DECREE For Publication to Each and Everyone

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 Wildwood area of Cape May County, New Jersey:

1) to provide more effectively for the pastoral needs of the faithful of the parish of Saint Ann in Cape May County, New Jersey and the parish of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cape May 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 the fact that the two communities of Saint Ann Parish, Wildwood and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Wildwood Crest were brought together in prayer, to socialize and to recognize the unique gifts these communities would bring to the new parish and by addressing the unique challenges to the merger of this new parish; because of the communality of the parish communities of Saint Ann, 2901 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 7101 Seaview Avenue, Wildwood Crest; in response to the request of the pastor of these communities, Reverend Michael J. Field, 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 Cape May 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 Saint Ann Parish, 2901 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, 7101 Seaview Avenue, Wildwood Crest and the establishment of Notre Dame de la Mer Parish.

Reverend Michael J. Field, Reverend Joseph D. Wallace and Reverend Gustavo Agudelo will serve as pastors in solidum for Notre Dame de la Mer Parish for a term of six years commencing on the effective date of this decree. Reverend Michael J. Field will also serve as moderator of this group of pastors who function in solidum.

The parochial church of Notre Dame de la Mer Parish, which retains its proper title and the name Saint Ann Church, is located at 2901 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood, New Jersey. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church will retain its own proper title and will be maintained as a worship site to be used as needed by the merged community.

The territorial boundaries of Notre Dame de la Mer Parish are established and duly recorded at the Chancery Office of the Diocese of Camden, as:

Start at the point where North Wildwood Blvd (Rt. 147) crosses the centerline of the Intracoastal Waterway in Grassy Sound Channel.

1. North then east along the Intracoastal Waterway to Hereford Inlet

2. South through Hereford Inlet to the Atlantic Ocean

3. Southeast along the shoreline of Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and the US Coast Guard Station to Cold Spring Inlet

4. West through Cold Spring Inlet to Cape May Harbor

5.Northwest then north along the Inland Waterway through Jarvis Sound

6. North through the Intracoastal Waterway to Grassy Sound Channel still

following the path of the Intracoastal Waterway

7. North through Grassy Sound Channel and then Grassy Sound to the point where North Wildwood Blvd (Rt. 147) crosses the center of Grassy Sound Channel (point of origin)

The goods and property of the parishes of Saint Ann and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, including their real estate and buildings, as well as their debts and obligations, shall be assigned to Notre Dame de la Mer 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 Notre Dame de la Mer 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 Saint Ann Parish, 2901 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, 7101 Seaview Avenue, Wildwood Crest will be closed and moved to the seat of Notre Dame de la Mer Parish located at 2900 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood. All sacraments administered from that date forward will be recorded in new sacramental registers of Notre Dame de la Mer Parish.

I approve the statutes of Notre Dame de la Mer Parish as submitted.

As of the effective date of this DECREE, the financial accounts of Saint Ann Parish, 2901 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, 7101 Seaview Avenue, Wildwood Crest will have been closed and will be transferred to the financial account of Notre Dame de la Mer Parish.

As of the effective date of this DECREE, Saint Ann Parish, 2901 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, 7101 Seaview Avenue, Wildwood Crest will be civilly consolidated under the laws of the State of New Jersey as Notre Dame de la Mer Parish, Wildwood, New Jersey.

This DECREE becomes effective on February 17, 2010.

I instruct that this DECREE be communicated immediately to the parishioners of Notre Dame de la Mer Parish by Reverend Michael J. Field whom I have herein named moderator for the group of pastors who will serve this parish in solidum. This DECREE is likewise to be published immediately in the Catholic Star Herald and on the diocesan website.

Given in Camden, on this 15th day of January 2010, at the Diocesan Center.

Joseph A. Galante

Bishop of Camden

In cujus fidem…

David A. Klein

Chancellor