August 9, 2007

Allegany parishes to undergo changes

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec has announced several changes taking place in Allegany County. A new parish community will be formed through the merger of three churches. A new pastor has also been named for an Elma parish. Some of the changes are reflective of the diocesan strategic planning process, Journey in Faith and Grace.

As a result of cluster and commission meetings, Bishop Kmiec has decreed that “the parishes of St. Mary, Belmont; Sacred Heart, Angelica; and St. Joseph, Scio, are hereby merged canonically in accord with Canon 121 of the Code of Canon Law into one parish under the title of Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Parish, Belmont. Furthermore, the building of St. Joseph Church, Scio, is hereby reduced to the status of an oratory. “

Two priests in the Southern Tier have been given additional duties as sacramental ministers. Both men will continue to serve as pastor in their current parishes. A sacramental minister is a priest who assists a parish by celebrating sacraments and providing other designated priestly ministry in collaboration with the pastoral administrator and priest moderator.

Msgr. Vincent J. Becker, who has been pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Wellsville, since 2005, has been named sacramental minister at St. Mary Parish, Bolivar. In April, it was announced, as part of the Journey in Faith and Grace, that St. Mary Parish would remain an independent parish with a pastoral administrator. Likewise, Father Jerome M. Dissek, pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Cuba, has been named sacramental minister at Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Parish in Belmont.

A pastoral administrator has been named for Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Parish, Belmont. Deacon Francis W. Pasquale Jr. began his new position in mid-July and will participate in the pastoral care of the parish and be supervised by a priest moderator. Deacon Pasquale was ordained in 2002.

Father Dennis J. Mancuso has been named the new pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Fillmore, and St. Patrick Parish, Belfast. Previously, he was pastor of St. Mary, Belmont; Sacred Heart, Angelica; and St. Joseph, Scio; as well as administrator of St. Patrick, Belfast. Father Mancuso’s term is for six years.

In Elma, Father Eugene Ulrich has taken over as the new pastor of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish; his term is for six years. Father Ulrich had been pastor at SS. Brendan & Jude in Almond since 1995.

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