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 Vineland area of Cumberland County, New Jersey:
1) to provide more effectively for the pastoral needs of the faithful of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Cumberland County, New Jersey and the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Cumberland 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 both communities have embraced the merger with optimism and faith – knowing that through the power of Jesus Christ, all things are possible to those who believe; because of the communality of the parish communities of Saint Francis of Assisi, 23 W. Chestnut Avenue, Vineland and Immaculate Heart of Mary, 410 S. 8th Street, Vineland; in response to the request of the pastor of these communities, Reverend Monsignor Victor S. Muro, 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 that area of Cumberland 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 Francis of Assisi Parish, 23 W. Chestnut Avenue, Vineland and the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 410 S. 8th Street, Vineland and the establishment of Divine Mercy Parish.
Reverend Monsignor Victor S. Muro will serve as the Pastor of Divine Mercy Parish for a term of six years commencing on the effective date of this decree.
The parochial church of Divine Mercy Parish, which retains the name Saint Francis of Assisi Church, is located at 23 W. Chestnut Avenue, Vineland, New Jersey. Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, which will retain its own proper title, is located at 410 S. 8th Street, Vineland, New Jersey and will be maintained as a worship site to be used as needed at the discretion of the pastor for this merged community.
The territorial boundaries of Divine Mercy Parish will be the same as the combined boundaries of the former parishes of Saint Francis of Assisi and Immaculate Heart of Mary. The establishment of these parish boundaries is duly recorded at the Chancery Office of the Diocese of Camden, as:
Start at the point where the Millville Branch of the Pennsylvania – Reading Seashore Railroad (which is between West Blvd and East Blvd) intersects Forest Grove Rd.
1. South along the Pennsylvania – Reading Seashore Line to its point of intersection with the Vineland – Millville city limit
2. Northwest along the Vineland – Millville City limit to its point of intersection with the Maurice River
3. North along the Maurice River to its point of intersection with an imaginary (straight) line drawn to extend Forest Grove Rd
4. East along the imaginary (straight) line drawn to extend Forest Grove Rd and then Forest Grove Rd to its intersection with the Pennsylvania – Reading Seashore line (point of origin)
Divine Mercy Parish is simultaneously established as the personal parish for the Hispanic Community in the City of Vineland having the municipal boundary of the City of Vineland.
The goods and property of the parishes of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish and the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, including their real estate and buildings, as well as their debts and obligations, shall be assigned to Divine Mercy 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 Divine Mercy 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 Francis of Assisi, 23 W. Chestnut Avenue, Vineland and Immaculate Heart of Mary, 410 S. 8th Street, Vineland will be closed and moved to the seat of Divine Mercy Parish located at 23 W. Chestnut Avenue, Vineland. All sacraments administered from that date forward will be recorded in new sacramental registers of Divine Mercy Parish.
I approve the statutes of Divine Mercy Parish as submitted.
As of the effective date of this DECREE, the financial accounts of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, 23 W. Chestnut Avenue, Vineland and the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 410 S. 8th Street, Vineland will have been closed and will be transferred to the financial account of Divine Mercy Parish.
As of the effective date of this DECREE, Saint Francis of Assisi, 23 W. Chestnut Avenue, Vineland and Immaculate Heart of Mary, 410 S. 8th Street, Vineland will be civilly consolidated under the laws of the State of New Jersey as Divine Mercy Parish, Vineland, New Jersey.
This DECREE becomes effective on October 21, 2009.
I instruct that this DECREE be communicated immediately to the parishioners of Divine Mercy Parish by Reverend Monsignor Victor S. Muro 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 18th day of September 2009, at the Diocesan Center.
Joseph A. Galante
Bishop of Camden
In cujus fidem…
David J. Klein
Chancellor