Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Thank you for your prayers in these current liturgical celebrations, before and after Pentecost: the Ascension, Trinity Sunday, Corpus Christi Sunday.  

In the past two months, the parish council and I have been having a serious discussion about the Mass schedule of the parish, and the reduced number of congregants subsequent to the last two years. Among the many considerations, including fewer available priests in the Diocese, fewer music ministers, and our relative pew capacity for attendees, the parish council generally supported my suggestion that it would be wise for St. John Vianney Parish to transition to a schedule of only two Masses per Sunday. This summer we will be blessed to have Father Shea with us offering frequent parish Masses through mid-August. It is for the fall that some change should be considered.

Our congregation size is currently averaging about 75 faithful for each of the four Lord’s-Day Masses (and that with only 57 for the 8:00am Mass). Our church capacity is 200 comfortably, and 320 at its official maximum. The norm for Sunday Masses allows two Masses per priest per day, except where a bishop has given permission for a priest to offer a third Sunday Mass, for “pastoral necessity” (Canon Law #905).

A recommendation from parish council discussions was to move to a parish Sunday Mass Schedule with a 9:00am Mass and an 11:00am Mass, starting in September.

We are not allowed not change Sunday Mass times without diocesan approval and a common sense timeframe of advanced advertising. If Sunday Masses changed in September it would be good to start advertising in July. I know some of the faithful have their favorite times for Sunday Mass, and some have true unavoidable time constraints as they continually seek to meet the Lord faithfully in the Sunday Eucharist.  

I ask you to share your comments, suggestions, and concerns, through the following online form if at all possible. The form is connected to my personal email: WWW.STJOHNVIANNEYVT.ORG/SUNDAY. The same form will be printed in the church for hard copy responses. You will find listed the following considerations: 

Consistency of times, and seasonal changes 

Family friendliness of Mass times  

Consideration of needs for early (earlier) Masses, or late (later) Masses 

Ease of liturgical ministry fulfillment 

Other ideas and any other genuine needs of the faithful at Mass 

I believe that a “reduced” Sunday Mass schedule can result in benefits for all, and can even move us in a path where future growth in the parish can be accelerated. I would like to add events such as public Rosaries, adoration, RCIA liturgies, devotions and other events on Sundays. Three Masses spanning from 8:00am to 12:30pm is a real obstacle to other parish Sunday activities. Further, we must admit there are very negative implications whenever preferential conveniences of individuals’ schedules are made a controlling factor in the life of the Body of Christ, be it on the parish level, or the broad cultural level.

July 4th will be the one year mark since Bishop Coyne rescinded the dispensation for the normal Mass obligation, calling all the faithful to be present in person at the parish as the Eucharist is offered. Many Catholics still make sacrifices, small and large, to be faithful to Sunday Mass. Our own faithfulness among changing and shifting circumstances gives appropriate challenge and witness to those who have not been as dedicated to the presence of Christ in the Mass.  

Above all, let us make our priority the worship of God, and the living of a holy life. Let us pray and dialogue about this proposal for the parish, being always grateful in Christ, thanking the Lord for all access to the Eucharist we have. 

Sincerely, in Christ, Father Timothy Naples