BINGHAMTON – The Diocese of Syracuse today announced the reconfiguration decisions involving parishes in the Southern Region of the Diocese of Syracuse, but postponed a decision on any churches in Chenango County. This is the third diocesan announcement in a series of decisions that will be implemented throughout the seven counties of the diocese.

Today’s announcements will be effective in 2008, 2009 and beyond, depending on priest personnel changes.

“The purpose of today’s announcements is to give our priests and people a blueprint of the future care of their parishes’, stated Bishop Moynihan. Some of the decisions do not have dates upon which the changes will occur, as they are dependent on the personnel changes that will take place over time. I along with the College of Consultors, have reached what we believe to be the best decisions possible in light of the current challenges.”

The plans for the parishes of Chenango County – St. Theresa, New Berlin, St. Bartholomew, St. Paul, Norwich, St. John Bainbridge, St. Agnes Mission, Afton, St. Malachy, Sherburne, Immaculate Conception, Greene, and St. Joseph Oxford – will be announced at a later date after interdiocesan dialogue is completed.

The announcements for rest the Southern Region of the diocese are as follows: