ 6.00 ages 6-12 and 5 and under are free.
This Sunday is the last day to make donations for flowers that will have the “in Memory of” listed in the booklet for the Closing Mass. Donations will still be accepted if anyone wants to give them, but the names won’t appear in the booklet.
We will be cleaning the church and hall for the closing ceremonies on Saturday, June 5th. The time will be announced.

5/23/2010
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH CLOSING COMMITTEE UPDATES:
~ Closing Mass will be Sunday, July 18, 2010, at 3:00PM, Rev.
Gregory Reichlen will be the celebrant. Following the closing
ceremony there will be a Buffet Dinner at St. John Neumann Hall
catered by Gance’s. Cost for adults is $ 12.00; ages 6-12—$6.00
and under 5 free. Tickets will be available soon.
~ There are many volunteer jobs to be done, please say yes when a
committee person approaches you.
~ Please consider attending the closing ceremony and dinner.
We’re all sad and disappointed about the closing but we have to
remember the wonderful church community that we have. If we can
share this closing as a community we spread the sadness over
everyone and it may lessen the load. We will also be able to celebrate the many years of happiness that we have shared being at St. Joseph.
~ Any questions or ideas for the closing, please contact a member of the committee.
~ The committee is made up of: Margaret Flaherty, Shirley Kelly, Mary Homan, Lucy McCarthy, Sue Reichlen, Barbara Pichette, Barbara Mahoney, Bud Mahoney and Bette Brown.

May 9, 2010
PLANS FOR CLOSING EVENTS AT ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CHURCH
The committee is planning multiple events to be held over the last week
both during the day and in the evening in order to provide everyone an
opportunity to participate in whatever way they are most comfortable.
Former pastors from St. Thomas have been invited to be a part of the
week’s activities in whatever way they are able and the schedule of the
events will be determined by the responses received. The events for the
week will be: Sunday June 13th – CCD Mass; weekday Mass;
Benediction; Rosary; Hymn Sing; Stations; and the Final Mass on June
19th. The church will be open from early morning until late at night to
allow for private visitations. The tentative plan is to be open daily from
6AM until 10PM from June 13th until the conclusion of Mass on June 19th. The hall will be open each day after the activity with refreshments available, and memorabilia that has been collected will be displayed.
Volunteers are needed to be Lectors, Altar Servers, Choir members, taking up gifts and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. We would like representatives from various Parish activities to take up the gifts (ex. Altar & Rosary, Holy Name Society, Altar servers, CCD, Cemetery Association, youth group etc.). Please see any member of the committee or drop a note into the collection if you would be able to help in any way throughout the week. We will be selling tickets for the dinner catered by Gance’s Restaurant after the Sunday Masses. If you are not at a Sunday Mass, please contact a closing committee member or call Kay at the rectory. Tickets will be sold until June 6th. Checks should be made out to St. Thomas the Apostle Church. The price is $12.00 for adults; $ 6.00 ages 6-12 and 5 and under are free. Monetary donations are being accepted and will be used for flowers for the Closing Mass or other closing expenses. Memorials & honors will be listed in closing Mass booklet. Donations are needed by May 9th.
We are very much in need of pictures of our church, its buildings and grounds. Photos or memorabilia of the church grounds, the old hall, former pastors, exterior and interior pictures, any construction projects
etc. These photos will be on display and/or set up as a slide show presentation at the hall and possibly in the Mass booklet for the final Mass. If you have anything that you have not shared with the closing
committee, please do so as soon as possible. We will be cleaning the church and hall for the closing ceremonies on Saturday, June 5th. The time will be announced.
 

May 9, 2010
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH CLOSING COMMITTEE UPDATES:
~ Closing Mass will be Sunday, July 18, 2010, at 3:00PM, Rev. Gregory
Reichlen will be the celebrant. Following the closing ceremony there will
be a Buffet Dinner at St. John Neumann Hall catered by Gance’s. Cost
for adults is $ 12.00; ages 6-12—$6.00 and under 5 free. Tickets will be
available soon.
~ There are many volunteer jobs to be done, please say yes when a
committee person approaches you.
~ Please consider attending the closing ceremony and dinner. We’re all
sad and disappointed about the closing but we have to remember the
wonderful church community that we have. If we can share this closing
as a community we spread the sadness over everyone and it may lessen the load. We will also be able to
celebrate the many years of happiness that we have shared being at St. Joseph.
~ Any questions or ideas for the closing, please contact a member of the committee.
~ The committee is made up of: Margaret Flaherty, Shirley Kelly, Mary Homan, Lucy McCarthy, Sue Reichlen, Barbara Pichette, Barbara Mahoney, Bud Mahoney and Bette Brown.

May 2, 2010
PLANS FOR CLOSING EVENTS AT ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CHURCH
The committee is planning multiple events to be held over the last week both during the day and in the evening in order to provide everyone an opportunity to participate in whatever way they are most comfortable. Former pastors from St. Thomas have been invited to be a part of the week’s activities in whatever way they are able and the schedule of the events will be determined by the responses received. The events for the week will be: Sunday June 13th – CCD Mass; weekday Mass; Benediction; Rosary; Hymn Sing; Stations; and the Final Mass on June 19th. 
The church will be open from early morning until late at night to allow for private visitations. The tentative plan is to be open daily from 6AM until 10PM from June 13th until the conclusion of Mass on June 19th. The hall will be open each day after the activity with refreshments available, and memorabilia that has been collected will be displayed. Volunteers are needed to be Lectors, Altar Servers, Choir members, taking up gifts and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. We would like representatives from various Parish activities to take up the gifts (ex. Altar & Rosary, Holy Name Society, Altar servers, CCD, Cemetery Association, youth group etc.). Please see any member of the committee or drop a note into the collection if you would be able to help in any way throughout the week. We will be selling tickets for the dinner catered by Gance’s Restaurant after the Sunday Masses. If you are not at a Sunday Mass, please contact a closing committee member or call Kay at the rectory. Tickets will be sold until June 6th. Checks should be made out to St. Thomas the Apostle Church. The price is $12.00 for adults; $ 6.00 ages 6-12 and 5 and under are free.
Monetary donations are being accepted and will be used for flowers for the Closing Mass or other closing expenses. Memorials & honors will be listed in closing Mass booklet. Donations are needed by May 9th.
We are very much in need of pictures of our church, its buildings and grounds. Photos or memorabilia of the church grounds, the old hall, former pastors, exterior and interior pictures, any construction projects etc. These photos will be on display and/or set up as a slide show presentation at the hall and possibly in the Mass booklet for the final Mass. If you have anything that you have not shared with the closing committee, please do so as soon as possible. We will be cleaning the church and hall for the closing ceremonies on Saturday, June 5th. The time will be announced.

May 2, 2010
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH CLOSING COMMITTEE UPDATES:
~ Closing Mass will be Sunday, July 18, 2010, at 3:00PM, Rev. Gregory
Reichlen will be the celebrant. Following the closing ceremony there will be
a Buffet Dinner at St. John Neumann Hall catered by Gance’s. Cost for
adults is $ 12.00; ages 6-12—$6.00 and under 5 free. Tickets will be
available soon.
~ There are many volunteer jobs to be done, please say yes when a
committee person approaches you.
~ Please consider attending the closing ceremony and dinner. We’re all sad
and disappointed about the closing but we have to remember the wonderful
church community that we have. If we can share this closing as a community we spread the sadness over everyone and it may lessen the load. We will also be able to celebrate the many years of happiness that
we have shared being at St. Joseph.
~ Any questions or ideas for the closing, please contact a member of the committee.
~ The committee is made up of: Margaret Flaherty, Shirley Kelly, Mary Homan, Lucy McCarthy, Sue Reichlen, Barbara Pichette, Barbara Mahoney, Bud Mahoney and Bette Brown.
 

April 25, 2010
PLANS FOR CLOSING EVENTS AT ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CHURCH
• The committee is planning multiple events to be held over the last week both during the day and in the evening in order to provide everyone an opportunity to participate in whatever way they are most comfortable. Former pastors from St. Thomas have been invited to be a part of the week’s activities in whatever way they are able and the schedule of the events will be determined by the responses received. The events for the week will be: Sunday June 13th – CCD Mass; weekday Mass; Benediction; Rosary; Hymn Sing; Stations; and the Final Mass on June 19. The church
will be open from early morning until late at night to allow for private visitations. The tentative plan is to be open daily from 6AM until 10PM from June 13th until the conclusion of Mass on June 19th.
• The hall will be open each day after the activity with refreshments available, and memorabilia that has been collected will be displayed. 
• Volunteers are needed to be Lectors, Altar Servers, Choir members, taking up gifts and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. We would like representatives from various Parish activities to take up the gifts (ex. Altar & Rosary, Holy Name Society, Altar servers, CCD, Cemetery Association, youth group etc.). Please see any member of the committee or drop a note into the collection if you would be able to help in any way throughout the week.
• We will be selling tickets for the dinner catered by Gance’s Restaurant on April 25th after the Sunday Masses. If you are not at a Sunday Mass, please contact a closing committee member or call Kay at the rectory. Tickets will be sold until June 6th. Checks should be made out to St. Thomas the Apostle Church. The price will be listed in next weeks bulletin.
• Monetary donations are being accepted and will be used for flowers for the Closing Mass or other closing expenses. Memorials and honors will be listed in closing Mass booklet. Donations are needed by May 9th.
• We are very much in need of pictures of our church, its buildings and grounds. Photos or memorabilia of the church grounds, the old hall, former pastors, exterior and interior pictures, any construction projects etc. These photos will be on display and/or set up as a slide show presentation at the hall and possibly in the Mass booklet for the final Mass. If you have anything that you have not shared with the closing committee, please do so as soon as possible.
• We will be cleaning the church and hall (for the closing ceremonies) on Saturday, June 5th. The time will be announced.

April 25, 2010
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH CLOSING COMMITTEE UPDATES:
We would like to update everyone on the St. Joseph Church closing to let you know what the committee is preparing and ask for your help in the following:
1. We are going to have flowers at the Church that will also be used at Neumann Hall for the dinner.
We are requesting donations that may be made in memory/honor of. The donations should be given to Margaret Flaherty. DEADLINE FOR DONATIONS IS THIS SUNDAY. Please let Margaret know your memory/honor name (s). These names will be listed in the closing ceremony pamphlet.
2. There will be an “I Remember Section” in the Book that we are doing for the closing. This is reserved for people to write their special memories of St. Joseph Church, the Priests who have served here, and their fellow Parishioners. Please email your memories to fbbrown@epix.net or give to Bette Brown. Deadline is THIS Sunday, April 25, 2010.
3. Closing Mass will be Sunday, July 18, 2010, at 3:00PM, Rev. Gregory Reichlen will be the celebrant. Following the closing ceremony there will be a Buffet Dinner at St. John Neumann Hall catered by Gance’s. Cost for adults is $ 12.00; ages 6-12—$6.00 and under 5 free. Tickets will be available soon.
4. There are many volunteer jobs to be done, please say yes when a committee person approaches you.
5. Please consider attending the closing ceremony and dinner. We’re all sad and disappointed about the closing but we have
to remember the wonderful church community that we have. If we can share this closing as a community we spread the sadness over everyone and it may lessen the load. We will also be able to celebrate the many years of happiness that we have shared being at St. Joseph.
6. Former pastors and IHM Nuns from (Marywood University) have been contacted to attend.
7. Any questions or ideas for the closing, please contact a member of the committee.
8. The committee is made up of: Margaret Flaherty, Shirley Kelly, Mary Homan, Lucy McCarthy, Sue Reichlen, Barbara Pichette, Barbara Mahoney, Bud Mahoney and Bette Brown.

March 14, 2010
Plans for the Closing Events at St. Thomas the Apostle
   Final Mass to be held on June 19th at the 4:00 PM Vigil Mass
   Committee: Joyce Barnum, Beverly Brown, Fred Brown, Janet Brown, Judy Steinmetz and Mary Shaughnessy.
   The committee is planning multiple events to be held over the last week both during the day and in the evening in order to provide everyone an opportunity to participate in whatever way they are most comfortable. Former pastors from St. Thomas have been invited to be a part of the week’s activities in whatever way they are able to and the schedule of the events will be determined by the responses received.
   The events for the week will be:
Sunday June 13th – CCD Mass
A weekday Mass
Benediction
Rosary
Hymn Sing
Stations
Final Mass - June 19th at the 4:00 Vigil Mass
   The church will be open from early morning until late at night to allow for private visitations. The tentative plan is to be open daily from 6 AM until 10 PM from June 13th until the conclusion of Mass on June 19th.
   The hall will be open each day after the activity with refreshments available, and memorabilia that has been collected will be
displayed.
   Volunteers are needed to take part in the final Mass. We need volunteers to: be Lectors, Altar Servers, Choir members, taking up gifts (see below) and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. We would like representatives from various Parish activities to take up the gifts (ex. Altar & Rosary, Holy Name Society, Altar servers, CCD, Cemetery Association, youth group etc.). 
   Please see any member of the committee or drop a note into the collection if you would be able to help in any way throughout the week.
   Volunteers are also needed to clean the hall and the church prior to June 13th. Watch the bulletin for details.
   Donations for flowers for the Church and the hall would be very much appreciated.
   A dinner that is open to all who wish to attend has been planned for after Mass and is being catered by Gance’s Restaurant. Tickets will be sold for the dinner with the price not yet determined, but no one that wants to attend will be turned away. Watch the bulletin for details.
   We are very much in need of pictures of our church, its buildings and grounds. Photos or memorabilia of the church grounds, the old hall, former pastors, exterior and interior pictures, any construction projects etc. These photos will be on display and/or set up as a slide show presentation at the hall and possibly in the Mass booklet for the final Mass.
   If you have any ideas for the closing please feel free to contact the committee or drop a note in the collection.

March 14, 2010
UPDATE ON ST. JOSEPH CHURCH CLOSING
Sunday, July 18, 2010 at 3:00PM will be the Closing Mass with Rev. Gregory Reichlen as celebrant. Along with Mass will be, Homily, music and Closing Prayers and the ritual of locking St Joseph Church and procession with the Eucharist to St Francis Xavier Church. Following Mass there will be a catered dinner at St. John Neumann Hall. We are trying to make the dinner special but affordable. A journal of history and pictorial book is being prepared. This book will be available to all who make a paid reservation to attend the dinner. Put this date on your calendar to come and be a part of this memorable occasion. Share sorrow and joy with your fellow parishioners. Watch for more details to follow.

February 21, 2010
UPDATE ON ST. JOSEPH CHURCH CLOSING
   The committee for the closing of St Joseph Church has met many times and would like to update the parish of the happenings.
   Sunday, July 18, 2010 at 3:00PM will be the Closing Mass with Rev. Gregory Reichlen as celebrant. Along with Mass will be, Homily, music and Closing Prayers and the ritual of locking St Joseph Church and procession with the Eucharist to St Francis Xavier Church. Following Mass there will be a catered dinner at St. John Neumann Hall. We are trying to make the dinner special but affordable. A journal of history and pictorial book is being prepared. This book will be available to all who make a paid reservation to attend the dinner. Put this date on your calendar to come and be a part of this memorable occasion. Share sorrow and joy with your fellow parishioners. Watch for more details to follow.

Bishop Joseph F. Martino has announced his final decisions on parish restructurings.

The plan, which was communicated through a recorded message from the Bishop that was played at all Masses the weekend of January 31 - February 1, affects every parish in the 11-county Diocese in some way. Implementation will begin in July.

Final Decisions for Western Pastoral Region
CLUSTER # 5 – the parishes of St. Francis Xavier, Friendsville; St. Thomas the Apostle, Little Meadows; St. Joseph, St. Joseph; Holy Name of Mary, Montrose:

• St. Joseph, St. Joseph, St. Francis Xavier, Friendsville, and St. Thomas the Apostle, Little Meadows will consolidate no later than July 2010 at the St. Francis Xavier site. 
   There will be an additional worship site (the possibility of one weekend Mass with occasional funerals and weddings) at St. Augustine, Silver Lake which will be reviewed after two years, based on geography, attendance, fiscal realities and the availability of priests. 
   The Mission Church of St. Patrick, Middleton will close no later than July 2009. 
   St. Joseph and St. Thomas the Apostle Church buildings will close no later than July 2010.

• The creation of a Partnership between Holy Name of Mary, Montrose and the consolidated parish at the St. Francis Xavier site no later than July 2010.

Definitions: 
Partnership: Parishes that retain their own pastors will enter into a formal relationship of cooperation with one another. This cooperation will involve the sharing of programs and resources such as RCIA, youth group and adult religious formation. Partnerships conserve resources by avoiding unnecessary duplication of services. Partnerships are one way of practicing good stewardship.

Linked Parishes: This model involves two or more parishes sharing the same pastor. Although linked parishes remain distinct, they cooperate even more completely than parishes in partnership. Linked parishes are already very familiar to us in the Diocese of Scranton for they exist wherever one pastor is caring for more than one parish.

Consolidated Parish: This happens when two or more parishes come together in such a way that only one parish continues to exist. That one or new parish then serves the parishioners of those parishes which have closed. In some instances of consolidation, however, a church building of a closed parish may remain open for a limited time. When this arrangement is provided, it will usually be to accommodate a Sunday Mass, funeral or wedding.