Georgetown Parishes Restructuring
Bishop Francis Alleyne has unveiled the new plan detailing the way in which the parishes of Georgetown and its environs will be restructured.
This new arrangement would involve the assignment of a team of priests to see to the needs of the pastoral area.
This plan will be put in place from Monday 5th. June 2006 - the Monday after Pentecost Sunday.
The full text of the statement from the Bishop giving details of arrangements for the pastoral area, the members of the team and the assignments of the team members is given by the Bishop below:
The main subject addressed in my initial visits and sharing with parishes and again during the days of reflection was the involvement of the Laity and our understanding of being church and community as laid out in Church documents. While restructuring involves changes and new structures such as those described below, I continually stressed the need for everyone to review, and in most cases adjust, perceptions of Church membership and participation in Church life.
The Church's tradition is so rich in content continually inviting the faithful to deeper life and involvement It is my hope that we will all step forward to claim a fuller fidelity to our tradition and that this is what would give the character to our restructuring process.
The Pastoral Area:
| Cathedral Parish | Sacred Heart Parish | Holy Rosary Parish | St. Teresa's Parish |
| Fatima Parish | St. Pius X Parish | Holy Spirit Community | Meadow Bank Parish |
| Malgre-Tout Parish | Hague Parish |
The Team:
| Team | Residence |
| Fr. John Persaud | Cathedral Parish |
| Msgr. Terrence Montrose | Malgre-Tout |
| Fr. Keith Hardless | Meadow Bank |
| Fr. Anthony D'Souza S.J. | St. Pius X |
Each member of the Team other than living at the above presbyteries will oversee the following parishes and presbyteries;
| Fr. John Persaud | Our Lady Of Fatima / Sacred Heart |
| Msgr. Terrence Montrose | Holy Rosary |
| Fr. Keith Hardless | St. Teresa's |
| Fr. Anthony D'Souza S.J. | Holy Spirit |
The presbyteries that will be vacant as a result of the restructuring will be looked after by some persons from the area whom the priest with responsibility for that Church will organise and oversee. These persons will live in a section of the building leaving the main building available for the priest whenever he needs to spend time in the area.
Ministries
Fr. Keith Hardless will be responsible for these areas of ministry within the Pastoral Area;
| Education | Liturgy |
| - Catechetical programmes for children | - Choirs |
| - Catechetical programmes for Adults(RCIA) | - Altar servers |
| - Formation and Faith Education for the Laity | - Church decorating |
| - Celebration of the Sacraments |
Fr. John Persaud will be responsible for these areas of ministry within the Pastoral Area;
| Finance & Building | Administration |
| - Stewardship | - Staff |
| - Budgeting | - Parish records |
| - Financial systems & Records | - Liaise with parish secretaries |
| - Inventories of assets | |
| - Fund-raising | |
| - Repairs to buildings |
Msgr. Terrence Montrose will be responsible for this area of ministry within the Pastoral Area;
| Social Ministry(Outreach Ministry) |
| - Soup kitchens |
| - Hamper distribution |
| - House visitations |
| - Credit Unions |
| - Social Justice issues |
Fr. Anthony D'Souza S.J. will be responsible for this area of ministry within the Pastoral Area;
| Youth,Vocations,Family & Life |
| - Liaise with Youth Committees/ Groups and Youth Office |
| - Fostering Youth-based programmes |
| - Fostering Youth vocations |
| - Liaise with Family & Life Committees |
| - Liaise with the Family & Life Commission of the Diocese |
| - Promote through the Family & Life Committees within the Pastoral Area, family-based programmes that will seek to build and enrich good family life |
NOTE Each community, with its Priest and Pastoral Council, will see that all of these areas of ministry are looked after in each parish. The Priest assigned to oversee particular areas of ministry will see to it that the various ministries are up and running and ensure that the Diocesan policies and programmes are in place in each community.
Chaplaincy
Within the Pastoral Area ,Fr. Oliver Farnum will be appointed by the Bishop to have responsibility for the following Chaplaincies.
| Ladies of Charity | St. Vincent de Paul |
| Charismatic Renewal | Sodalities |
| School | Prison |
| Hospitals | Convents |
Fr. Farnum will reside at one of the available Presbyteries and, while not a member of the team, will liaise with the Pastoral Team.