St. Thomas More Church and Our Lady of Good Counsel to be Merged

Cardinal Dolan has sent a letter to parishioners of St. Thomas More and Our Lady of Good Counsel concerning the merger of the two parishes. The Cardinal’s letter is below.

May 08, 2015

Dear People of St. Thomas More Parish,

You have been very patient in awaiting my decision on the future of your parish. Thank You!

Thank you even more for your obviously deep love for St Thomas More Parish. So many of you shared your observations on the proposal made to you last November, the majority of you in a very helpful, courteous manner. Many of you participated in the Making All Things New process, taking me seriously when I assured you that I would not, could not, make a decision until I got your input.

The recommendation from your cluster is that Saint Thomas More Church remains open.

I accept your recommendation.

However, I have decided that there will be a new structure. On August 1, 2015, Saint Thomas More Parish and Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish will merge: the two churches will both remain open, with Our Lady of Good Counsel Church as the main parish church. The two will now be considered one parish, to share priests, with one pastor – – who will live at Our Lady of Good Counsel – – one parish staff, one parish council, one set of sacramental records, one financial account, one group of trustees , and a developing process of working more closely together in common apostolates, activities and organizations.

The goal of Making All Things New is simple: to ensure that all of our parishes are active, vibrant communities of faith. Now, you will be part of a new community of faith, joining with the faithful of the Parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel in becoming a new spiritual family.

While I trust you were pleased with the first and most important decision – – that your church will remain open – – I acknowledge that you might not be as pleased with the second one, the new structure.

I ask you to look at it this way: the church you love you still have. Your Masses, devotions, traditions, activities, groups and organizations will all still go on, now in a collaborative way as one parish.

You will have many questions about the implementation of this merger over the days, weeks, and months to come, such as, will there be a new name? Will there be a new pastor? Will the schedules change? To help your parish answer these and other questions, we will have a transition team working very closely with you and your pastor to ensure that your new parish is formed in the fairest and most effective way.

My hope is that you can accept this as a fair and logical resolution (as has been the case in dozens of other parishes): your beloved church remains open; yet, resources, priests, staff, and buildings can be more effectively used. That’s pastoral planning.

Renewed gratitude for your patience, and for your hopeful acceptance and understanding.

With prayerful best wishes for a blessed Easter season, I am,

Faithfully in Christ,
Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York

Church of St. Thomas More, 65 E. 89th Street, more photos