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 Buena Borough, Newfield and Malaga areas of Atlantic, Gloucester and Cumberland Counties, New Jersey:
1) to provide more effectively for the pastoral needs of the faithful of Queen of Angels Parish with its two churches, namely, St. Michael’s Church and The Church of Our Lady of Victories in Atlantic and Gloucester Counties, New Jersey; the parish of St. Rose’s Catholic Church in Gloucester and Cumberland Counties, New Jersey and the parish of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Gloucester 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 been drawn by the Holy Spirit into one community of faith; because of the communality of the parish communities of Queen of Angels Parish, 202 North West Boulevard, Landisville with its two churches, namely, St. Michael’s Church, 504 South West Avenue, Minotola and The Church of Our Lady of Victories, 202 North West Boulevard, Landisville; St. Rose’s Catholic Church, 104 Catawba Avenue, Newfield and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 256 Dutch Mill Road, Malaga; in response to the request of the pastor of these communities, Reverend Allain B. Caparas, 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 Atlantic, Gloucester and Cumberland Counties, 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 Queen of Angels Parish, 202 North West Boulevard, Landisville with its two churches, namely, St. Michael’s Church, 504 South West Avenue, Minotola and The Church of Our Lady of Victories, 202 North West Boulevard, Landisville; St. Rose’s Catholic Church, 104 Catawba Avenue, Newfield and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 256 Dutch Mill Road, Malaga and the establishment of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish.
Reverend Allain B. Caparas will serve as the Pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish for a term of six years commencing on the effective date of this decree.
The parochial church of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, which retains its proper title and the name, St. Rose’s Catholic Church, is located at 104 Catawba Avenue, Newfield, New Jersey. St. Michael’s Church 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 Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish will be the same as the combined boundaries of the former parishes of Queen of Angels Parish, with its two churches, namely, St. Michael’s Church and The Church of Our Lady of Victories, St. Rose’s Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The establishment of these parish boundaries is duly recorded at the Chancery Office of the Diocese of Camden, as:
Start in Porchtown at intersection of Leonard Cake Rd. and Delsea Dr./ Rt. 47
1. South on Delsea Dr./ Rt. 47 to Pennsylvania Ave.
2. Northeast on Pennsylvania Ave. to Coles Mill Rd.
3. East on Coles Mill Rd. to Tuckahoe Rd./ Rt. 555
4. South on Tuckahoe Rd. to Dutch Mill Rd.
5. East on Dutch Mill Rd. to Piney Hollow Rd.
6. North on Piney Hollow Rd. to Jackson Rd.
7. Southeast on Jackson Rd. to Deep Run (creek)
8. West along Deep Run (creek) to Pancoast Mill Rd., near Pancoast Lake
9. West on Pancoast Mill Rd. to Rt. 54/ Twelfth St.
10. Use an imaginary straight line drawn to connect the intersection of Pancoast Mill Rd. and Rt. 54 to the intersection of Union Rd. and Tuckahoe Rd., approximately 1.75 miles due south
11. South on this imaginary straight line then continue south on Union Rd. to Oak Rd.
12. West on Oak Rd. to Main Rd./ Rt. 555
13. North on Main Rd./ Rt. 555 to Forest Grove Rd.
14. West on Forest Grove Rd. and then an imaginary straight line drawn to extend Forest Grove Rd. to the Maurice River
15. North on the Maurice River to Willow Grove Lake
16. North through Willow Grove Lake to the western branch called Still Run
17. North along Still Run, following the eastern branch of Still Run in a northerly direction after crossing the Salem-Gloucester County line to the point where it intersects Leonard Cake Rd. midway between Rt. 55 and Williamstown Rd.
18. East on Leonard Cake Rd. to Rt. 47 (point of origin)
The goods and property of the parishes of Queen of Angels Parish with its two churches, namely, St. Michael’s Church and The Church of Our Lady of Victories, St. Rose’s Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, including their real estate and buildings, as well as their debts and obligations, shall be assigned to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament 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 Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament 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 Queen of Angels Parish, 202 North West Boulevard, Landisville with its two churches, namely, St. Michael’s Church, 504 South West Avenue, Minotola and The Church of Our Lady of Victories, 202 North West Boulevard, Landisville, New Jersey; St. Rose’s Catholic Church, 104 Catawba Avenue, Newfield and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 256 Dutch Mill Road, Malaga, New Jersey will be closed and moved to the seat of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, 104 Catawba Avenue, Newfield. All sacraments administered from that date forward will be recorded in new sacramental registers of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish.
I approve the statutes of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish as submitted.
As of the effective date of this DECREE, the financial accounts of Queen of Angels Parish, 202 North West Boulevard, Landisville with its two churches, namely, St. Michael’s Church, 504 South West Avenue, Minotola and The Church of Our Lady of Victories, 202 North West Boulevard, Landisville; St. Rose’s Catholic Church, 104 Catawba Avenue, Newfield and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 256 Dutch Mill Road, Malaga will have been closed and transferred to the financial account of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish.
As of the effective date of this DECREE, Queen of Angels Parish, 202 North West Boulevard, Landisville with its two churches, namely, St. Michael’s Church, 504 South West Avenue, Minotola and The Church of Our Lady of Victories, 202 North West Boulevard, Landisville; St. Rose’s Catholic Church, 104 Catawba Avenue, Newfield and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 256 Dutch Mill Road, Malaga will be civilly consolidated under the laws of the State of New Jersey as Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Newfield, N.J.
This DECREE becomes effective on August 31, 2011.
I instruct that this DECREE be communicated immediately to the parishioners of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish by Reverend Allain B. Caparas 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 29th day of July 2011, at the Diocesan Center.
Joseph A. Galante
Bishop of Camden
In cujus fidem…
David J. Klein
Chancellor