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 Mount Ephraim area of Camden County, New Jersey:
1) to provide more effectively for the pastoral needs of the faithful of the parish of Holy Maternity in Camden County, New Jersey and the parish of Sacred Heart in Camden 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 their belief that as each milestone was achieved, they became stronger and more resilient as a united community; and their association developed into a bond a friendship proving that all things are possible; because of the communality of the parish communities of Holy Maternity, 431 W. Nicholson Road, Audubon and Sacred Heart, 7 W. Kings Highway, Mount Ephraim; in response to the request of the pastor of these communities, Reverend Robert J. Dunphy 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 Camden 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 Holy Maternity, 431 W. Nicholson Road, Audubon and Sacred Heart, 7 W. Kings Highway, Mount Ephraim and the establishment of Emmaus Catholic Community.
Reverend Hugh J. Bradley will serve as the Pastor of Emmaus Catholic Community for a term of six years commencing on the effective date of this decree.
The parochial church of Emmaus Catholic Community, which retains its proper title and the name Sacred Heart Church, is located at 7 W. Kings Highway, Mount Ephraim, New Jersey.
The territorial boundaries of Emmaus Catholic Community will be the same as the combined boundaries of the former parishes of Holy Maternity and Sacred Heart. The establishment of these parish boundaries is duly recorded at the Chancery Office of the Diocese of Camden, as:
Start at the intersection of the North Branch of Newton Creek and US 130/ Crescent Blvd.
1. East along the North Branch of Newton Creek to its point of intersection with Peter Creek
2. East along Peter Creek to its point of intersection with the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Line
3. Southeast on the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore line to Graisbury Ave
4. Southwest on Graisbury Ave to its point of intersection with the South Branch of Newton Creek
5. South along the South Branch of Newton to its point of intersection with Kings Highway
6. West on Kings Highway to St. Martin’s Ave
7. South on St. Martin’s Ave to its point of intersection with the Little Timber Creek
8. Northwest along Little Timber Creek to its point of intersection with US 130
9. North on US 130 to its point of intersection with the North Branch of Newton Creek (point of origin)
The goods and property of the parishes of Holy Maternity and of Sacred Heart, including their real estate and buildings, as well as their debts and obligations, shall be assigned to Emmaus Catholic Community. 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 Emmaus Catholic Community 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 Holy Maternity, 431 W. Nicholson Road, Audubon and Sacred Heart, 7 W. Kings Highway, Mount Ephraim will be closed and moved to the seat of Emmaus Catholic Community. All sacraments administered from that date forward will be recorded in new sacramental registers of Emmaus Catholic Community.
I approve the statutes of Emmaus Catholic Community as submitted.
As of the effective date of this DECREE, the financial accounts of Holy Maternity, 431 W. Nicholson Road, Audubon and Sacred Heart, 7 W. Kings Highway, Mount Ephraim will have been closed and will be transferred to the financial account of Emmaus Catholic Community.
As of the effective date of this DECREE, Holy Maternity, 431 W. Nicholson Road, Audubon and Sacred Heart, 7 W. Kings Highway, Mount Ephraim will be civilly consolidated under the laws of the State of New Jersey as Emmaus Catholic Community, Mt. Ephraim, N.J.
This DECREE becomes effective on June 9, 2010.
I instruct that this DECREE be communicated immediately to the parishioners of Emmaus Catholic Community by Reverend Hugh J. Bradley 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 7th day of May 2010, at the Diocesan Center.
Joseph A. Galante
Bishop of Camden
In cujus fidem…
David J. Klein
Chancellor
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