Grafton’s three Catholic parishes will merge

Grafton’s three Catholic parishes will combine to form one as of July 1, a move necessitated by a shortage of ordained priests.

Bishop Robert J. McManus met with the pastors and representatives from St. Mary, St. Philip and St. James parishes on April 6 to inform them of his decision, according to the Catholic Free Press.

Father Anthony J. Mpagi, St. James’ pastor, will be pastor of the new parish, and the pastoral team will include an associate, who will be named later, and Deacon Timothy G.  Cross, who serves St. Mary’s and St. Philip’s.

Father Leo-Paul LeBlanc, pastor of St. Mary’s and St. Philip’s, may retire.  

“At this time, there is no plan to reduce the number of buildings,” the notice on the renewal website (https://graftoncatholic.org/parish-renewal) reads. “A decision on building needs can’t be determined until the overall collaboration decisions, financial and building assessments are completed.  One must bear in mind that a parish community must be able to financially support itself.”

Parishioners are invited to suggest names for the new parish on the renewal website.

Legacy of Hope capital campaign funds that have been collected or will be collected can only be used for the church campus they were collected for and only for the use cases that each church presented to the diocese.

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