FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS -
F.A.Q (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
AMALGAMATION of ST BRENDAN’S & HOLY ROSARY
to form One Parish
1. Why amalgamate?
Currently the parish office staff maintain two sets of financial accounts and financial records, as well as two databases for parishioner records, safeguarding records and Sacramental records.
This causes inefficiencies in every aspect of the administration of the parish.
Amalgamation will remove these inefficiencies and let shared parish resources work in the best interest of a unified parish. Income, assets, and property belonging to both churches, will be consolidated, and managed at the single ‘Flemington Parish’ level.
2. What does Parish amalgamation mean for us?
“Parish Amalgamation” means bringing together all aspects of Parish Communities and Churches, to become a new single parish.
We will be a single Parish with two Churches. The new single Parish will be responsible for all the property, records, assets and liabilities that were the responsibility individually before amalgamation.
3. How was the decision reach to amalgamation our Parishes?
Our parishes have been working together in partnership for a number of years. During this time there has been increased collaboration, in more recent times we have combined the parish office, reviewed mass times, celebrated events together and shared liturgical celebrations.
During the partnership we have experience a strengthening of our community and forming one parish will help us create a vital, vibrant and viable community.
The decision to submit a petition for amalgamation will come from the community. This documentation will be informed by the consultation process and will be prepared by the parish leadership teams for review and endorsement.
The petition is submitted to the Archbishop for review and final approval.
4. What does the partnered Parish and amalgamation mean?
Partnered Parishes are a collection of two or more individual Parishes that share a Priest or Priests. Each Parish is responsible for its own property, records, assets and liabilities.
Partnered parishes have some shared resources and activities, combined leadership and ministry groups.
5. Will both churches remain open?
Yes, both churches will remain open.
However if there are changes to the community this will need to be reviewed over time
6. Will the churches keep their names?
Yes, they will retain their current names and continue to serve their local communities.
The two churches will be located within a single parish named, that will need to be determined.
7. Will there be a new name for the amalgamation for both churches
Yes, a new parish will be created and a new name for the parish will need to be determined, through consultation via the parishioners.
8. Suggestions for new Parish name – Who will decide?
The parish community through consultation will decide the new name, this may be done through a survey or voting still to be determined. (each church will keep their current name)
9. Will there be one parish website?
Yes, we have this now - a single parish website.
10. Will there be any changes to Mass times? Will current mass time be impacted?
Mass times will remain the same at the two churches while attendance numbers remain at current levels.
11. Will there be any changes to the use of the churches?
No, Parishioners still have the choice of either church for the purposes of funerals and weddings.
All other services, including weekday Masses, Baptisms, and Sacramental programs will continue to be held at both churches.
12. How do parishioners get involved with the process?
Communication is key, there will be opportunities to be involved through feedback, questions and involvement through the consultation process including attending forums and responding to surveys.
Information can be found Via the Notice Board, Website, Bulletin and Suggestion / Questions Box.
2 x Forums – attended and raise questions concerns
Submit in the Suggestion and Questions Box
Or email at flemken@camg.org.au with Amalgamation in the subject field
13. When & Where are the Forums
1st Forum “Reimaging our shared identity in Christ”
2nd Forum “Walking together in Hope and Joy”
1st forum - 7pm Wednesday 3rd September at St Brendan’s Church
2nd forum - 7pm Tuesday 14th October at Holy Rosary Church
Note: This is not a separate forum for each church, it is for 2 different discussions / Topics.
14. Where can we find out more information?
Website and Notice board in the church, Parish Forums.
15. Who can I speak to get more information?
You can use the feedback channels or contact the parish office for more information by phone or email at flemken@camg.org.au
16. Will certificates of sacraments have individual names of individual churches or a new parish partnered name?
The sacramental certificates will have the name of the individual Church where the ceremony took place, and the new Parish name, on them.
17. Where will the Parish office be located?
The Parish office will remain in its current location at St Brendan’s.
18. What is the cost of amalgamation?
There is no cost associated with the amalgamation process and implementation of changes will be supported through the Archdiocese
19. What will happen with all of our current assets?
All current assets will become assets of the new parish
20. What are the legal implications?
Due diligence is being completed to identify any legal implications that may occur.
21. What are the legal ramifications?
Not that we are currently aware off
22. When does the amalgamation take place (date - TBA)?
We will suggest a date as part of the Petition to amalgamate however the Archbishop has final say on the effective date of the new parish
23. What will happen to parish assets/properties?
St Brendan’s is the owner of - three leased properties & one church hall.
Holy Rosary is the owner of four leased properties:
Arrangements of the various leases will not change under an amalgamated parish
The Flemington Parish administration will continue to oversee all leases as they do now.
All leases of parish property are undertaken by The Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation (RCTC) for the Diocese of Melbourne on behalf of a parish.
24. Will boundaries for school enrolments change?
No, the boundaries remain as they are now for the purposes of school enrolments. Any changes to enrolment criteria at Catholic schools is the responsibility of Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) and changes to our parish will not impact school enrolments.
25. Is either church not financially viable or will one drain on the assets of the other.
Parish Support contributions are similar? neither church will be a financial drain on the other once we are a unified parish entity.
26. What are the future plans for the combined Parish?
The Parish planning committee need to reach out for suggestions and reflections from parishioners since we announced the proposed amalgamation.
Once amalgamation is complete the parish can look forward to the future. When the parish begins a process of strategic planning all submissions will be considered.
The process of strategic planning is far more complex and time-consuming than amalgamation. We would expect to begin a strategic planning initiative commence within the next 6-8 months.
27. Next steps?
Canon Law requires consultation with the parishioners of each parish community as part of the amalgamation process which occurred at community information sessions.
Next Fr will submit a report to the Council of Priests requesting amalgamation, which will include a summary of feedback from the community meetings. It is expected that the amalgamation process will be finalised by TBA
28. Key Dates
Key Dates are – will be updated …
After announcement 14 July to 17th August– Prayer and Discernment - Period of regarding Amalgamation
3rd September – Combined Parish 1st Forum
4th September – 19 September – Prayer and Discernment – Period for Feedback and Questions
20th September – 5th October – Parish Survey
14th October – Combined Parish 2nd Forum 2
15th October onwards – Prayer for our new parish communities.
29. Abbreviations (What do you mean by…? )
PAPC Parish Amalgamation planning committee
CAM Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne: Geographically large, our Archdiocese is made up of over 200 parishes in an area as vast as Yarraville to Yea, Geelong to Greensborough, Healesville to Hadfield. Our Archbishop is Peter Comensoli, our Vicar General is Anthony (Tony) Kerin. Melbourne has three Auxillary Bishops: Terry Curtain, Martin Ashe and Anthony John Ireland. And 2 new Rene Ramirez, and Joachim Nguyễn Xuân Thinh
RCTC The Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation (RCTC) is the legal entity holding all property on behalf of parishes.
MACS Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Ltd is responsible for the governance and operation of approximately 300 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. The board of MACS was established in 2020 by Archbishop of Melbourne Peter A Comensoli.
RULBA Right to Use Land and Buildings Agreement. A formal agreement reached between the parish and school for the exclusive and for the shared use of all parish land and facilities. For example a school would generally have exclusive use of classrooms and the school yard and a parish would have exclusive use of a church and presbytery but they may share use of some facilities like parish halls, tennis courts and carparks. RULBAs include the overall responsibility of coordinating the usage, maintenance and financial responsibility of all shared facilities (including insurances).
For any queries, please contact the Parish Office 03 9412 8495 / 0451 237 577
or email flemken@cam.org.au (subject amalgamation)
