Shock filled the “Old Church” in Tempe this summer when the parish announced that pastoral leadership was changing at All Saints Catholic Newman Center.

The church, run by the Western Dominican Province since 1969, will be under Diocese of Phoenix control starting July 1, 2010. Fred Lucci resigned as the Newman Center’s director and pastor, and the church is currently trying to move forward through a transitional year.

“Nobody saw it coming, including Father Fred and I,” Father James Thompson said. Thompson, who is beginning his fourth year at the Newman Center, is currently acting as the pastor and interim director for the transitional year.

“Whenever there’s a change of leadership in a parish, people tend to get upset,” Thompson said.

Mary Macuga, director of development for the Newman Center, said she agreed.

“The general feeling was disappointment and sadness,” she said.

For the Newman Center’s parishioners, much of the transitional anxiety comes from congregation rumors.

“When there is a lack of information, people tend to make stuff up,” Thompson said.

Following the announcement, the church made efforts to quell speculation by holding question-and-answer sessions. Still, with no knowledge of whom the Diocese will place as the church’s new director, there are more questions than answers.

“I try to tell [the congregation] not to assume the worst,” Thompson said.

One popular rumor Thompson attempted to curb is regarding the Newman Center’s former lesbian and gay fellowship group.

“The bishop told us last year that we needed to disband our lesbian and gay fellowship in favor of an outreach ministry,” Thompson said. Though the church has maintained its lesbian and gay congregation members, the outreach ministry, called the “courage ministry,” has been unpopular.

As to why the Diocese decided to take control, “one of the rumors was that the bishop is punishing the Newman Center for having that [lesbian and gay] group,” Thompson said. “But [the fellowship] was not even a factor. Bishop Olmsted’s stated purpose at the Newman Center is to increase vocations.”

A chance to build interest in church careers will not be the Diocese’s only benefit in taking over at the Newman Center.

Deborah Sullivan, director of ASU Student Life, oversees the multi-ministry Council of Religious Advisors on campus.

“The Newman Center’s influence on campus is huge. They employ students, they are very involved in the council, and they are at any of the big events on campus,” she said.

Though the Newman Center pastoral leadership will change, the church’s staff members will remain in place for now.

The staff’s commitment to the Newman Center eases the concern of many parishioners.

Second-year law student and member of the Newman Center Joaquin Rios said one of the defining characteristics of the ministry is its emphasis on social justice.

“Because of the staff and volunteer continuation, I doubt that will change,” he said.

As a liaison between the Newman Center and the University, Sullivan said she agrees.

“The Newman Center truly believes in student engagement,” she said. “I don’t think that will ever change.”

Reach the reporter at jessica.testa@asu.edu.