Jackson Vicariate Parish Configurations

 In Jackson, the parishes have been reduced from 10 to nine worship sites, served by eight priests plus one high school chaplain and one sacramental minister. The following are the approved parish configurations:

Worship sites:
St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn
St. Rita Church, Clarklake
St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, Jackson
St. John the Evangelist Church, Jackson
Queen of the Miraculous Medal Church, Jackson
Our Lady of Fatima Church, Michigan Center
St. Catherine Labouré Church, Concord
St. Joseph Chapel, Jackson
St. Stanislaus Kostka Chapel, Jackson (formerly St. Stanislaus Kostka Church)
Sacred Heart Chapel, Jackson, located at St. Stanislaus Kostka site

• St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn, will cluster with St. Rita Parish, Clarklake, when the Oblates are no longer able to staff St. Rita Parish. Assistance in back up sacramental ministry will be provided by Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish, Jackson. The two parishes should discuss aligning themselves into one Vicariate.

• St. Joseph, Jackson, will become a territorial parish with the promulgation of this plan until it becomes necessary to maintain it as a chapel. Parish boundaries will be defined in the near future.

• St. John the Evangelist, Jackson will be served by two priests who will have responsibility for the administration of St. Joseph Chapel, Jackson, formerly St. Joseph Parish, if and when necessary.

• St. Mary Star of the Sea, Jackson will be served by one priest who will have responsibility for the administration of St. Stanislaus Kostka Chapel, Jackson, and one weekend liturgy in English at that chapel, as well.

• Ministry and liturgy of Sacred Heart Chapel, Jackson will move to St. Stanislaus Kostka site. This move will take place at a future date. Following the move, the Sacred Heart Chapel site will close.

• St. Catherine Labouré, Concord will be served by one priest with additional responsbility to be determined.

• Our Lady of Fatima, Michigan Center will remain an individual parish and be served by one priest.

During the last eight years, overall Mass attendance within the parishes of Jackson County has fallen by 16.3 percent; 17 percent of priests serving the faithful are at or beyond retirement age.

Jackson Vicariate Parish, Vicariate and Ministry Improvements

 Within the Jackson Vicariate, the following regional and diocesan improvement measures are to be implemented:
• The priests will review weekday and weekend Mass schedules to determine that priest schedules are best utilized in the region, ensuring that parish Masses do not fall consistently below 50 percent of church seating capacity. If that does occur, then Mass schedules will be altered within the vicariate.

• Formation opportunities will be planned and made available for pastoral leaders, prison and jail ministers, nursing home ministers and young adult activities.

• Pastoral visits to hospitals, prisons, jails and care facilities will be better coordinated.

• A complete assessment of all facilities will be completed as soon as possible. This assessment will include, but not be limited to, geographic location, condition and ADA requirements.

• The program needs for Catholic Social Services, a cultural center and Siena Heights classes will be determined and space will be provided based on the above assessment.