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 Northfield area of Atlantic County, New Jersey:
1) to provide more effectively for the pastoral needs of the faithful of the parish of Saint Peter in Atlantic County, New Jersey and the parish of Saint Bernadette in Atlantic 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 to perpetuate the superior pastoral traditions of the anterior parishes of Saint Peter and Saint Bernadette; because of the communality of the parish communities of Saint Peter, 25 West Black Horse Pike, Pleasantville and Saint Bernadette, 1421 New Road, Northfield; in response to the request of the pastor of these communities, Reverend Patrick J. Brady 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 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 parishes of Saint Peter, 25 West Black Horse Pike, Pleasantville and Saint Bernadette, 1421 New Road, Northfield and the establishment of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Parish.
Reverend Patrick J. Brady will serve as the Pastor of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Parish for a term of six years commencing on the effective date of this decree.
The parochial church of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Parish, which retains its proper title and the name Saint Bernadette Church, is located at 1421 New Road, Northfield, New Jersey.
The territorial boundaries of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Parish will be the same as the combined boundaries of the former parishes of Saint Peter and Saint Bernadette. The establishment of these parish boundaries is duly recorded at the Chancery Office of the Diocese of Camden as:
Starting at the intersection of Fire Rd and California Ave along the Egg Harbor Township – Absecon municipal line
1. South along Fire Rd, which becomes Bargaintown Rd, to Rt 615/ Zion Rd
2. East on Rt 615 to the intersection of the Northfield – Linwood City – Egg Harbor Township lines
3. East along the Northfield – Linwood City line, then the Egg Harbor Township – Linwood City line, and then continuing east along a line drawn to extend the Egg Harbor Township line to the Inland Waterway
4. North along the Inland Waterway, continuing through Shelter Island Bay and Lakes Bay (which is also the Egg Harbor Township line, then the Pleasantville City line) to Great Thorofare
5. North through Great Thorofare, continuing along the Pleasantville City line to the Pleasantville – Absecon municipal line
6. North then west along the Pleasantville – Absecon municipal line
7. West along the Absecon – Egg Harbor Township line, which is in part also California Ave, to the intersection of California Ave and Fire Rd (point of origin)
The goods and property of the parishes of Saint Peter and of Saint Bernadette, including their real estate and buildings, as well as their debts and obligations, shall be assigned to Saint Gianna Beretta Molla 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 Saint Gianna Beretta Molla 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 parishes of Saint Peter, 25 West Black Horse Pike, Pleasantville and Saint Bernadette, 1421 New Road, Northfield will be closed and moved to the seat of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Parish, 1421 New Road, Northfield. All sacraments administered from that date forward will be recorded in new sacramental registers of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Parish.
I approve the statutes of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Parish as submitted.
As of the effective date of this DECREE, the financial accounts of Saint Peter, 25 West Black Horse Pike, Pleasantville and Saint Bernadette, 1421 New Road, Northfield will have been closed and will be transferred to the financial account of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Parish.
As of the effective date of this DECREE, the parishes of Saint Peter, 25 West Black Horse Pike, Pleasantville and Saint Bernadette, 1421 New Road, Northfield will be civilly consolidated under the laws of the State of New Jersey as St. Gianna Beretta Molla Parish, Northfield, N.J.
This DECREE becomes effective on May 5, 2010.
I instruct that this DECREE be communicated immediately to the parishioners of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Parish by Reverend Patrick J. Brady 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 2nd day of April 2010, at the Diocesan Center.
Bishop Joseph A. Galante
Bishop of Camden
In cujus fidem…
David A. Klein
Chancellor
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