Dear Community of Saint Joseph’s;

 

Whenever I attend meetings at the Diocese or read articles about the condition of the Church in the United States, the shortage of priests is always the focus.  Only fifteen years ago Saint Joseph’s was staffed by three full time priests and now only one.  All of our neighboring parishes are reduced to one priest and that reality drastically changes the way the church must function. Saint Joseph’s has been fortunate in being able to maintain it’s Mass schedule while others have had to cut back.  However, these last few years our resources are straining and I feel the time has come to make changes in our liturgical schedule. Offering two Eucharistic celebrations has become increasingly challenging. Because of this challenge we need to eliminate one of our daily Masses.  Not only is it difficult to acquire priests, but also sacristans to set up the church and lay ministers to preside over communion services.  The costs involved in heating the entire church twice a day in the winter is astronomical.  Remember, not only has Saint Joseph’s provided a Mass and a communion service every day but also funerals, special Masses and Good Shepherd School celebrations. 

 

In studying the neighboring church schedules I noticed that most of our local parishes offer a morning Mass and Saint Joseph’s is the only parish providing an evening liturgy.  In order to provide the greatest amount of service to the entire Santa Cruz Catholic Community, I would like to continue to offer a daily evening Mass but discontinue our morning liturgy.  It would be my hope that we could offer the morning Mass at Lent and during parish retreats.  For those of you who would like to attend a morning liturgy, I am including the morning Mass schedule of the nearby Santa Cruz County parishes. 

 

We shall begin these schedule changes at the beginning of June and since we are making a modification, I want to organize our Sunday and daily Mass schedule in a more consistent fashion.  It seems odd that our Masses begin at such varied times:  some Masses begin on the hour and some after the first fifteen minutes.  Our Holy Day schedule is structured ten minutes after the hour.  This inconsistency creates confusion for our parishioners and our guests from out of town.  I want to establish our new schedule beginning the weekend of May 31/June 1 as follows:

 

Saturday Vigil Mass                          5:00 p.m.

 

Sunday Masses                                  7:00 a.m.

                                                            9:00 a.m.

                                                            11.00 a.m.

                                                            5:00 p.m.

 

Monday – Friday Daily Masses       5:00 p.m.

 

Holy Days                                          7:00 a.m.

                                                            Noon

                                                            7:00 p.m.

 

I do understand how challenging and inconvenient change can be and I have made these decisions with reluctance and after lengthy discernment.  In considering this move I have consulted with Bishop Garcia, the Parish Staff, the Commission of Ministries and the Finance Council.  I would appreciate your support and cooperation in this revision and a willingness to accept the reality that our church circumstances are changing and it is necessary to adapt with good will and faith.

 

 

Father Matt Pennington

Pastor

 

 

              Weekday Mass Schedule

 

Resurrection 8:30 a.m. Mon.-Fri.

 

Holy Cross 8:30 a.m. Mon.-Thurs. (in Mission Chapel)

 

Star of the Sea  8:00 a.m. Mon., Wed., Thurs. & Fri.

 

Watsonville  OLHCC  7:00 a.m. & 9:00 a.m. Mon.-Fri.

 

Saint Patrick’s Watsonville  8:00 a.m. Mon.-Fri. (bilingual)