Three churches to pair, or yoke, with three neighboring parishes

                 Three rural Catholic churches in the Diocese of Des Moines, which have shared a priest in recent years, will pair with three neighboring, larger parishes. There are several benefits, including greater stability for the three parishes, and opportunities to gain access to more pastoral, catechetical and liturgical care and resources while retaining their individual identities as independent parishes. The changes are expected to be phased in by the end of September.
               The decision to pair, or yoke, each of three parishes with three nearby parishes comes after a summer of local discussions and visits by Bishop Richard Pates and the Bishop’s consultation with the Diocesan Presbyteral Council, members of the diocesan staff and the three neighboring pastors. After examining the pastoral needs of all 82 parishes in the diocese and the needs and opportunities available for these three parishes in Madison and Warren Counties, Bishop Pates offered the three parishes three options and asked them to consider which they would prefer. The options were to pair with nearby parishes, to locate a priest from another country to serve the three parishes, or close the parishes.
              The parishes that will be yoking with nearby parishes are as follows:

• St. Patrick Church near Irish Settlement (77 families) will be paired with St. Joseph Church in Winterset (273 families).
• Assumption Church in Churchville (79 families), will be paired with St. John the Apostle Church in Norwalk (525 families).
• Immaculate Conception Church in St. Marys (170 families) will be paired with St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Indianola (510 families).

             “I have had an opportunity to talk with lay leadership of the three parishes – St. Patrick, Assumption and Immaculate Conception – and have been impressed with their desire to preserve the rich history of their parishes without sacrificing opportunities for future pastoral and catechetical care of for themselves, their children and grandchildren,” said Bishop Pates. “As the Diocese of Des Moines celebrates its upcoming 100th anniversary, we mark the faith foundation our families have laid for us while looking toward the future to best meet the needs of our people. I thank the parishioners for giving serious thought to this matter and all who have been involved in the consultation. I’m sure the parishioners will be welcomed with open arms by the respective pastors and parishes to which they will be growing closer.”