In response to Pope Francis’ 2022 invitation to become a more synodal Church, Bishop Robert J. McClory asked parishes to reflect upon, and update parish plans initiated after the diocesan synod that concluded in 2017. The parish planning process is helping communities throughout the diocese prayerfully discern how best to use the human and financial resources available to ensure that Catholics' sacramental, pastoral and cultural needs are met now and in the future.
Northern Lake County has been working through parish planning. As the area historically developed, parishes organically established along neighborhood ethnic lines and during the baby boom that peaked 60 years ago. As families moved, Church campuses that once were supported by 1,000 families now are supported by fewer than 150 individuals. A recent study demonstrated steady downward trends between 2016 and 2023 among the fourteen parishes, with limited growth potential in their recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. In response, in 2024, Bishop McClory commissioned a steering committee to work with the clergy and lay key leaders from the 14 Catholic parishes in East Chicago, Hammond and Whiting to assess the current situation and develop a recommendation for the future.
“Each parish possesses unique strengths and strongly-committed parishioners and clergy,” shared the bishop.
While acknowledging some isolated signs of growth, an overall analysis of data revealed a multi-year downward trend in key metrics such as Mass attendance, parish registrations, and participation in the sacraments, as well as a decrease in ministry.
The group considered and evaluated several parish models, leading to a recommendation to unify the Catholic communities in each of these cities. It recognized that a shared vision is essential to maximize the benefits of collective talents and resources to best support the spiritual needs of the faithful. This led to a recommendation which spoke of unifying the Catholic communities and reducing the number of parishes.
Recently, Bishop McClory announced that after prayerful reflection and consultation, he would accept the key leaders’ recommendation with one minor change due to the preference of the Association of the Immaculate Conception, the Colombia-based community of priests who have been serving several parishes in the area.
During the next several years, there will be a transition to a four-parish model with three additional worship sites available to provide for the spiritual, sacramental, cultural and pastoral needs of Catholics in the northern Lake County area.
In East Chicago, the main parish will be St. Mary with additional worship sites at Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Margaret Mary, located near Hammond’s border with East Chicago. In Hammond, the main parishes will be St. Casimir and St. John Bosco with an additional worship site at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In Whiting, the main parish will be St. John the Baptist. This transition will take place over the next few years, occurring in phases.
“I recognize this announcement will affect people differently,” Bishop McClory said. “Some will experience feelings of loss and anger. Other people may see this model as a new beginning, creating opportunities for growth and vitality for the Catholic presence in East Chicago, Hammond and Whiting.”
He added that key leaders recognized the importance of potentially relocating signature ministries to ensure their continuance. The bishop emphasized to key leaders, “Your early and intentional engagement will be the key to the success of this process, ensuring that all voices are heard and the desired results are achieved.”
“Please know that I am committed to supporting you in this process,” Bishop McClory said. “We are all seeking the Lord’s guidance, wisdom and strength so that the Catholic Church in North Lake County will always be a vibrant, caring, and disciple-driven community. You can be confident of my abiding prayers for all the members of these parishes during this time of transition.”
Ultimately, the demographic and cultural shifts are the reason why this is needed, explained Father Jeff Burton, dean of the North Lake Deanery, who serves St. John Bosco and St. Joseph in Hammond and St. Stanislaus in East Chicago. He said the reason for the urgency is that priestly retirements are now far outpacing ordinations.
“At the moment, I’m shepherding three parishes, two of which have grade schools,” he said. “That’s in addition to being the chaplain of our largest high school and other diocesan responsibilities. Thirty years ago, there were 11 priests doing what today I’m expected to do myself. It’s my hope that, as difficult as these changes are, it may curb burnout among my brother priests and ultimately bear fruit in having happy, healthy priests shepherding our communities.”
Father Burton shared that he understands there will be immense sadness in knowing one’s spiritual home is transitioning.
“For Catholics in particular, our church buildings are where we’re baptized, where we come to know Christ in the Eucharist, where people are wed and where we say that earthly farewell to those we love,” he said. “At the same time, statistically, fewer Catholics are celebrating those milestones in our churches and fewer are in the pews every Sunday.”
Father Burton explained that while there won’t be Sunday Mass at St. Stanislaus in East Chicago after the summer, the grade school will continue under a model similar to the three high schools. The priests serving in East Chicago will celebrate Mass there in the church on weekdays for the benefit of students and those in the neighborhood.
The soup kitchen at St. Joseph in Hammond has for decades served the poor and marginalized of the city. That work will continue, Father Burton said, and it will take time to figure out how.
“Even before any of this was discussed, I invited some of the longtime volunteers from the parish to join me in forming a foundation and establishing an endowment for the soup kitchen ministry, so that it continues the mission of St. Joseph in the decades ahead,” he said.
Caption: Father Eduardo Malagon (right), pastor, sprinkles holy water on Taki the turtle as his owner Kevin Hernandez, a St. Casimir eighth-grader, holds the reptile at the pet blessing at the Hammond parish on Oct. 4, 2024. (NWIC File Photo/Anthony D. Alonzo)
