St.
Michael the Archangel, Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer
A Franciscan Pastorate in the Archdiocese of
Baltimore
Friary: 2 Willow Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21206
April 1, 2021
The Very Rev. James McCurry, OFM Conv. and Definitory
Provincial House
Our Lady of the Angels Province
12300 Folly Quarter Rd. Ellicott City, Maryland 21042
Re: The Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel Church, the Church of the Annunciation, St. Clement Mary Hofbauer
Dear Fr. James and Definitory:
Greetings from Northeast Baltimore County! This is the first of two letters I am sending you regarding the ministry of the friars here in the Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel, the Church of the Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer (affectionately called the “MAC Pastorate”). In this letter I want to report about the great success we have had in forming our Pastorate during the past two and a half years. In my second letter I will offer my thoughts about why I believe the friars of our Province should not depart from this ministry after the next Provincial Chapter.
I wish to share the following with you: Since August of 2018 when our friars became the administrators of the Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer we have accomplished and/or benefited from the following:
1. Extensive renovations on the new friary at St. Michael. Prior to our arrival, the environment and condition of the house made it unsuitable as a friary for the five friars who were sent (sight unseen) to live there. Its new and current configuration is now able to comfortably accommodate a religious community of men. This not to mention the closure and removal of furniture, household items, etc. from the former St. Clement Friary, a monumental task.
2. The hiring of a “Facilities Manager” Mr. Jaimie Spangler, to oversee the maintenance and security of buildings, HVAC systems, and grounds of three Pastorate parish campuses.
3. The consolidation of Pastorate accounting services under the direction of our two incredibly capable accountants Mrs. Robin Novak and Mrs. Maria Boling. Previously there were three different accountants and offices, and each parish used a different bank. Although the parish accounts are separate, each now use the same PNC Bank. This greatly simplifies things.
4. The parishes, particularly St. Michael the Archangel, have some financial challenges, but we are carefully and responsibly dealing with these issues (examples of this are the permission Archbishop Lori recently has given St. Michael the Archangel to launch a five-year $500,000.00 Capital Campaign for necessary repairs to its church building, the $129,000.00 cost of replacing the roof on the Church of the Annunciation, and the tedious process of selling the school buildings and the former friary at St. Clement Mary Hofbauer).
5. Financially speaking, St. Michael the Archangel presents many challenges. The parish is $1,438,006.78 in debt to the Archdiocese (this includes years of unpaid Cathedraticum, old school bills from the former St. Michael School, and previous years of unpaid property and health insurance). At the close of the 2019-20 fiscal year, and in consultation with the Parish Finance Council, a most difficult decision was made to lay-off several St. Michael parish employees (including a semi-retired Permanent Deacon, a parish secretary, several youth sacristans, and evening office receptionists). This caused sentiments of anger from some parishioners and was a very tough moment for all concerned.
6. We also had to terminate the employment of an organist at the Church of the Annunciation, and a maintenance worker at St. Clement Mary Hofbauer. We did so in full consultation with the Archdiocesan Human Resources Department and completely “according to the book.” As unpleasant as such moments can be, we handled these terminations with great respect and with regard for the dignity of those we had “to let-go.”
7. Late in 2018 we implemented and/or renewed the strict money handling protocols as directed by the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Previously some of these protocols in all three of our parishes were not being carefully followed.
8. The official September of 2019 activation of the “Pastorate” with the assistance and guidance of Ms. Julie St. Croix of the Archdiocesan Office of Pastoral Planning (now the Office of Parish Renewal and the Institute for Evangelization). This has involved the creation of a Pastorate “Collaborative Committee” consisting of three Parish Pastoral Councilors from each parish and significant Pastorate staff members. Pre-Covid the committee was meeting once a month with Ms. St. Croix and working on key questions and ideas related to forming a Pastorate. More recently and less frequently due to the pandemic, these meetings have been conducted via Zoom, a great challenge.
9. From the beginning, and on all our official documents, including the Pastorate bulletin, we have proudly labeled ourselves as “A Franciscan Pastorate in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.”
10. The redefining of three Parish Pastoral Councils within the “Pastorate model.” This included the (pre-Covid) scheduling of “Mega Parish Pastoral Council meetings” on a regular and rotating basis. This involved a tremendous amount of “catechesis” and “diplomacy” and was not an easy task.
11. A change in the weekend Mass schedules in three parishes. Previously there had been a total of fourteen weekend Masses among the three parishes. Some of those Masses were scheduled at simultaneous times. After extensive consultation with the Parish Pastoral Councils and parish staff members, and after careful study of pertinent data about the various Masses (i.e., attendance numbers, varying musical and liturgical styles, hours scheduled, availability of clergy, etc.) “Town Hall” meetings were held in each parish to address the issues and to consult the parishioners. This was not an easy task, as some parishioners were angry and vocal, and resistant to change. After the “Town Hall” meetings, plans for the schedule change were “tweaked” and refined because of valuable parishioner feedback. Therefore, within the first year of our arrival, and pre-Covid, we were able to implement a schedule of ten weekend Masses instead of fourteen. Now, after the Covid lockdown and the subsequent drop in Mass attendance, we currently have a “temporary” schedule of seven weekend Masses. This schedule too was carefully thought-out and implemented given coronavirus restrictions and challenges.
12. We have recently (mostly due to Covid limitations) changed even our Daily Mass schedule. Previously all three Masses were conducted at nearly the same morning time (two at 8:30 a.m. and one at 9:00 am). Our new Daily Mass schedule now includes a 7:30 a.m., a 9:00 a.m. and a 12:00 noon. This gives parishioners from all three parishes more options for these Mass times and makes is much easier to schedule clergy coverage.
13. We have accomplished a complete redefining and restructuring of the Pastorate staff. This was done in close consultation with Ms. Connie Vagrin, the Employee Relations Manager of the Archdiocesan Human Resources Department. After very careful study and reflection, and much hard work on the part of the “core clergy team” (consisting of Friars Timothy and John, and Sr. Susan Engel) the job descriptions of every member of our Pastorate staff were rewritten. Duplication among responsibilities were eliminated, and staff members were given specific “Pastorate duties” as part of the restructuring. This includes monthly “Pastoral Administrative Team” (PAT) meetings where principal staff members are consulted and encouraged to give feedback in a most collegial manner. In addition to the clergy and Sr. Susan, there are nineteen lay persons employed as members of our Pastorate staff. We work well and very closely with each other, and the morale is very positive. I believe our staff members feel “cared-for” and respected by the Pastor and by each other.
14. The relocation of most Pastorate administrative office activities to St. Michael the Archangel at our newly named “Pastorate Center.”
15. The development of a “Pastorate Pastoral Care” office under the leadership of Sr. Susan Engel.
16. A very close clergy and staff rapport and collaboration with Mr. Paul Kristoff, Principal of St. Michael – St. Clement School.
17. The creation of a “Pastorate Executive Secretary and Liaison to the Parishes” position held by Mrs. Amy Smith. She has done a fantastic job facilitating communication, scheduling of events, and keeping the lines of communication open between all three parishes and associated organizations and ministries.
18. A unified Pastorate “Faith Formation Ministry” under the direction of staff member Mrs. Nikki Lux, and in close collaboration with Mrs. Kathy Brotzman, our Pastorate Director of Religious Education.
19. A unified Pastorate “Youth and Young Adult Ministry” under the direction of staff member Ms. Margaret Brogden (who also serves as our Pastorate Liaison to St. Michael – St. Clement School).
20. The creation of one “Pastorate bulletin” under the editorial management of Pastorate secretary Ms. Susan Rammel.
21. The development of Pastorate bereavement outreach under the direction of Pastorate secretary Mrs. Cindy Ledford.
22. Pre-Covid we were able to have several liturgical and social common activities, such as shared celebrations of the Easter Triduums using each of the three parishes as “stations” for the liturgies, shared “All Souls Remembrance Masses” in which parishioners from the three parishes joined together to pray for the previous year’s deceased (118 souls in 2019-20), joint and very nicely catered Christmas dinner parties (held at the Church of the Annunciation) for all of three Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils, a huge summertime Pastorate volunteer appreciation picnic at Rocky Point Park which was lovingly hosted and “worked” by all of our Pastorate staff members and attended by more than one-hundred-and-fifty Pastorate parishioners (it was a huge success but unfortunately not repeated this past year because of Covid).
23. The securing of the assistance for weekend Masses from Curley Friars Bart, Donald, Bryan, and Chris, who thankfully have become part of our “Franciscan presence” in all three of our Pastorate parishes (with special thanks to Friar Chris who has been a great help with our Spanish ministry).
24. The ministry of recently ordained (and former student-friar from St. Anthony Province) Deacon, Rev. Mr. John Micciche. His close association with our friars and his presence on our staff is also a complement to the “Franciscan identity” of the Pastorate.
Some additional, pertinent, and requested important financial information:
1. Do your parishes have any debts (and how much, and to whom)? YES
St. Michael the Archangel: $1,438,006.78 (see explanation in #5 above).
The Church of the Annunciation: No debts.
St. Clement Mary Hofbauer: $86,404.77 in cathedraticum owed to the Archdiocese.
2. Are there repayment structures in place?
St. Michael the Archangel: No, but we are working with the Archdiocesan “Extraordinary Administration Committee” who’s membership includes Bishop Adam Parker, an Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore, Mr. John Matera, the Archdiocesan Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer, and Ms. Ashley Conley, the Archdiocesan Director of Parish & School Finance, to begin formulating such a plan.
The Church of the Annunciation: No debts.
St. Clement Mary Hofbauer: $86,404.77 in cathedraticum owed to the Archdiocese. The plan is to pay off this debt as soon as the sale of the school buildings and former friary are finalized.
3. Do your parishes anticipate and capital repairs or improvements during the next quadrennium?
St. Michael the Archangel: We are currently launching a five-year $500,000.00 Capital Campaign for necessary repairs to its church building (see explanation in #4 above).
The Church of the Annunciation: No. We recently replaced the roof on the church and the work is completed.
St. Clement Mary Hofbauer: We are currently working on the security cameras and monitoring systems. We are also in the process of installing a new electronic sign in front of the church building. Soon, we may also have to make some significant roof repairs (this issue is currently being evaluated).
4. Do your parishes have savings in reserve? How much?
St. Michael the Archangel: Savings $16,017.23, Money Market $111,077.76.
The Church of the Annunciation: Savings $388,000, Endowments $418,000.
St. Clement Mary Hofbauer: Savings $318,255.98, Endowments $ 200,330.45 and $ 104,750.00.
I, Friar Timothy P. Dore, OFM Conv. have presided as Pastor over this Pastorate of St. Michael the Archangel, the Church of the Annunciation, and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, during the past two and a half years. With all due respect to any detractors, and with all humility, I believe our very collegially functioning staff and I have done an excellent job bringing together and forming this Pastorate. Without any doubt, I strongly believe that working together as a Pastorate administration, we have all the necessary “skill sets” needed to continue making progress as we proceed. We are proud of the very productive and demonstrable success we have worked so vigorously together to achieve.
Most Sincerely,
Friar Timothy Dore, OFM Conv.
Pastor, St. Michael the Archangel, Annunciation, St. Clement Mary Hofbauer
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