This thread is hereby open for venting, which the dictionary tells us is "to give often vigorous or emotional expression to..."
Speak your mind...
And, on a lighter note, here's a very funny video that catches a New Age guru in his own confused reasoning:
This week an elderly parishioner, 80 plus years old, shared that each night he lies in his bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking :"What can I do to help the parish?" He shared that he wishes he wasn't so old and how helpless he feels as he watches the parish he loves in such distress. He recently learned that Saint Vincent's was on the chopping board and is very upset. He suggested that someone contact Pope Benedict and recalled when Rome stepped in to demand that a local, contraversial priest, James Callan, be removed from service. It broke my heart to witness this wonderful, faithful man who is truly suffering, emotionally and spiritually. How many others are feeling the same? And how can we fix this?
ReplyDeleteI think one of the things we can do is attend one of the facilities rollout meetings in September. We will at least get some information about the plans for our parish churches and buildings.
ReplyDeleteIs it true that it will be in this weeks bulletin that Providence House from Rochester has bought the St. Vincent's complete campus? If so, don't the parishioners have a say in this?
ReplyDeleteWhat???!!! Is this true? Does somebody know? I cannot believe this!!
ReplyDeleteWait a minute. I just went to the website of Providence House, and found that it is affiliated with our Diocese, and Richard Rossettie is its vice president.
ReplyDeleteSo our parish leadership is selling St. Vincent's to a diocesan-affiliated charity, so that they can tear it down and provide low-income housing?
Here is the website: http://www.providencehousing.org/
I really hope and pray this is not true.
Why are people surprised that this is happening? Some of us have been trying to tell you that getting rid of Saint Vincent's is part of the "Strategic Plan". Dean will be the next Jimmy Baker with his complex up on the hill.
ReplyDeleteIf this is true, I am out of here. Our leadership has taken EVERY person that mattered away and now they are taking away our churches. Are you kidding me? I am thoroughly disgusted. Even if they get Dean Condon out of here, the damage is irreversible. It will work out just fine for them because they don't need 3 churches any more. There's going to be nobody left. I am sick about this.
ReplyDeleteNo the parishioners have no say. Did you have a say when Alene was terminated? When the youth ministry program was demolished? When Father Phil couldn't take it anymore? Dean has had a plan from day one, it is now unfolding. One big mega-church- just like the ones from the Protestant communities that he is so closely affiliated with. He is creating his legacy, mentoring with the folks at Victory.
ReplyDeleteI hope and pray that this isn't true. I have heard that if Dean get his "paid sabaitcal" that the churches on his list that he will be visiting are all Protestant churches!!! Uh this doesn't make sense to me at all. I am sick and tired of the destruction as you are also. Is there anyone out there that we can contact and be heard? Why are we always left in the dark? I feel like we are being lead by a fuhrer!!!!
ReplyDeleteDon't know what a fuhrer is but do know that we are being led by a blind sheperd- blinded by his limitations to see beyond his own agenda. Pity to all who are left to clean up the mess. I also heard that he will be visiting small christian communities for 6 months and that they are Protestant. Also heard that he is getting his doctorate from a Protestant seminary. Are we paying for this? And the bigger question- why is our "Catholic" leader continually seeking a Protestant influence??????
ReplyDeleteIs this true? A Protestant Seminary? How can this be allowed? Someone please find out the name of the seminary. This is too much.
ReplyDeleteI think all of us should sign up and attend one of the scheduled meetings listed in this coming week's bulletin. And while we're there, ask all these questions we have been posting here. Hopefully, Dean will be there to answer them because you know he isn't going to respond to this web-site. And, don't just ask questions, but voice your concerns. You will have a lot of support there, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteDon't act surprised! Haven't any of the other blogs been taken seriously? This isn't anything new. Many of us have been telling you for a long time. His last church in Rochester had to call in damage control after he left to clean up the protestant mess he created. Now it's happening here. Catholic churches have an altar, not a stage so we can settle in for the performance. Better spread the word to those who do not know of this happening or of this website.
ReplyDeleteI don't plan on attending the meetings. What good will it do? Dean is going to preceed NO MATTER HOW MANY PARISHIONERS object. This is very clear. He has a few people from the parish behind him, along with a few from Rochester and basically, this is all he needs. He doesn't have time for anybody who disagrees with his strategic plan. It makes me sick to think about the power he has- poorly used and often abused. Key employees, valuable volunteers, cherished buildings, etc...will all be gone but he will remain. Sorry-but this is the truth.
ReplyDeleteWhy would he want to stay here? he has to know that he is very unpopular. Is it possible that he was sent here with a mandate to shut and sell churches and that the Diocese knew that people wouldn't like him anyway- so he was the perfect one to send to do the dirty work? Why send a good priest or deacon when a poor one was willing to come?
ReplyDeleteFolks, what you are seeing is the willful destruction of a Catholic parish by a deacon, with the blessing of the diocese. Time to face reality. This has been done over and over in this diocese. It is diabolical, and it is too bad that some in our parish are going along with it. They don't really understand what is going on, I guess.
ReplyDeleteFor someone who supposedly wants to evangelize Corning, it is strange to think that closing down all but one of the churches will have any but a deadly effect. Maybe Dean wants to drive away all the faithful. It will certainly make his job of transforming the Catholic faith into a Protestant retread easier.
I disagree- why would he want to leave here? he has it made! No personal budget, parish staff cleans his house, none of the priests challenge him, council reps. have no control over him, he hires and fires at will, his son makes mega bucks on the pay roll,,,I'd stay if I were him.
ReplyDeleteSo, I just read the on-line bulletin. Sounds like a big problem is the people who sit in these ad hoc committees and council representatives. Don't they see that closing churches sends the wrong message? We are closing churches because attendence is down because our leader is not leading. Why aren't they fighting for a new leader and fighting to fill our churches, rather than sell them? I respect the time they give but have talked with several of them and they don't like Dean's strategy either- but they go along. So if we build the mega-complex and numbers continue to decrease, do we sell that too and buy a double wide????? At what point do we say enough is enough? This is an outrage.
ReplyDeleteI remember when dean arrived and how he talked about his mission to "save souls". I wonder if anyone has been counting the lost souls.
ReplyDeleteI hope all the central office staff are reading all of this. With one church there won't be a need for many staffers, so I wonder who's next?...
ReplyDeleteThree rings for the council-kings under the sky,
ReplyDeleteSeven for the parish-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for mortal men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Deacon on his dark throne,
In the land of Corning where the shadows lie.
One Dean to rule them all, One Dean to find them,
One Dean to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them,
In the land of Corning where the shadows lie.
Notice how the meetings are by registration only. You can bet that Dean will carefully select which meetings he attends, if any. He will hide behind his councils and his ad hoc committees. He will send the sheep out to the wolves while he sits back and blames the people who won't write the checks, the people who have left the parish, the economy, the people who never gave him a chance, the backlash from the McCaigs and Alene....so many people for him to blame but never, EVER pointing the finger at himself.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe this! My heart breaks! Why do we have to sit back and wait for any small group meeting? Can we, those that are upset and want things to change, meet and try to come up with a solution to stop this whole mess? We need to act fast. Is the selling of St Vincent's a done deal? I cannot believe that Providence House decided that they wanted to buy St Vincent's totally unsolicited - if someone didn't express an interest in selling it I don't think that they would have offered to buy it - if they were interested in sr housing in corning then there are other parcels of land in the area to purchase. Wow! What a mess Deacon Dean is making of things. Once this is done, whether we get rid of him or not, the mess he has created is irreversible!
ReplyDeleteHow odd that I find a job opening for our parish on the Diocese website.. Can anyone shed some light on this? The parish is looking for a "Life Teen Music Director"...um pardon me but I thought we were making cuts in staff? I thought we were broke? Is this a paid position? Something stinks!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnother "ARE YOU KIDDING ME" moment- has anybody read in OUR bulletin that there is an opportunity for employment in the parish as a music director? We advertize on a diocesean site that few from the parish would ever check and fail to mention this in the bulletin. Sounds like Dean didn;t want anybody to know that he was hiring so shortly after he was firing. The life teen mass averages only 70 people per week, few teens go,adults included. And Dean is continuing to sink money into this mass while saying that he can't afford Alene;s salary. Oh wait , I forgot- 3 of his family members are in the life teen band, wife included.
ReplyDeleteThe new parish slogan is All Saints/All One.
ReplyDeleteHere's one: All Saints/Down to One.
How does Elmira keep six churchs open and we can't handle what we have....maybe someone should check out their secret!
ReplyDeleteTuned in to the televised mass this am. A little advice to the filming crew: It is not a good idea to scan the pews. There are so few people there- it would be better if you kept the camera's on the altar. Just a suggestion.
ReplyDeleteHere's another: All Saints/ All Done
ReplyDeleteIf Dean was a good leader, he would leave on his own accord. Clearly, he is unpopular and clearly the parish is suffering under his care. Let us pray that the Lord will speak to his heart on this matter.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I read some of these blogs and part of me thinks: These people would claim to be Christians and yet they often write cruel and hurtful things about one of their own. Then the other part of me thinks: But what they are saying is the truth and what Dean is doing is cruel and hurtful to the parish. So who is the better? He just needs to go. Really, it's the only solution to the terrible crisis we are experiencing.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone thought of the idea of making St. Vincent's Rectory back into a rectory for retired priests...we could give them a home in the southern tier and in exchange they would take care of the masses and confessions etc...there used to be five suites in the rectory and in exchange for the retired priests services we could furnish them with a HOME and meals...and they would give us the pastoral care we all long for....
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that either Janet or David Condon are paid for their participation in the music ministry at All Saints Parish.
ReplyDeleteI didn't imply that Janet or David were paid. My point was that Dean is spending money on a program that his family members participate in. The programs that most of us participated in, or have children that participated in, lost their leader due to finances. This is WRONG. Were any of Dean's family members in Alene's programs? We're they directly affected by her loss? I don't think so. While on the topic, were his kids attending the YG when Marie was forced out? No- they were up at the Wesleyan Church. The pieces to the puzzle all fit together nicely.
ReplyDeleteThey don't attend public school or All Saints Academy but have time to spend at the Wesleyan church? And for those of you who think the newest deacon is a blessing-think again-they are two peas in a pod. No problem coughing up money for him.
ReplyDeleteI saw Dean's kids at Youth Group when Marie ran it, many many times in fact. Be careful about saying things you aren't sure of.
ReplyDeleteSorry but you better get your eyes checked..let's check the attendance lists..oh, you didn't know attendance was taken?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if dean's kids came to youth group when Marie was there but I do know that one of his sons attended the Victory Highway program regularly. He played guitar in a group and went to their retreat. Maybe this has changed but many people saw him up there and have also seen Dean and his wife up there on many occasions. Freedom of religion, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI affirm this also. Just ask the Victory kids.
ReplyDeleteThey'll tell you too.
My Wesleyan friend has seen several members of the Condon family at Victory for services and shows and classes and events. It's a BIG joke within their community that the Catholic leader is one of their regulars! The only thing I can say is that I have been to 2 of their events and was uncomfortable with their protestant teaching. I won't let my son attned youth events because I have heard that some of their adults teach an anti-Catholic message. They also like to pull people away from the Catholic church because they think we are all going to Hell. They even boast of having former Catholics as members. Having said this- why in God's holy name would Dean spend time at their facility? Does Father Lou go there? Did Father Phil or Sister Joan go there? I don't think so. Something is wrong. What impresses him: a stage with live bands singing during the services? one large performing area? skits during the services? born again altar calls? one large meg-church? All of these and more point to the new direction of All Saints parish: Less and less Catholic, more and more Protestant.
ReplyDeletego to Cleveland.com and see what is happening there with the closing of a Catholic Church..interesting...
ReplyDeleteHere are some links to the above post that take you directly to the story:
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/08/parishioners_from_closed_catho.html
http://www.cleveland.com/religion/index.ssf/2010/04/catholic_diocese_of_cleveland.html
http://www.cleveland.com/religion/index.ssf/2010/04/st_cecilia_catholic_churchs_cl.html
http://www.cleveland.com/religion/index.ssf/2010/04/bishop_richard_lennon_cautions.html
There are quite a few more if you want to do a 'church closing' search on the site.
First, I don't like the idea of bringing Dean's kids into our comments. They are just kids following what their parents believe in.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I don't think the majority of people have anything against protestants. I just think that we are partial to our faith as they are to theirs. There's nothing wrong with that. However, some people need to be educated so they do not criticize catholics.
Third, Many years ago our son was asked by his friends to join the youth group at Victory Highway. At that time, I didn't know we had a preteen/teen youth group. My husband, a practicing Baptist, and I wanted our children to be brought up and to participate within the Catholic community. Father Phil directed me toward Marie and Mike's group. We were very pleased to have both of our children participate in All Saint's faith formation classes. We had the support from other Catholic families, our children enjoyed the youth groups and retreats with a priest, and most important our children grew in their faith with their Catholic friends with the help from their youth leaders/teachers.
My concern now is what teen programs are left within our Catholic community? Something we're not happy with---and we tried! As I said in another blog, "our church has failed our kids; they are the future of our church."
I cherish my faith. We as a Catholic community 'had' so much to offer. We can not abandon All Saints. We've been through changes and we've survived. I know administrators come and go, just as in schools and businesses. With the help of the Holy Spirit we will learn from this, we will grow stronger, we will keep our Catholic masses, the Eucharist, Adoration, Novenas, Retreats with a priest,..., everything that we cherish. We will survive. Mary
remarks made to Rump Parliament April 20,1653 by Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658)..
ReplyDelete"You have sat to long here for any good you have been doing.
Depart, I say, and let us have done with you.
In the name of God. Go!"