Greetings In The Lord
Among the most important responsibilities of the Bishop’s pastoral office is assurance that there is suitable provision of divine worship and Catholic community life for Christ’s faithful people who are committed to his care. At the same time the pastor of each parish needs to be able to satisfy without undue difficulty the parochial responsibilities assigned to him by his Bishop.
The following just causes support the establishment of a consolidated parish in the Vineland area of Cumberland County, New Jersey:
1) to provide more effectively for the pastoral needs of the faithful of the parish of The Church of Saint Isidore the Farmer in Cumberland County, New Jersey and the parish of The Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart in Cumberland County, New Jersey;
2) to assure the vitality of parish life in this area;
3) to provide for a better stewardship of resources; and,
4) to provide for the optimum use of clergy, religious, and lay personnel.
For the reasons listed above as well as having worked together in a patient and cooperative manner to bring these faith communities into one Community of Faith; because of the communality of the parish communities of The Church of Saint Isidore the Farmer, 1655 Magnolia Road, Vineland and The Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, 1010 E. Landis Avenue, Vineland; in response to the request of the pastor of these communities, Reverend Monsignor John H. Burton, to unite these parishes; the favorable advice of the local Vicar Forane; and having listened to the opinions of the Presbyteral Council about the needs of the Catholic Faithful in this area of Cumberland County, I have determined that the pastoral care of these communities will be fostered best by consolidating these individual communities and uniting them as one new parish.
Accordingly, in virtue of the prescripts of canon 121 and canon 515, §1 of the Code of Canon Law, in order to provide more effectively for the spiritual welfare and the salvation of souls, having judged that sufficiently just causes are present, and having consulted the Presbyteral Council in accord with canon 515, §2, I hereby DECREE, ANNOUNCE and PUBLISH:
The merger of the The Church of Saint Isidore the Farmer, 1655 Magnolia Road, Vineland and The Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, 1010 E. Landis Avenue, Vineland and the establishment of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish.
Reverend Monsignor John H. Burton will serve as the Pastor of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish for a term of six years commencing on the effective date of this decree.
The parochial church of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, which retains its proper title and the name The Church of Saint Isidore the Farmer, is located at 1655 Magnolia Road, Vineland, New Jersey. The Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart will retain its own proper title and will be maintained as a worship site to be used by the merged community.
The territorial boundaries of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish will be the same as the combined boundaries of the former parishes of The Church of Saint Isidore the Farmer and The Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart. The establishment of these parish boundaries is duly recorded at the Chancery Office of the Diocese of Camden, as:
Start at the point where Forest Grove Rd intersects the Millville Branch of the Pennsylvania – Reading Seashore Railroad between West Blvd and East Blvd in Vineland.
1. East on Forest Grove Rd to Blue Bell Rd
2. South on Blue Bell Rd to Main Rd
3. South on Main Rd to Oak Ave
4. East on Oak Ave to Brewster Rd
5. South on Brewster Rd to Lincoln Ave
6. Southwest on Lincoln Ave to its point of intersection with the Vineland – Millville city limit
7. Northwest along the Vineland – Millville city limit to its point of intersection with the Pennsylvania – Reading Seashore Line
8. North along the Pennsylvania – Reading Seashore Line to its point of intersection with Forest Grove Rd (point of origin) 12.44 sq mi
The goods and property of the parishes of The Church of Saint Isidore the Farmer and of The Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, including their real estate and buildings, as well as their debts and obligations, shall be assigned to Christ the Good Shepherd Parish. Further, the voluntary offerings of the faithful, as well as other grants, pledges and gifts which have been or will be made to either of these predecessor parishes will constitute revenue to Christ the Good Shepherd Parish for the benefit of the pastoral life of this community of the faithful as well as the rightful support of those who minister to them.
As of the effective date of this DECREE, the sacramental registers of The Church of Saint Isidore the Farmer, 1655 Magnolia Road, Vineland and The Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, 1010 E. Landis Avenue, Vineland will be closed and moved to the seat of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, 1655 Magnolia Road, Vineland. All sacraments administered from that date forward will be recorded in new sacramental registers of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish.
I approve the statutes of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish as submitted.
As of the effective date of this DECREE, the financial accounts of The Church of Saint Isidore the Farmer, 1655 Magnolia Road, Vineland and The Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, 1010 E. Landis Avenue, Vineland will have been closed and transferred to the financial account of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish.
As of the effective date of this DECREE, The Church of Saint Isidore the Farmer, 1655 Magnolia Road, Vineland and The Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, 1010 E. Landis Avenue, Vineland will be civilly consolidated under the laws of the State of New Jersey as Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, Vineland, N.J.
This DECREE becomes effective on December 7, 2011.
I instruct that this DECREE be communicated immediately to the parishioners of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish by Reverend Monsignor John H. Burton whom I have herein named their Pastor. This DECREE is likewise to be published immediately in the Catholic Star Herald and on the diocesan website.
Given in Camden, on this 4th day of November, 2011, at the Diocesan Center.
Joseph A. Galante
Bishop of Camden
In cujus fidem…
Robert E. Hughes
Chancellor