The continuing shortage of priests and the need to re-assign pastors has resulted in two more parish restructurings.

At a meeting on Sept. 7 at Good Shepherd Church in Drums, officials of the Diocese of Scranton announced that:

--Very Rev. Gerard F. Safko, V.F., pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Drums, St. Nazarius in Pardeesville and St. Mary in Lattimer Mines, would be re-assigned as pastor of Holy Name of Mary Church in Montrose. Father Michael J. Kloton, the pastor of Holy Name, will go on a leave of absence.

--Father Joseph J. Evanko, pastor of St. John Bosco Church in Conyngham, will retain that position and also become pastor of Good Shepherd, St. Nazarius and St. Mary, as well as Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Harleigh. Sacred Heart’s current pastor, Rev. Peter D. Menghini, has been appointed chaplain of St. Mary’s Villa Nursing Home in Elmhurst.

The restructuring became effective Sept. 13.

Father Joseph R. Kopacz, Diocesan Vicar General and Secretary for Clergy, said that several factors make it feasible to place these five parishes under the leadership of one pastor.

“In this particular case, the churches are located in an area that is basically homogenous, and some of these parishes are relatively small. In addition, Father Evanko will be assisted by several other priests,” he explained.

Those priests are Father John C. Ruth, Father Michael P. Litcheck and Father Balireddy Ponnapati, all of whom are already serving at the various churches involved in the restructuring.

“Because of the faith and inherent generosity of the people of our valley, I think this restructuring is a natural fit,” Father Evanko said. “It’s an exciting opportunity to help foster a vibrant and growing Catholic community here.”

Good Shepherd Church has 2,087 parishioners. In 2004, the parish had 31 baptisms and 14 deaths. St. John Bosco has 4,118 parishioners. It had 65 baptisms and 22 deaths last year.

St. Mary’s has 365 parishioners. There was 1 baptism and 3 deaths in 2004. At St. Nazarius, there are 359 parishioners. The church had 2 baptisms and 7 deaths last year. There are 393 parishioners at Sacred Heart, which had 2 baptisms and 2 deaths in 2004.

Masses will continue to be celebrated at each of the five churches. A revised Mass schedule is being developed.

The Diocese will also restructure St. John the Evangelist and Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary parishes in South Scranton under the leadership of one pastor. That announcement was made at a meeting with parishioners at the St. John parish hall on Sept. 8.

The restructuring coincides with the upcoming retirement of Father Eugene L. Gunning, pastor of St. John since July 2000. Father Gunning has served in the Diocese for 50 years. He will celebrate his final Masses as a pastor on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 10:30 a.m. and on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 9 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church.

At that time Father Scott P. Sterowski, pastor of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, will also become pastor of St. John the Evangelist.

Masses will continue to be celebrated at both churches. A revised Mass schedule is being developed.

Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary has 1,210 parishioners. In 2004, the parish had 22 baptisms and 39 deaths. St. John the Evangelist has 537 parishioners. It had 5 baptisms and 10 deaths last year.

Father Kopacz said that the retirement of Father Gunning adds to the shortage of active priests, which is one of the factors that has led to the restructuring of parishes in the Diocese.

Today, 211 priests are available for active service in the 11-county Diocese, compared with the high of 476 priests in 1966. By the end of this year, it is likely that four priests will become inactive. The Diocese projects that the number will fall even more to 164 by 2010.

Diocesan Chancellor James B. Earley said that 70 parish restructurings have now been implemented. More than half of these restructurings have occurred since 1991 because of factors such as the continuing shortage of priests, the ongoing population decline in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, and the need for active priests in other areas of the Diocese where the population is growing, especially in Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties.