After two weeks of waiting, Saint Saviour Elementary School parents are finally receiving individual written responses to the letters they sent to Thomas Chadzutko, the Superintendent of Schools for the
Diocese.
In their letters, parents expressed their disappointment with the plan by Saint Saviour pastor Father Murphy not to renew the contract of James Flanagan, the school's principal, who has run the school for 26 years.
"While we appreciate Chadzutko's acknowledgment and response,
unfortunately the message contained therein only serves to frustrate us
more," one parent wrote to OTBKB.
In his letter, Dr. Chadzutko confirms that, despite his title as Superintendent of
Schools, he can only provide guidance to Mr. Flanagan, as Mr. Flanagan is
employed by the Parish and not his office.
Dr. Chadzutko also told the parents that he shared the parent's concerns with with Father Murphy. "We suspect that, as
with all of the parents, alumni and parishioners who have shared their
concerns with Fr. Murphy, Dr. Chadzutko's concerns also fell on deaf
ears. It seems implausible that, in this day and age, a Parish can
be run like such a feudal system, with the Pastor as overlord
and his parishioners as serfs, meant to pray, pay and
obey," says this same parent.
The parents are hoping that Bishop DiMarzio and Aux. Bishop Caggiano will address their concerns after they review the situation.
I empathize and sympathize completely with Mr. Flanagan, the parents, teachers, children & parish.
I know what they are going through. The parish where I worked for 16 years has gone through a similar debacle at the whim of a misplaced neophyte priest-pastor. I was wrongfully, maliciously and vindictively terminated from my (primary) job of the past 16 years as liturgist and director of music at the end of December 2008. I was given no prior notice or warning of my termination and was given no definitive written or verbal reason for my termination. This priest-pastor had only been ordained 5-6 years when he was (suddenly) appointed as pastor of the parish roughly 6 months prior to my termination. He has singlehandedly turned the parish upside down and driven people away. Even people who continue to go to the church avoid him and opt to receive the Eucharist from lay ministers or the other priest. He began his tenure as a know-it-all, a tyrant, passive-aggressive-insulting bully and he is far from what one would call remotely humble. I don’t think it is even in his vocabulary. He is not a team player. Another irony is that this priest is not even an American-born citizen. Others of the small staff began looking for new jobs last fall because of the difficulty of working (not with) for this man. Bishop DiMarzio passed the buck to the area vicar upon receiving letters, petitions and calls as early as late August-September of 2008. People didn’t receive responses from the area vicar until November, after the priest was already installed. These were (essentially) form letters sent from the vicar. An attorney stated the content of the letters ignorant and insulting. When I was fired, it was obvious to me the Director of Human Resources was uncomfortable and he told me he could do nothing and that the pastor could do this, it was “his right.” After 16 years of service I was insultingly offered only 2 weeks of severance and I lost my medical insurance less than two weeks later. The cobra is $602 a month! Parishioners have been complaining about this priest-pastor since he arrived and they continue to do so. He lied to them about my termination and why the choir was missing. Parishioners continue to communicate with me, sadly informing me about how many people have left the parish and how awful the liturgy and music are since I am gone. We constantly received compliments from parishioners and guests alike for our liturgy and music. I took great pride in what we did there and following the Roman Missal & Liturgy Documents & Papal Legislation on Sacred Music. I did not apply for the job at this church. 16 years ago I was asked (when a substitute) by the pastor to be his director of music. I subsequently worked with three consecutive wonderful pastors, assisting clergy and great little staff. I was treated with respect and appreciation. Reference letters from the former pastors and vicars are extremely complimentary of my work, expertise and express respect and affection for me as a person.
It is obvious to me that Bishop DiMarzio sits in his ivory tower and does not care about lay employees or parishioners. It is all about money and not about grace, kindness, caring and compassion. If the parish where I worked was a big $$$ contributor to the diocese perhaps the Bishop would have paid attention to their complaints and pleas to be rid of this new priest-pastor. It is indeed a feudalistic dictatorship and they answer to nobody, certainly not to their flock. I just hope B. DiMarzio & the coterie of rotten dictatorial clergy out there remember there is no church without the flock! I do believe the majority of clergy are good men and I have worked with many in the course of my career in sacred music for over 35 years. It is unfortunate the egos and agendas of a few rotten apples spoil the lot.
I just hope Bishop DiMarzio is ready for some lawsuits if he continues to allow such mistreatment of employees and parishioners. It is about time he comes down out of his ivory tower and face the music.
Why “pray pay and obey”? If you agree with Fr. Murphy, continue attending and supporting St. Saviour as usual. If you disagree, instead of putting money in your weekly envelope, put in a note saying why you are withholding support.