KANE — Saturday’s Mass at St. Callistus Roman Catholic Church in Kane led by the Rev. Philip Pinczewski was the site of celebration and faith as members gathered to praise and worship. However, despite the celebration, there was an air of sorrow among some members stemming from recent news that Father Phil had been reassigned.
As part of the Catholic Diocese of Erie restructuring plan, Pinczewski has been reassigned along with more than 30 other priests under the diocese umbrella. An article provided by the diocese states, “The Diocese of Erie is about to experience the most significant change in clergy assignments and parish configurations since its founding in 1853.”
Final plans for the restructuring were announced in September of 2016, with final decisions on clergy changes coming down in January of this year.
With that said, Pinczewski sat down with The Era on Saturday afternoon to talk about his time at St. Callistus and what the future holds in the diocese and for himself. His new assignment is at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Erie.
When asked what lead to the need to restructure, Pinczewski said, “The priests of the diocese have been asking for something to happen for years. Everywhere else in the state of Pennsylvania has been done except for the Erie Diocese, so we were the last.”
Pinczewski added, “two things drive it (restructuring) — the number of clergy and demographics.”
Articles available through the Diocese of Erie website outlined more specific data supporting Pinczewski’s explanation. Figures indicate the population of the diocese has shrunk by 6.7 percent over the last decade, along with a 19 percent drop in the number of registered households and 26 percent attendance drop within the diocese.
“Our demographics in northwestern Pennsylvania, the 13 counties in this area are way down with no growth in any of those counties,” said Pinczewski.
“You get two things that cause that,” Pinczewski said. “Some people just don’t see church as important and the other thing is that people are dying off and not being replaced.”
In reference to a shortage of priests, Bishop Lawrence T. Persico echoed this in a diocese release stating, “it is a concern that reminds us we must continue to pray for and to encourage vocations to the priesthood.”
In an effort to address the changes in demographics, Persico’s focus has been to strengthen the faith community by pooling resources and uniting for a more broad, deeper celebration of the sacramental life of the church.
“What we’re trying to do is provide the best possible pastoral care for our people with fewer resources,” Persico said. “We have fewer priests and fewer people now and the demographics are changing. We’re hopefully seeing in this a way to make the parishes more vibrant and welcoming so that people can have a prayerful opportunity to worship.”
Pinczewski has been the pastor at St. Callistus for nearly 20 years, starting his journey there in June of 1997. When asked about how he ended up in Kane, he replied, “They used to be able to post parishes kind of like you’d post for a job, you know. They let it be known that this parish would be available, that the priest would be moving on to another position and I let it be known that I wanted to be a pastor. This was my first pastorate.”
Pinczewski had spent his youth involved in the church starting in Erie, stating, “Church was an important part of our life growing up. I went to Catholic school all my life from kindergarten through graduate school, so it was always important.
“I always saw church as something that could make a difference in people’s lives and I could help people get answers to things when they were in trouble,” he added. “And I could really help them find that and when they meet God they find true peace and happiness.”
When asked to reflect on the proudest moments of his time at St. Callistus, Pinczewski replied, “Well, how people have drawn together to be a part of the activities in the parish. We have a strong religious education program and we’re doing intergenerational activities with the young and old. But we’ve accomplished lots of projects, probably that couldn’t have happened if I hadn’t been here for a long term.
“People had always been dreaming here about doing this and doing that and I said ‘If you’re going to act, if you want to be alive, you need to act alive’ so we had the projects and we just revisited them, revised them,” Pinczewski said “The proudest is that people have come forward in faith to share their gifts, their talents, and their support to help make those projects happen as well as build a faith community.”
Pinczewski said, “I’ll miss the small town. I like knowing, walking down the street seeing someone you know and saying hello and I’ll miss knowing who is around. Just people.”
At Saturday’s Mass, parishioners Marie Cunningham and Judy Rolick expressed their sadness in hearing the news of Father Phil’s reassignment. With tears rolling down her face, Rolick commented, “he really is just a great man and so down to earth. We’re sad to see him go.”
Pinczewski stood in faith, leaving words of wisdom for his parishioners when he said, “We’ve got to keep acting, trusting and working together to share what we have. There is a lot of talent here, a lot of talent. Just share that talent so we can continue to share the good news of Christ. That’s what’s going to keep the church open, alive and vibrant.”
The Rev. William J. O’Brien will assume pastoral duties at St. Callistus following the transition period. A press release from the diocese states the decrees for parish restructuring take effect today (Feb. 13), but that parishes had until June 30 to fully implement the plan.
When asked what verse he would relate to the restructuring and his reassignment, Pinczewski replied, “I guess, I think it was St. Paul that said, ‘When you’re young, you go where you want to go. But, when you’re old, you put on your belt and go where you don’t want to go.'”
One this is clear, Father Phil will be strongly missed by his parishioners and was even selected as a 2017 recipient for Citizen of the Year by the Kane Chamber of Commerce for his volunteerism in various community organizations and being a support system for so many.
Julia Anderson commented on Facebook, stating, ” We are going to miss you!! You have been a great addition to our parish and our community. Our family wishes you the best of luck and as my grandma would say, ‘No goodbyes, it’s so long for now.'”
In reference to his selection as a Citizen of the Year and news of his departure, Bonnie Avenali Lindquist also commented saying, “Congratulations Father Phil! You have been a bright shining star to all the lives you have touched! Our community has been blessed to know you and have you here with us! Thank you for all you have done and hearts you have touched! You will be missed by so many.”
