Decree

Divine Mercy Parish > Decree

DIVINE MERCY PARISH 

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 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 determinedthat 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. 

 

Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante, D.D., J.C.D. 

Bishop of

Camden 

 

In cujus fidem…

 

Reverend David. J. Klein, J.C.L.

Chancellor

 Recourse Against Administrative Decrees

 

Church law provides the opportunity for those claiming to be aggrieved by a decree to seek recourse in accord with the Code of Canon Law. It should be noted that Church Law (canon 1733) urges that parties in any dispute be encouraged to seek reconciliation even if formal recourse has been initiated.

 

Canons 1732 through 1739 identify the process for seeking recourse against administrative decrees and most other individual administrative acts if no solution is able to be negotiated.

 

In this instance, in which Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante, on September 18, 2009, in accord with canon 515 §2, DECREED, ANNOUNCED and PUBLISHED 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, the following process for seeking reconciliation and recourse against this decision is also published:

 

  1. Before initiating formal recourse, a written petition from a person (canon 96) who considers himself or herself aggrieved by this decree must be directed to:


Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante

Camden Diocesan Center

631 Market Street

Camden, New Jersey 08102

Fax: 856-338-0376

 

In this letter, the person must first seek relief by requesting revocation or amendment of this decree (canon 1734 §1). In this same letter, the person should supply their mailing address so that the Bishop may respond. This initial petition must be received within a time limit of ten (10) business days of the legal notification of this decree (canon 1734 §2).Bishop Galante directs that this decree is to be published in the diocesan newspaper the Catholic Star Herald on Friday, September 18, 2009, and announced at all weekend Masses in Saint Francis of Assisi Parish and the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish on Saturday, September 19, 2009 and Sunday, September 20, 2009.Therefore, the obligation to present in writing a request for revocation or amendment of this decree must be received by Bishop Galante’s office no later than 4:00 p.m., Friday, October 2, 2009.

 

  1. Bishop Galante has a period of thirty days within which to respond to this petition for revocation or amendment (canon 1735). During this period of time, Bishop Galante may suspend the execution of this decree, or the person who considers himself or herself aggrieved may submit a special petition to the Congregation for the Clergy [see address below] for suspension of the execution of this decree (canon 1736).

 

  1. In responding to the substance of the petition it is envisioned that Bishop Galante may take one of three courses of action (canon 1735):

 

    1. Bishop Galante may act in a way that satisfies the person who considers himself or herself to have been aggrieved.
    2. Bishop Galante, may, within thirty (30) days respond to the petition by either denying the request or issuing a new or amended decree that still leaves the person, who considers himself or herself aggrieved, dissatisfied.
    3. Bishop Galante may choose not to respond to the initial petition. In this instance, the time period for the person who considers himself or herself aggrieved to initiate formal recourse begins on the thirtieth day after the petition for revocation or amendment was submitted.

 

  1. If, the Bishop’s response leaves the person who considers himself or herself aggrieved still dissatisfied, then the author of the initial petition seeking revocation or amendment of this decree has fifteen (15) business days to initiate formal recourse to the Congregation for the Clergy (canon 1737 §2).

 

  1. In this instance, the recourse is addressed to the Congregation for the Clergy. This can be submitted directly to the following address:

 

Most Reverend Mauro Piacenza

Secretary

Congregation for the Clergy

Piazza Pio XII 3

00193 Rome, Italy

 

Or, through the office of the Apostolic Nunciature:

 

Most Reverend Pietro Sambi

Apostolic Nuncio to the United States

3339 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20008-3610

 

Or, through the office of Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante:

 

Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante

Camden Diocesan Center

631 Market Street

Camden, New Jersey 08102

Fax: 856-338-0376

 

Canon law requires that whoever receives the recourse to the Congregation for the Clergy must transmit it immediately (canon 1737 §1). If the author of the formal recourse sends it directly to the Congregation for the Clergy, Bishop Galante should be notified by the person sending it to the Congregation that it has been filed.

 

  1. The person making recourse against this decree has the right to engage the services of a canon lawyer (canon 1738).

 

  1. If the Congregation for the Clergy does not act within three (3) consecutive months of receiving the recourse, canon law presumes that the response is negative (canon 57). If there has been no response within the three (3) months, or if the Congregation for the Clergy has issued a decision that leaves the person who considers himself or herself aggrieved still dissatisfied, then the person making the recourse has the right to make further recourse against the decision of the Congregation for the Clergy to the Apostolic Signatura within thirty (30) calendar days of the expiration of the three (3) month period, or thirty (30) calendar days from the receipt of the Congregation’s decision.Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 November 2010 12:57 Friday, 18 September 2009 00:00