Recently assigned pastors are required to submit a report on their first year in
their new assignment. This is part 2 of 2 of my report to Bishop Libasci. (The
full letter is available in the Plexiglas rack in the vestibule.)

April 30, 2009
Most Reverend Peter Libasci
Eastern Vicariate
P.O. Box 5046
Southampton, NY 11969

Dear Bishop Libasci: (part two)

The hope of the diocese was that as the Manorville area grew in population with the newly established parish, the temporary church building would become inadequate to handle the crowds of worshipers. New home owners, it was
thought, would assist in the building of a new church for the expanding population of Manorville. However,
neighboring parishes, especially St. John, Center Moriches, opened their doors and registered arriving Manorville
residents (some 600 Manorville Catholic children participate in St. Johns religious education programs). In addition,
Brookhaven Town officials, recognizing the impact the growing population was having on the school system, roads
and highways of the town, raised taxes and authorized the building of a new middle school and high school
(Eastport South Manor) to accommodate the
expanding student population (almost 300 per grade). Zoning laws for residential building were modified to 1 acre
or more, and local farmers were subsidized to discourage their selling their farms and open land to real estate
developers. Environmentalists, concerned about threats to Long Island's Pine Barrens wilderness area, actively
sought to preserve wildlife and vegetation.
For the past three years there has been little development in residential housing. With the current economic
implosion and national recession, new housing is virtually at a standstill.
In his parish report of August, 2007, Father McGratty mentioned his participation in a feasibility study
regarding the building of a 1000 seat church with classrooms for Saints Peter and Paul parish. It seems clear to me,
and after consultation with them, clear to the Staff, Council and Finance Committee, that neither present
circumstances nor future ones indicate the feasibility of this kind of major project for our parish.
However, a constant theme in my conversations with parishioners is their expressed need for more meeting
space for parish ministries and community building activities. The need for a Parish Center seems to be more of a
priority than a new church. Many believe that the building of a Center for community meetings and festivities could
have the positive effect of encouraging greater participation and attracting newcomers. A new Center can meet
current needs for ministry space, and could lead to increased attendance for all parish masses, and the necessity of
building a new Church on the footprint of the present one. This new church building could be a simple architectural
design, similar to Most Holy Trinity's parish church/auditorium in East Hampton or O.L. of the Rosary,
Bridgehampton, accommodating 500 persons and constructed of steel and glass.
I have formed a Parish Building Committee to gather data and information on a possible parish center (steel) to
be built parallel to the church and west of the rectory on our existing parking lot. An architect parishioner has
volunteered professional drawings of this 35’ x 60’ (4 classroom structure). He envisions a second-floor with
offices and an elevator for public access. This building committee has met with the chief of Brookhaven's building
office. Due to the proximity of the proposed building site to the church and rectory, he predicts no difficulty in
getting the necessary permits.
Next week the Parish Building Committee will be meeting with Eric Anderson of the diocese for his advice
and guidance as we develop plans.

Sincerely yours,
Reverend Bruce J. Powers