Summary of Batesville Deanery Connected in the Spirit Decisions
1. (Cohort A) – St. Joseph Parish in Shelbyville and St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Shelby County will become linked parishes by July 3, 2013. As linked parishes, the two parishes will share a priest and combine as many programs, ministries and administrative functions as possible. The two parishes will continue to have separate finance councils as required under Canon Law. (Read the official decree here)
2. (Cohort B) – Holy Guardian Angels Parish in Cedar Grove will merge into St. Michael Parish in Brookville effective December 1, 2013. The new parish from this merger will become part of the Batesville Deanery. St. Peter Parish of Franklin County will form a partnership with St. Michael Parish in Brookville. Under a partnership model, the two parishes will create joint programs and share staff and services. (Read the official decrees here and here)
3. (Cohort C) – St. Anne Parish in Hamburg and St. Mary of the Rock Parish in Batesville will merge into Holy Family Parish in Oldenburg effective December 1, 2013. (Read the official decrees here and here | Read the official decree regarding the old church and property here)
4. (Cohort D) – St. John the Baptist Parish in Dover, St. Joseph Parish in St. Leon, St. Martin Parish in Yorkville and St. Paul Parish in New Alsace will merge effective December 1, 2013 to form a new parish. The new parish will have four worship sites during its first year of existence to be reduced to two worship sites no later than the First Sunday of Advent of 2014 and one site no later than the First Sunday of Advent of 2015. The Archdiocese will work with the new parish to study the possibility of building a new church and a regional school. (Read the official decrees here, here, here, here and here; Read the official decree regarding the closing of All Saints School here)
5. (Cohort E) – St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Parish in Bright and St. Lawrence Parish in Lawrenceburg will establish a partnership effective December 1, 2013. Under a partnership model, the two parishes will create joint programs and share staff and services. St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Parish, with the assistance of the Archdiocese will begin a feasibility study for the construction of a new church. (Read the official decree here)
6. (Cohort F) – St. Denis Parish in Jennings County will merge into Immaculate Conception Parish in Millhousen effective December 1, 2013. Immaculate Conception Parish in Millhousen, St. Maurice Parish in Napoleon and St. John the Baptist Parish in Osgood will form a partnership. The three parishes will collaborate in providing programs and pastoral ministry where possible. (Read the official decrees here and here | Read the official decree regarding the old church and property here)
7. (Cohort F #2) – St. Mary Magdalene Parish in New Marion will merge into Prince of Peace in Madison effective December 1, 2013. (Read the official decree here | Read the official decree regarding the old church and property here)
8. (Cohort G) – St. Pius Parish in Ripley County will merge into St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Milan effective December 1, 2013. St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Milan and St. Mary Parish in Aurora will establish a partnership effective December 1, 2013. Under a partnership model, the two parishes will create joint programs and share staff and services. (Read the official decrees here and here | Read the official decree regarding the old church and property here)
9. (Cohort H) – St. Nicholas Parish in Sunman and St. Anthony Parish in Morris will become linked parishes effective December 1, 2013 and will share a priest. The two parishes will continue to have separate finance councils, but will combine as many programs, ministries and committees as possible. As linked parishes, St. Nicholas and St. Anthony parishes also will partner with St. Louis Parish in Batesville and are encouraged to create joint programs and when appropriate share staff and services. (Read the official decrees here and here)
10. (Cohort I) – St. John the Evangelist Parish in Enochsburg and St. Maurice Parish in St. Maurice will merge effective December 1, 2013 and will become part of a new parish to be established in northern Decatur County. The parish will conduct worship at the churches of the two present parishes subject to period review. The new parish will enter into a partnership with St. Mary Parish in Greensburg effective December 1, 2013. Under a partnership model, the two parishes will create joint programs and share staff and services. (Read the official decrees here, here, here and here)
11. As a result of mergers noted above the following 12 parishes will close: St. Anne Parish in Hamburg, Holy Guardian Angels in Cedar Grove, St. Mary of the Rock in Batesville, St. John the Baptist in Dover, St. Joseph in St. Leon, St. Martin in Yorkville, St. Paul in New Alsace, St. Denis in Jennings County, St. Mary Magdalene in New Marion, St. Pius in Ripley County, St. Maurice in St. Maurice, and St. John the Evangelist in Enochsburg.