Perhaps you have noticed the local news that Archbishop Rozanski is frequently misrepresented and then criticized for leading us through "All Things New". It is more important than ever that we pray for him and support his leadership at this wonderfully critical moment in the life of our Church. Please see below my most recent feedback regarding the pastoral planning process; this was a canonical requirement for all pastors as part of the process. God bless you.
Votum of the Pastor
I, the undersigned, am the Pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Louis, and have been so since 2019. I have been a priest in the Archdiocese of St. Louis for 32 years. Overall, I have served as a Pastor for 14 years.
St. John the Baptist was founded in 1914. As a result of the current strategic pastoral planning process, it is being proposed that going forward this parish, at a minimum, will share a Pastor with St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, St. Louis.
While St. John the Baptist is vibrant in many ways, the sacramental demands do not require a full-time pastor; asking this parish to share the same pastor with one or more parishes is a good practice of stewardship.
I believe the proposal to have our three parishes share the same pastor makes perfect sense. The faithful of these communities are already acquainted. The churches are situated within 1.3 miles of each other. Coordinating vibrant ministries among the parishes while allowing for worship in all three churches is a sensible way to transition into this new life of the Church of St. Louis.
St. John the Baptist Parish is financially viable and the ongoing participation of many families bodes well for its continuing for 10-15 years. This is especially true since all of the parish buildings are being leased by anchor ministries in the neighborhood. There are currently eight agencies, including St. Francis Community Services, Billiken Teacher Corps, and Missouri Energy Care, who operate on our campus. My best sense is that Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish are also very viable at this time. I see no need to contemplate the suppression of any of our parishes at this time.
Respectfully submitted by,
Rev. Mitchell S Doyen
Pastor, St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Louis.