Bishop Joseph Galante formally announced today that two new parishes will be established on December 1, 2010 through the consolidation of six existing parishes. The announcement establishing the new parishes was made in two formal decrees, which are published in the October 29 edition of the Catholic Star Herald (see pages 16-19).
St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish will be established through the consolidation of Corpus Christi, Carneys Point, Queen of the Apostles, Pennsville, St. James, Penns Grove, and St. Mary, Salem. The seat of the new parish will be located at Corpus Christi Church. Queen of the Apostles and St. Mary also will be used as worship sites for the new parish. Father Paul Harte, Priest Convener for the consolidation, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term. St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish will retain the boundaries of the three existing parishes, and will serve about 1,825 families in Salem County.
The Parish of All Saints will be established through the merger of St. John Bosco Parish and St. Mary Magdalen Parish, both in Millville. The seat of the new parish will be St. Mary Magdalen Church. Father Paul Olszewski, Priest Convener for the consolidation, has been named pastor of the new parish for a six year term.The parish of All Saints, whose boundaries will be those of the existing parishes, will serve about 1,350 families in Cumberland County.
“I am so encouraged by the dedicated work of our clergy, religious and laity in all of these parishes who have come together in a common mission to strengthen these parish communities for the sake of the faithful in South Jersey. This points to a most hopeful future for our Church,” said Bishop Joseph Galante as he issued the 29th and 30th decrees since June 2009.
The two most recent decrees are part of the diocesan-wide reconfiguration of parishes announced over two years ago to strengthen parishes and to address the priorities expressed by the people at “Speak Up” sessions that were held with Bishop Galante in 2005 and 2006. The priorities identified included the need to engage laity more actively in parish ministry, more opportunities for faith formation for all age groups, expanded ministry to youth and young adults, the fostering of vocations to priesthood and religious life, well-celebrated liturgies, and compassionate outreach to inactive Catholics and those in need throughout the diocese.