Pastors who navigated mergers express hope

By Macie Capote
Clarion Herald

With the mergers of several parishes in the Archdiocese of New Orleans scheduled to take effect July 1, pastors who have previously had to navigate the emotional and spiritual grief of parishioners who are losing their home churches in similar circumstances say the key to leadership will be walking with people through their pain.

With these changes can come many challenges, said Father David Dufour, who became the pastor of Divine Mercy Parish in 2009 after St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish was merged with the neighboring Nativity of Our Lord Parish.

“Parish mergers aren’t meant to be a frequent thing, considering how difficult it is for parishioners,” he said. “There’s something that’s lost, in terms of the identity of the parish.” 

While it was hard to adjust to the new changes, Father Dufour said he focused on being there for his parishioners in their pain, but also encouraged them to look ahead to the future. 

“I always thought it was important to acknowledge the grieving and be with the parishioners in their grieving, but also to help them see some of the blessings,” Father Dufour said. “There are a lot more possibilities to pursue the mission Christ has for his church.” 

Breaking walls down

Another pastor who shared the sentiment of being able to so easily feel the people’s sorrow was retired Msgr. John Cisewski, who has experienced two parishes merging as a pastor and has watched many others amalgamate as a parishioner. 

“It’s painful, there’s no easy way to do it,” Msgr. Cisewski said. “Both churches I was involved in had so much history; it was clear the pain the people were in.” 

Msgr. Cisewski was the pastor during the merging of St. Raymond and St. Leo the Great Parish, as well as Holy Ghost Parish and St. Francis de Sales Parish, which was combined into St. Katharine Drexel Parish.

During the turmoil, Msgr. Cisewski often quoted Ephesians 2:14 to his parishioners: “For he (Christ) is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” 

“I kept telling the people, ‘We have a task, we are asked to create a new creation, and we have an opportunity for more brothers and sisters if we are open to them,’” Msgr. Cisewski said. “All these pains that we’re feeling, and getting used to new people and the mistakes we all make in our crazy humanity, (I prayed) that the Lord would keep breaking down those walls.”

Msgr. Cisewski said the process of parishes merging resembles the wisdom we gain from a funeral. 

“When we lose somebody close to us, it’s like we just go blind,” he said. “We go deaf. Even our faith seems to disappear. But, six months later, we find that the Lord gives us understanding and gives us wisdom.”

For the better

To trust in God’s Spirit and his plan doesn’t happen overnight, Msgr. Cisewski stressed. While it took some time, the parishioners of both of his churches began to see that merging the churches was to their benefit.

“The changes that took place have proven to be Holy Spirit-guided in that each church has now become very significant,” he said. “They started to see that the churches were healthier, more friendships were formed and we’ve formed a lot of ministries.” 

Msgr. Cisewski’s advice to pastors of new churches is to pray for discernment when choosing members of their pastoral council and committees. When churches are suppressed, Msgr. Cisewski said it is important to ensure that the parishioners who lost their parish are still represented in the new one.

“I think what could be so hard and difficult at first can actually turn out to be quite a blessing with time,” he said. “Be patient with human frailty. It takes time to adjust.”

Mark of a good pastor

Although he went through quite a different process, Msgr. Christopher Nalty, who became the pastor of Good Shepherd (St. Stephen’s) Parish, agreed that the representation of people from the closed parishes was important for the integration process. 

Msgr. Nalty’s parishioners protested the closures so much to the point that there was a 2 1/2-month occupation of Our Lady of Good Counsel and St. Henry churches. When they felt unheard, Msgr. Nalty said he made sure to be there to listen to them.

“You have to make sure you recognize they are hurt, because their churches have closed,” he said. “Part of being a good pastor is sympathizing with your parishioners.”

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