Christ, The Good Shepherd Parish

DIOCESE OF YOUNGSTOWN
GEORGE V. MURRY, S.J.
By the Grace of God and the Apostolic See
BISHOP OF YOUNGSTOWN

DECREE OF MERGER

For ninety-three years, the Catholic Faithful of St. John the Baptist Parish in the Diocese of Youngstown have been served by St. John the Baptist Parish, 159 Reed Avenue, Campbell, Ohio. During that time countless people have heard the Word of God, have worshipped and received the Sacraments of the Church in the parish community. For ninety-three years the Catholic Faithful of St. Joseph the Provider Parish in the Diocese of Youngstown have been served by St. Joseph the Provider Parish, 633 Porter Avenue, Campbell, Ohio. For seventy-five years, the Catholic Faithful of St. Lucy Parish in the Diocese of Youngstown have been served by St. Lucy Parish, 394 Tenney Avenue, Campbell, Ohio. Likewise, for fifty-one years, the Catholic Faithful of Sta. Rosa de Lima Parish have been served by Sta. Rosa de Lima Parish, 394 Tenney Avenue, Campbell, Ohio. In an effort to reorganize the People of God in this portion of God's Kingdom, it now is necessary to make new provisions for the spiritual care of the parishioners of St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Joseph the Provider Parish, St. Lucy Parish and Sta. Rosa de Lima Parish.

Accordingly, having carefully reviewed the pastoral statistics and studied facts compiled by the Diocese of Youngstown, after consultation with representatives of all four parish communities, having heard the Presbyteral Council and acting in accord with canon 515, paragraph 2, of the Code of Canon Law, I hereby alter and merge St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Joseph the Provider Parish, St. Lucy Parish and Sta. Rosa de Lima Parish. This merger shall be effective on April 29, 2012.

The parishioners of all four parishes are now members of the newly merged parish to be named Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, Campbell, Ohio. The newly merged parish is established as a personal parish in ministry to the faithful of Hispanic descent, Italian descent, Polish descent and Slovak descent. This reflects its historical roots. Because the newly merged Christ the Good Shepherd Parish is a personal parish, it is, therefore, not defined by territorial boundaries. However, the Church buildings will retain the names of St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph the Provider, and St. Lucy given at the time of dedication, in accord with canon 1218.

All of the original registers containing records of Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage and Christian Burial hitherto preserved by both parishes are now to be faithfully preserved in the newly merged parish at the office of St. Lucy Church, 394 Tenney Avenue, Campbell, Ohio.

All properties and assets of the four parishes are now part of the amalgamation into the juridic person of the new parish, to be named Christ the Good Shepherd, as dictated by this decree. All assets and debts shall be now shared by the newly merged parish as a whole. By way of a particular document approved by the Chief Financial Officer of the Diocese of Youngstown, the management of all assets and debts that now concern the newly merged parish will be properly detailed, attentive to the principle of equity and for the common good of all concerned.

Given at Youngstown, Ohio, this 29th day of April, 2012, Good Shepherd Sunday.

Most Reverend George V. Murry, S.J.
Bishop of Youngstown

Nancy Yuhasz
Chancellor