3 Enfield Catholic Parishes To Merge With Multiple Campuses

ENFIELD, CT — A significant decline in attendance at Enfield's three Catholic parishes, coupled with an increased number of priests reaching retirement age, has led the Archdiocese of Hartford to implement some sweeping changes to the parish structure in town.

Studies of Catholic church attendance in Enfield show a decline of 33 percent since 2016. Additionally, St. Adalbert Church has been closed for some time due to structural, health and safety issues uncovered during a routine insurance inspection.

A letter to Catholic residents of Enfield from Archbishop of Hartford Leonard Blair spells out the following plans for St. Adalbert, St. Martha, St. Patrick, St. Bernard and Holy Family churches, effective July 1.

• All three parishes will be brought together as one parish at multiple campuses under the patronage of Saint Jeanne Jugan, with Father John Golas as pastor. Church names will remain the same.
• Father Mathew Kappalumakkel remains as parochial vicar, with an additional parochial vicar possibly becoming available, though not on a permanent basis.
• Father Anthony Bruno will continue to assist for as long as he is able, remaining on Senior Status (retired).
• Father Robert Villa will work full-time in the State of Connecticut correctional system at various prisons as assigned. Father Villa will remain in residence at St. Martha Rectory and celebrate what Pope Benedict called the extraordinary form of the Mass in accordance with Pope Francis' instructions, as well as Mass in Spanish each weekend at Saint Martha's. He and other clergy will celebrate the English language Masses in various churches, although on a different schedule — weekend and daily.
• When it is possible to re-open St. Adalbert Church, it will be for weddings and funerals only — not regularly scheduled masses.
• St. Bernard School and Little Angels Catholic Preschool will continue to operate, though as a ministry of the new, larger townwide parish of Saint Jeanne Jugan.

Blair also stated, "For only the second time in over 100 years, we have no men being ordained to the priesthood this year."

A transition committee will be formed with representatives from each of the three parishes, as well as the Spanish-speaking community and the schools, Blair said.

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