Decrees Issued

2. July 3, 2009: Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that the parishes of Saint Mary, Williamstown and St. John Neumann, Sicklerville will consolidate and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, Our Lady of Peace, will be established August 5, 2009.

3. September 18, 2009: Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that the parishes of Saint Francis of Assisi and Immaculate Heart of Mary, both in Vineland, will consolidate and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, Divine Mercy Parish, will be established October 21, 2009.

4. October 2, 2009: Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that Saint Simon Stock parish will be created through the consolidation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Berlin and Saint Edward Parish, Pine Hill, effective November 4, 2009.

5. October 2, 2009: Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that Mary, Queen of All Saints parish will be created through the consolidation of Saint Veronica, Delair and Saint Cecilia, Pennsauken, effective November 4, 2009.

6. November 6, 2009: Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that the parishes of Saint Luke (Stratford), St. Lawrence (Lindenwold) and Our Lady of Grace (Somerdale), will consolidate and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, will be established December 9, 2009.

7. November 18, 2009: Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that the parishes of St. Pius X and Holy Rosary, both in Cherry Hill, will consolidate and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, Holy Eucharist Parish, will be established December 23, 2009.

8. December 11, 2009 Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that the parishes of Saint Margaret, Woodbury Heights, and Saint John Vianney, Deptford, will consolidate and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, Infant Jesus Parish, will be established January 13, 2010.

9. January 15, 2010 Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that the parishes of St. Ann, Wildwood and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Wildwood Crest, will consolidate and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, Notre Dame de la Mer, will be established February 17, 2010.

10. March 19, 2010 Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that the parishes of St. Patrick, St. Patrick, Woodbury, Most Holy Redeemer, Westville Grove and St. Matthew, National Park will consolidate and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, Holy Angels Parish, will be established April 21, 2010.

11. April 1, 2010 Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that that the parishes of Saint Peter, Pleasantville and St. Bernadette, Northfield will unite and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Parish, will be established May 5, 2010. Father Patrick J. Brady, who has overseen the consolidation as Priest Convener, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Parish, whose boundaries will be those of the existing parishes, will serve about 1,900 families. The seat of the parish will be Saint Bernadette Church.

12.  April 9, 2010 Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that the parishes of St. Jude and St. Agnes, both in Blackwood, will unite and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, Our Lady of Hope Parish, will be established May 12, 2010. Father Mark R. Cavagnaro, who has overseen the consolidation as Priest Convener, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. Our Lady of Hope Parish, whose boundaries will be those of the existing parishes, will serve about 5,000 families. The seat of the parish will be Saint Agnes Church. The parish intends to use St. Jude Church for school liturgies and for baptisms, weddings and funerals based on the pastoral needs of the parish community.

13  April 16, 2010 Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that the parishes of Mary, Mother of the Church (Bellmawr), St. Francis de Sales (Barrington) and St. Gregory (Magnolia) will unite and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, St. Rita, will be established May 19, 2010. Father Carmel F. Polidano, who has overseen the consolidation as Priest Convener, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. The Parish of St. Rita, whose boundaries will be those of the three existing parishes, will serve about 2,700 families. The seat of the parish will be Mary, Mother of the Church. St. Francis de Sales Church also will be retained a worship site to serve the parish community.

14.  April 23, 2010 Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that the parishes of St. James (Ventnor), Epiphany (Longport) and Blessed Sacrament (Margate) will unite and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, Holy Trinity, will be established May 26, 2010. Father Joseph Ferrara has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. Holy Trinity Parish, whose boundaries will be those of the three existing parishes, will serve about 2,900 families. The seat of the parish will be Blessed Sacrament Church. St. James Church and Epiphany Church also will be retained as worship sites to serve the Downbeach community.

15.  May 7, 2010 Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that the parishes of Sacred Heart (Mount Ephraim) and Holy Maternity (Audubon) will unite and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, Emmaus Catholic Community, will be established June 9, 2010. Father Hugh J. Bradley, Priest Convener for the consolidation, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. Emmaus Catholic Community, whose boundaries will be those of the existing parishes, will serve about 1,700 families. The seat of the parish will be Sacred Heart Church.

16-18.  May 21, 2010 Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that effective June 23, 2010:

• In Hammonton, Saint Joseph, Saint Martin dePorres and Saint Anthony of Padua will unite to form Saint Mary of Mount Carmel Parish. The new parish will be located at St. Joseph Church. St. Anthony of Padua and St. Martin dePorres churches also will serve the new parish as worship sites. Father Thomas S. Donio, Priest Convener for the consolidation, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. St. Mary of Mount Carmel Parish, whose boundaries will be those of the existing parishes, will serve about 3,000 families in Camden and Atlantic Counties.
• In Mullica, Holy Name of Jesus (Mullica Hill), Saint Ann (Elmer) and Saint Joseph (Woodstown) will unite to form The Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit. The new parish will be located at Holy Name of Jesus Church. St. Joseph Church also will be used as a worship site by the new parish. Father Anthony R. DiBardino, Priest Convener for the consolidation, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. The Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit, whose boundaries will be those of the existing parishes, will serve about 2,680 families in Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland Counties.
• Saint John of God (North Cape May) and Saint Raymond (Villas) will unite to form The Parish of Saint John Neumann. The new parish will be located at St. John of God Church. Saint Raymond Church also will be used as a worship site by the new parish. Father Ernest R. Soprano, Priest Convener for the consolidation, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. The Parish of Saint John Neumann, whose boundaries will be those of the existing parishes, will serve about 1,900 families in Cape May County.

19.  July 2, 2010 Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that the parishes of Maris Stella (Avalon) and Saint Paul (Stone Harbor) will unite and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, Saint Brendan the Navigator, will be established August 4, 2010. Maris Stella Church will be the seat of the parish and Saint Paul Church will also serve the parish as a worship site. Reverend Monsignor John T. Frey, Priest Convener for the consolidation, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. St. Brendan the Navigator Parish, whose boundaries will be those of the existing parishes, will serve about 700 year-round families.

20-22.  August 20, 2010 Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that effective September 22, 2010:

• In Camden, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception,  Holy Name and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel/Fatima will unite to form the Parish of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The new parish will be located at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel/Fatima Church will also serve the new parish as a worship site. Father Matthew Hillyard, OSFS, Priest Convener for the consolidation, has been named rector of the new parish. The Parish of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, whose boundaries will be those of the existing parishes, will serve about 945 families in Camden County.
• In Camden, St. Bartholomew and St. Joan of Arc will unite to form St. Josephine Bakhita Parish. The new parish will be located at St. Bartholomew Church. St. Joan of Arc Church also will be used as a worship site by the new parish. Father Gerard Marable, Priest Convener for the consolidation, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. St. Josephine Bakhita Parish, whose boundaries will be those of the existing parishes, will serve about 880 families in Camden County. St. Josephine Bakhita Parish will also serve as a personal parish for the African American Catholic Community in the county.
• In Runnemede, St. Teresa and St. Maria Goretti will unite to form Holy Child Parish. The new parish will be located at St. Teresa Church. St. Maria Goretti Church also will be used as a worship site by the new parish. Father Raymond Gormley, Priest Convener for the consolidation, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. Holy Child Parish, whose boundaries will be those of the existing parishes, will serve about 2590 families in Camden County.

23-24. August 27, 2010 Bishop Galante decrees that effective September 29, 2010:

• The parishes of St. John the Evangelist (Paulsboro), St. Joseph (Swedesboro) and St. Michael (Gibbstown) will unite to form St. Clare of Assisi Parish. The new parish will be located at St. Michael Church. St. Joseph Church will also be used as a worship site for the new parish. Fr. David Grover, Priest Convener for the consolidation, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. St. Clare of Assisi Parish will retain the boundaries of the three existing parishes and will serve approximately 3760 families in Gloucester County.
• The parishes of Nativity (Franklinville) and St. Catherine of Siena (Clayton) will unite to form St. Michael the Archangel Parish. The new parish will be located at Nativity Church. St. Catherine of Siena Church will also serve the new parish as a worship site. Fr. Jaromir Michalak, Priest Convener for the consolidation, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. St. Michael the Archangel Parish, whose boundaries will be those of the existing parishes, will serve about 1740 families in Gloucester County.

25.  September 3, 2010 Bishop Joseph Galante formally decrees that the parishes of St. John (Collingswood) and Holy Saviour (Westmont) will unite and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, will be established October 6, 2010. St. John Church will be the seat of the parish and Holy Saviour Church will also serve the parish as a worship site. Fr. Edward Friel, Priest Convener for the consolidation, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, whose boundaries will be those of the existing parishes, will serve about 2500 families.