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DECREE
Christ
Jesus, Our Hope is the strategic
planning initiative for the Diocese of Brooklyn, which I mandated in the
beginning of 2010. With the formation of the Diocesan Planning
Commission, chaired by the Most Reverend Frank Caggiano, Vicar General and
Moderator of the Curia, and the Reverend Monsignor Edward B. Scharfenberger,
Vicar for Strategic Planning, I began the process of assessing each of the
Diocese's 197 parishes for the purpose of evaluating both their pastoral
vitality as well as their financial viability.
I
deemed this evaluative process necessary because of my pastoral commitment to
engage in the efforts of the New Evangelization, so often encouraged in the
teachings of both the Servant of God, John Paul II, as well as our current Holy
Father, Benedict XVI. I have made the
New Evangelization the theme of my episcopal ministry since becoming Bishop of
Brooklyn. In order to ensure that the Diocese has the ability and
necessary resources to effectively continue the work of proclaiming the Gospel
to the men and women of Brooklyn and Queens,
it has become imperative for us to address many issues and challenges that
often impeded our efforts to effectively engage in the work of the New
Evangelization.
Through
a highly consultative process that sought to engage the pastoral leadership as
well as the parishioners of every parish community, I was able to determine
which parishes needed immediate intervention in order to ensure that the care
of souls not suffer in a given area of the Diocese. This determination was based on the
recommendations presented to me by the Diocesan Planning Commission which were
made using the self-studies submitted by each parish, as well as taking into
consideration such factors as demographics, clergy availability, geography and
infrastructure.
With
respect to the Parish of Saint Ignatius
at 1101 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, New York, which had been entrusted to the
care of the Society of Jesus, the information presented to me by the Diocesan
Planning Commission indicated many areas of concern. Over the last decade there has been
significant drop in the number of people participating in the celebration of
the Eucharist on Sunday. Also, there has
been in precipitous decline in the number of sacramental celebrations over the
last decade. According to their
self-study, the number of children enrolled in Religious Education has declined
by 40% over the last three years. The
total amount of diocesan subsidy provided to the parish is in excess of
$1,200,000.00 and the parish continues to operate annually at a deficit. An assessment of the church building and
parish hall indicates the need for repairs that would cost the parish an
estimated $500,000.
On
several occasions, the aforementioned information was discussed with the
leadership of the Parish of Saint Ignatius.
In addition, I sought the opinions and suggestions of the Diocesan
Finance Council as well as the Diocesan College of Consultors and the
Territorial Vicar for the Borough of Brooklyn, the Reverend Monsignor Steven
Ferrari, V.E., concerning the pastoral and financial situation of the
parish. Finally, on November 4, 2010, I
sought the Canonical Consultation of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council, as
required by Can. 515 §2. Having listened
to their consultation and having received no substantive opinion to the
contrary and with an interest in assuring the pastoral vitality of the Church
in Brooklyn, I, the undersigned Bishop of
Brooklyn, hereby decree the following:
1.
The Juridic Person, which is the Parish of Saint Ignatius
in Brooklyn, is suppressed.
2.
The territorial boundaries of the former Parish of Saint
Ignatius shall by this canonical decree be absorbed by the Parish of Saint
Francis of Assisi
– Saint Blaise located at 319
Maple Street, Brooklyn, New York.
3.
All the assets and obligations currently belonging to the
former Parish of Saint Ignatius
are by this canonical decree transferred to the Parish of Saint Francis of Assisi – Saint Blaise.
4.
The parochial registers and the seals of the Parish of
Saint Ignatius shall be kept in the Parish of Saint Francis of Assisi – Saint Blaise.
5.
The Church of Saint Ignatius shall remain open as an additional
worship site of the Parish of Saint Francis of Assisi – Saint Blaise.
This
decree shall take effect on January 31,
2011, at which time the Parish of Saint Ignatius will cease to exist in
Canon Law. Recourse action may be sought
according to the norms of Canons 1732 to 1739 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law.
__________________________________________
Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D.
Bishop
of Brooklyn
Given
at Brooklyn, NY
November
12, 2010
__________________________________
Chancellor