Summary of Bloomington, Connersville and Seymour Deanery Connected in the Spirit Changes

(Related: Watch a video of the announcement from Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin)

Bloomington Deanery

Cohort B-1
  1. St. John the Apostle Parish in Bloomington and St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Spencer will continue as linked parishes. This relationship should intensify, to the mutual benefit of both parishes, and be guided by the further suggestions offered by the Archdiocesan Planning Commission. The parishes will establish a joint pastoral council to coordinate planning, outreach and evaluation. Each parish will retain its own finance council.
  2. St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bloomington, St. Paul Catholic Center in Bloomington, St. John the Apostle Parish in Bloomington, St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Spencer and St. Martin of Tours Parish in Martinsville will develop a partnership that aims at enhancing their ministry while avoiding an unnecessary duplication of service and favoring a conservation of financial and personnel resources.
Cohort B-2
  1. St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Bedford and St. Mary Parish in Mitchell will continue as linked parishes. This relationship should intensify, to the mutual benefit of both parishes, and be guided by the suggestions offered by the Archdiocesan Planning Commission. The parishes will establish a joint pastoral council to coordinate planning, outreach and evaluation. Each parish will maintain its own finance council.
  2. Christ the King Parish in Paoli and Our Lady of the Springs Parish in French Lick will continue as linked parishes. This relationship should intensify, to the mutual benefit of both parishes, and be guided by the suggestions offered by the Archdiocesan Planning Commission. The parishes will establish a joint pastoral council to coordinate planning, outreach and evaluation. Each parish will maintain its own finance council. The Archdiocese will seriously consider assigning a resident pastor to these parishes. If this is not possible, the Archdiocese will continue to rely on the sacramental assistance of a member of the faculty at St. Meinrad as well as the contributions of the seminarians and transitional deacons.

Connersville Deanery

Cohort C-1
  1. St. Rose of Lima Parish in Knightstown will merge into St. Anne Parish in New Castle on July 1, 2016, utilizing two worship sites, if necessary. (Read the official decree here; also the degree regarding the former church building)
  2. The newly merged St. Anne Parish will be linked with St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Cambridge City. This relationship should intensify, to the mutual benefit of both parishes, and be guided by the further suggestions offered by the Archdiocesan Planning Commission. The parishes will establish a joint pastoral council to coordinate planning, outreach and evaluation. Each parish will retain its own finance council.
  3. The newly merged St. Anne Parish, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish and St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Rushville will form a partnership enhancing their ministry while avoiding unnecessary duplication of services and favoring a conservation of financial and personnel resources.
Cohort C-2
  1. The Richmond parishes of Holy Family, St. Mary and St. Andrew will be extinguished and a new parish established on July 1, 2016, that will include the territory of the three former parishes. The new parish will maintain three worship sites and will be served by a single pastor. The new parish will establish a pastoral council and finance council.
    1. Holy Family Decree | Spanish
    2. St. Andrew Decree | Spanish
    3. St. Mary Decree | Spanish
    4. New Parish Decree | Spanish
  2. St. Gabriel Parish in Connersville and St. Bridget of Ireland Parish in Liberty will continue as linked parishes. This relationship should intensify, to the mutual benefit of both parishes, and be guided by the suggestions offered by the Archdiocesan Planning Commission. The parishes will establish a joint pastoral council to coordinate planning, outreach and evaluation. Each parish will maintain its own finance council. Both parishes must address the challenge of deferred maintenance and submit to the Archdiocese a strategic plan by July 1, 2016.

Seymour Deanery

Cohort S-1
  1. American Martyrs Parish in Scottsburg and St. Patrick Parish in Salem will continue as linked parishes. This relationship should intensify, to the mutual benefit of both parishes, and be guided by the suggestions offered by the Archdiocesan Planning Commission. The parishes will establish a joint pastoral council to coordinate planning, outreach and evaluation. Each parish will maintain its own finance council.
  2. Our Lady of Providence Parish in Brownstown will merge into St. Ambrose Parish in Seymour on July 1, 2016. The parish may choose to maintain both worship sites, subject to a triennial evaluation by the Archdiocese. (Read the official decree here)
  3. The newly merged Our Lady of Providence into St. Ambrose Parish will form a partnership with the linked parishes of American Martyrs and St. Patrick.
Cohort S-2
  1. Most Sorrowful Mother of God Parish in Vevay and Prince of Peace Parish in Madison will continue as linked parishes. This relationship should intensify, to the mutual benefit of both parishes, and be guided by the suggestions offered by the Archdiocesan Planning Commission. The parishes will establish a joint pastoral council to coordinate planning, outreach and evaluation. Each parish will maintain its own finance council.
Cohort S-B-3 (Includes St. Agnes Parish from Bloomington Deanery)
  1. St. Bartholomew Parish in Columbus and Holy Trinity Parish in Edinburgh will begin a new relationship as linked parishes. This relationship should intensify, to the mutual benefit of both parishes, and be guided by the suggestions offered by the Archdiocesan Planning Commission. The parishes will establish a joint pastoral council to coordinate planning, outreach and evaluation. Each parish will maintain its own finance council. Holy Trinity Parish will be administered by a parish life coordinator and sacramental service will be provided by the clergy at St. Bartholomew Parish. Special attention should be given to serving the Latino communities in Columbus and Edinburgh. Also, the deferred maintenance at Holy Trinity Parish will be addressed.
  2. St. Bartholomew Parish in Columbus, Holy Trinity Parish in Edinburgh, St. Rose of Lima Parish in Franklin and St. Agnes Parish in Nashville will establish a partnership to further the mission of the Church in Bartholomew, Shelby, Franklin and Brown counties. The partnership should aim at enhancing ministry, while avoiding an unnecessary duplication of service and favoring a conservation of financial and personnel resources.
Cohort S-4
  1. St. Mary Parish in North Vernon, St. Joseph Parish in Jennings County and St. Ann Parish in Jennings County will continue as linked parishes. This relationship should intensify, to the mutual benefit of the parishes, and be guided by the suggestions offered by the Archdiocesan Planning Commission. The parishes will establish a joint pastoral council to coordinate planning, outreach and evaluation. Each parish will maintain its own finance council.

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