Bishop John M. Smith, Diocese of Trenton, received recommendations for parish restructuring in Monmouth Central Deanery in mid-August.
The year-long Deanery study was based on research, analysis and consultation by delegates from each of the participating parishes, as well as input from parishes.
The study group recommended three configurationmodels for each of two geographic divisions, the North and South clusters. The local North Cluster parishes are Nativity, Fair Haven; Holy Cross, Rumson; and St. Anthony and St. James, Red Bank.
The recommendations employ four different options for restructuring: parish merger; twinning, in which two or more parishes share a pastor; clustering, or a group of parishes administered by a team of priests; and mission, in which one parish becomes the principal parish to others that are missions. No parishes were earmarked for suppression or closure, a fifth canonical option available.
It is expected that parishes selected for merger will be renamed to reflect the new entity, and churches as worship sites within the parishes would not be renamed.