Several years ago our diocese grouped parishes together to form Pastoral Care Areas. The purpose was to help parishes to begin to work together and plan for the future. Our Pastoral Care Area includes the parishes of Saints John and Andrew, St. Vincent de Paul Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of Sorrows, and the Binghamton University Newman House. A Parish Cluster Council with representatives from each parish was formed, and since 2013 these groups meet several times a year to help parishes explore their similarities and differences with an eye toward current needs and goals for the future.