By Will O'Brienwobrien@beloitdailynews.combeloitdailynews.com | 1 comment
The following is taken from: http://www.beloitdailynews.com/news/st-peter-parish-priest-reassigned-by-diocese/article_492e8dac-2802-11e1-8576-001871e3ce6c.html
After a brief, and at times difficult stay as parochial administrator at St. Peter Catholic School and Parish in South Beloit, the Rev. Nicholas Federspiel has been reassigned by the Diocese of Rockford and will return to St. John Neumann Parish in St. Charles, Ill. where he previously served.
He performed his last mass at St. Peter Thursday morning.
His replacement, the Rev. Steven Sabo, comes from Christ the King Parish in Wonder Lake, Ill. Federspiel described Sabo as a good friend he's known since their days together in seminary and said their relationship should make the transition of leadership easier.
Federspiel's reassignment is not necessarily indicative of his performance, said Diocese spokesperson Penny Wiegert, as "a little shuffling" of priests is done annually and is considered routine. These moves are decided upon and approved by the Diocesan Bishop Thomas Doran, and a panel called the Vicar for Religious and Clergy. Administrators, like Federspiel, are more likely to have brief assignments than full pastors, she said.
"We have to look at what the needs of a parish are overall and who can best fill those needs," Wiegert said.
But others, former parishioners and former grade school parents who pulled their children from St. Peter before this academic term, are sure to read into the matter a bit further.
In late July, the Diocese pulled the plug on a multi-million dollar new school and parish project for which about $2.2 million in donations had been raised over the course of several years. Donors were given the opportunity to reclaim their financial gifts, but for many of those involved, the campaign was never about money, but rather, the dream of building up a faith community.
St. Peter's school enrollment had climbed for several years, and the parish had drawn in increasing numbers families from the Roscoe area, where the new church and school building were to be built.
Just days after the Diocese announced its decision to cancel the project, a town hall-style meeting was held in the church basement of St. Peter. More than 100 were in attendance, and many of those who took time to publicly address the crowd expressed frustration over the project's cancellation, casting blame on Federspiel and Diocesan administrators for a lack of communication and lack of leadership.
Federspiel has been at St. Peter for less than two years. Some who defended him at the town hall conference in July said he inherited a mess, but others said his decisions only made matters worse. According to multiple accounts, Federspiel disbanded several of the congregation's popular social groups and was nearly impossible to contact via phone or in person.
According to a July Beloit Daily News article, Tom McGinniss, who served on the fundraising committee, said "the change in leadership in this parish really caused this project to fail."
School enrollment there was 114 in 2009-10, according to a spreadsheet provided by St. Peter School Principal Ed O'Brien. Since then, enrollment has dwindled and is now about half the previous figure.
Still, those currently at the school say Federspiel's not at fault. Wiegert emphasized his move was "nothing unusual."
"People can fill in the blanks however they want," she said, but at any given parish, some members like the priest and others will not. It's impossible to please everyone, she said.
After Thursday morning's mass, Federspiel gathered with school children, teachers and a few special guests for a farewell reception in the school's gymnasium. He was welcomed with a strong round of applause and received hand-written notes from nearly all in attendance.
He led the children in cheers of "hip-hip-hooray" and appeared upbeat throughout the appearance. He received many hugs.
"I love you all so much," he said.
O'Brien, who has a long history in academia and previously served at Beloit's Brother Dutton school, had only positive things to say about Federspiel.
"I'm speaking about this year, my time working with him," O'Brien said. "We have worked very well together."
An exact starting date for incoming pastor, the Rev. Sabo was not given, but Federspiel said he's confident Sabo will be a good fit for St. Peter. He will work alongside current parochial vicar there, the Rev. Robert McClellan.
Despite some of the negativity that surrounding Federspiel's tenure, he insisted he would fondly remember his time at St. Peter.
"It's been a real privilege to be part of the parish and school," he said.
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