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 Woodbury Heights and Deptford areas of Gloucester County, New Jersey:

1) to provide more effectively for the pastoral needs of the faithful of the parish of Saint Margaret in Gloucester County, New Jersey and the parish of Saint John Vianney 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 the fact that members from Saint Margaret Parish and Saint John Vianney Parish already have demonstrated unity by coming together in worship, ministry and parish events; because of the communality of the parish communities of Saint Margaret, 845 Third Street, Woodbury Heights and Saint John Vianney, 2907 Good Intent Road, Deptford; in response to the  request of the pastors of these communities, Reverend Joseph T. Szolack and Reverend Timothy E. Byerley 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 Gloucester 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 Margaret Parish, 845 Third Street, Woodbury Heights and Saint John Vianney Parish, 2907 Good Intent Road, Deptford and the establishment of Infant Jesus Parish.

Reverend Joseph T. Szolack will serve as the Pastor of Infant Jesus Parish for a term of six years commencing on the effective date of this decree.

The parochial church of Infant Jesus Parish, which retains its proper title and the name Saint Margaret Church, is located at 845 Third Street, Woodbury Heights, New Jersey.  Saint John Vianney Church will retain its proper title and will be maintained as a worship site to be used as needed by the merged community.

The territorial boundaries of Infant Jesus Parish are established and duly recorded at the Chancery Office of the Diocese of Camden, as:

Start at the point where Blackwood Barnsboro Rd (Co. Rt. 603) intersects Tanyard Rd. (Co. Rt. 663)

1. North on Tanyard Rd (Co. Rt. 663) to Mail Ave

2. Southwest on Mail Ave to Woodbury Glassboro Rd (Co. Rt. 553)

3. South on Woodbury Glassboro Rd (CO. Rt. 553) to Linden St

4. West on Linden Ave to its point of intersection with the Woodbury Heights – Wenonah corporate line

5. West and south along the Woodbury Heights – Wenonah corporate line to its point of intersection with Ogden Rd

6. West on Ogden Rd to Rt 45

7. North on Rt 45 to Parkville Rd (Co. Rt. 656)

8. Northwest on Parkville Rd (Co. Rt. 656) to Parkville Station Rd (Co. Rt. 656)

9. West on Parkville Station Rd (Co. Rt. 656) to the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad Line

10. Northeast on West Jersey and Seashore Line to the first point the West Jersey and Seashore line intersects the Woodbury Heights – Woodbury City corporate line (near an intersection of the imaginary straight line drawn to                         extend Harding Ave to the west and the West Jersey and Seashore Line)

11. North and east along the Woodbury Heights – Woodbury corporate line to Glassboro Rd (Co. Rt. 553)

12. Southeast on Glassboro Rd (Co. Rt. 553) to the New Jersey Turnpike

13. North on the New Jersey Turnpike to Cooper St (Co. Rt. 534)

14. East on Cooper St (Co. Rt. 534) to Clements Bridge Rd (Co. Rt. 544)

15. Northeast on Clements Bridge Rd (Co. Rt. 544) to its point of intersection with Big Timber Creek

16. South on the Big Timber Creek, which is also the Gloucester – Camden County line, to the point where the county line turns west away from the Creek

17. Southwest along the Gloucester – Camden County line to its point of intersection with Mt. Pleasant Rd at Blackwood Barnsboro Rd (Co. Rt. 603)

18. Southwest on Blackwood Barnsboro Rd (Co. Rt. 603) to the Deptford – Washington Township line

19. South then west along the Deptford – Washington Township line, which becomes the Deptford – Mantua township line, to Blackwood Barnsboro Rd (Co. Rt. 603)

20. Northeast on Blackwood Barnsboro Rd (Co. Rt. 603) to Tanyard Rd (Co. Rt. 663) (point of origin)

The goods and property of the parishes of Saint Margaret and of Saint John Vianney, including their real estate and buildings, as well as their debts and obligations, shall be assigned to Infant Jesus 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 Infant Jesus 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 Margaret Parish, 845 Third Street, Woodbury Heights and Saint John Vianney Parish, 2907 Good Intent Road, Deptford will be closed and moved to the seat of Infant Jesus Parish, 845 Third Street, Woodbury Heights. All sacraments administered from that date forward will be recorded in new sacramental registers of Infant Jesus Parish.

I approve the statutes of Infant Jesus Parish as submitted.

As of the effective date of this DECREE, the financial accounts of Saint Margaret Parish, 845 Third Street, Woodbury Heights and Saint John Vianney Parish, 2907 Good Intent Road, Deptford will have been closed and will be transferred to the financial account of Infant Jesus Parish.

As of the effective date of this DECREE, Saint Margaret Parish, 845 Third Street, Woodbury Heights and Saint John Vianney Parish, 2907 Good Intent Road, Deptford will be civilly consolidated under the laws of the State of New Jersey as Infant Jesus Parish, Woodbury Heights, New Jersey.

This DECREE becomes effective on January 13, 2010.

I instruct that this DECREE be communicated immediately to the parishioners of Infant Jesus Parish by Reverend Joseph T. Szolack 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 11th day of December 2009, at the Diocesan Center.

Josaph A Galante

Bishop of Camden

In cujus fidem…

David J. Klein

Chancellor