DECREE

Greetings In The Lord

For Publication to Each and Everyone

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 Cherry Hill area of Camden County, New Jersey:

1) to provide more effectively for the pastoral needs of the faithful of Saint Peter Celestine Parish in Camden County, New Jersey and the parish of Queen of Heaven 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 the already existing unity of faith and communal prayer life acknowledged by these parish communities; because of the communality of the parish communities of Saint Peter Celestine, 402 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill and Queen of Heaven, 710 Marlton Pike West, Cherry Hill; in response to the request of the pastor of these communities, Reverend Thomas A. Newton, 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 Saint Peter Celestine Parish, 402 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill and Queen of Heaven Parish, 710 Marlton Pike West, Cherry Hill and the establishment of The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light.

Reverend Thomas A. Newton will serve as the Pastor of The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light for a term of six years commencing on the effective date of this decree.

The parochial church of The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light, which retains its proper title and the name Saint Peter Celestine Church, is located at 402 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Queen of Heaven Church, 710 Marlton Pike West, Cherry Hill will retain its proper title and may provide for baptisms, weddings and funerals at the discretion of the pastor based on the pastoral needs of the merged community.

The territorial boundaries of The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light will be the same as the combined boundaries of the former parishes of Saint Peter Celestine and Queen of Heaven. 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 Camden – Burlington County Line and Cooper Landing Rd.

1. East/ southeast along the Camden – Burlington County line to its point of intersection with the New Jersey Turnpike

2. South on the New Jersey Turnpike to Rt 70

3. West on Rt 70 to Brace Rd

4. South on Brace Rd to its point of intersection with the North Branch of the Cooper River

5. West along the North Branch of the Cooper River to its point of intersection with the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore line

6.North on the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore line to Rt 38

7. East on Rt 38 to Cooper Landing Rd

8. North on Cooper Landing Rd to its point of intersection with the Camden – Burlington County line (point of origin)

The goods and property of the parishes of Saint Peter Celestine and of Queen of Heaven, including their real estate and buildings, as well as their debts and obligations, shall be assigned to The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light. 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 The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light 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 Peter Celestine Parish, 402 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill and Queen of Heaven Parish, 710 Marlton Pike West, Cherry Hill will be closed and moved to the seat of The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light located at 402 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill. All sacraments administered from that date forward will be recorded in new sacramental registers of The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light.

I approve the statutes of The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light as submitted.

As of the effective date of this DECREE, the financial accounts of Saint Peter Celestine Parish, 402 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill and Queen of Heaven Parish, 710 Marlton Pike West, Cherry Hill will have been closed and will be transferred to the financial account of The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light.

As of the effective date of this DECREE, Saint Peter Celestine Parish, 402 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill and Queen of Heaven Parish, 710 Marlton Pike West, Cherry Hill will be civilly consolidated under the laws of the State of New Jersey as The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light, Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

This DECREE becomes effective on July 29, 2009.

I instruct that this DECREE be communicated immediately to the parishioners of The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light by Reverend Thomas Newton 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 26th day of June 2009, at the Diocesan Center.

Joseph A. Galante

Bishop of Camden

In cujus fidem…

Msgr. Peter M. Joyce

Chancellor