The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced today that Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. has reviewed recommendations of the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee and made decisions to merge parishes in the City of Philadelphia as well as Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks Counties.

In the Fall of 2010, a pastoral letter was issued to parishioners throughout the Archdiocese. It outlined the necessity of an in-depth examination of all parishes in order to gauge whether they possessed the necessary resources to remain vibrant and sustainable faith communities. This process, known as Parish Area Pastoral Planning, is designed to be as collaborative and consultative as possible. Its goal is to provide pastors, after consulting their parish leadership, with the opportunity to dialogue with members of the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee in providing joint recommendations for parish growth and sustainability within their respective geographic areas.

During the process additional steps are taken to be as inclusive as possible. In the majority of cases, the regional bishop and the dean meet with the pastors as well as their pastoral and finance councils to hear their concerns and receive their recommendations which are brought before the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee, the Council of Priests and the College of Consultors for their observations and recommendations. Input and consultation from all of these groups is provided to the Archbishop.

The mergers being announced today are due to a number of factors including a shift in Catholic population, a high density of parishes in a small area, as well as declines in Mass attendance, Sacramental activity, the availability of priests to staff parishes, and a review of facilities.

In each instance of a merger, parishioners will attend daily and Sunday Mass at the church of the newly formed parish. The church(es) of the former parish(es) will become a worship site(es). Worship sites will be utilized for weddings, funerals and feast days, as well as traditional and ethnic devotions. Sunday Mass may also be celebrated at worship sites at the discretion of the pastor and the newly formed pastoral council and depending upon the availability of clergy.

Additionally, all parish property, assets and debts of any former parish will be assumed by the newly formed parish, which will also be responsible for the care of all sacramental records. The pastors from the merging parishes will form a transitional team made up of lay leaders from each of the merging parishes to assist in moving forward with forming the new parish community. The Archdiocese will provide ongoing guidance and support during the transition process.

When the mergers detailed below become effective there will be 219 parishes in the five-county Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The pastors assigned to all of the newly formed parishes were publicly announced this weekend with the regular priest personnel assignments. A complete list of those assignments can be found at www.CatholicPhilly.com.

It is expected that additional parishes will engage in the Parish Area Pastoral Planning Initiative beginning in the Fall of 2014 with decisions expected in the Spring of 2015. Announcements will be made this September in those parishes that will take part in that round of study as well as to the general public.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Contextual Background
In January 2013, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish merged with Saint Cyprian Parish, both located in West Philadelphia's Haddington-Carroll Park neighborhood, as part of the Parish Area Pastoral Planning Initiative that has been ongoing in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Both parishes merged at the location and retained the name of Saint Cyprian Parish.

At that time, the Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church building became a worship site of the newly formed Saint Cyprian Parish and was available for the occasional celebration of Mass as well as funerals, weddings and baptisms as is customary whenever possible in the case of a parish merger.

Additional information regarding that merger can be found at the following link: http://archphila.org/press%20releases/pr002099.php.

Today's Announcement
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced today that Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. relegated the Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church building to profane but not sordid use effective August 1, 2014. This formal, canonical designation means that the church will no longer serve as a worship site of Saint Cyprian parish and close as a Roman Catholic church.

This information was shared with Saint Cyprian parishioners prior to the August 1st effective date of the relegation. A copy of the official canonical decree regarding this matter can be found at http://archphila.org/conversion/canonical/LadyBlSacRelegation.pdf.

Further Information Regarding Today's Announcement
The formal request to close the Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament worship site originated from Saint Cyprian Parish's pastor together with his parish pastoral and finance councils. This request was then reviewed by the Archdiocesan Council of Priests and presented to Archbishop Chaput, who, after a careful review of all supporting factors, made the final decision.

Those factors included, but were not limited to, lack of parish funding to maintain the church building, ongoing maintenance costs and the deteriorated condition of the building. Saint Cyprian Parish spent approximately $35,000 over the past year on upkeep of the Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament worship site and those costs were projected to rise prohibitively over the course of time. Such continued expenditures would have forced staffing cuts at Saint Cyprian Parish and jeopardized the stability of vital ministerial programs such as outreach to the poor.

Future Use of the Former Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church Building
When Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament and Saint Cyprian Parishes merged, all real estate holdings, assets and debts of the former Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish were transferred to the newly formed Saint Cyprian Parish. These transfers are part of standard procedure in the case of all parish mergers.

As such, the former Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament church building is the property of Saint Cyprian Parish. The future disposition of this building will be determined by the pastor of Saint Cyprian Parish in consultation with his parish pastoral and finance councils in a manner consistent with providing for continued parish viability and sustainability.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Contextual Background

Saint Callistus

In July 2013, Saint Callistus Parish merged with Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, both located in West Philadelphia's Overbrook/Morris Park neighborhoods, as part of the Parish Area Pastoral Planning Initiative that has been ongoing in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Both parishes merged at the location and retained the name of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.

At that time, the Saint Callistus Church building became a worship site of the newly formed Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and was made available for the occasional celebration of Mass as well as funerals, weddings and baptisms. This practice is customary whenever possible in the case of a parish merger.

Additional information regarding that merger can be found at the following link: http://archphila.org/press releases/pr002099.php.

Saint Laurentius

In July 2013, Saint Laurentius Parish merged with Holy Name of Jesus Parish, both located in Philadelphia's Fishtown neighborhood, as part of the Parish Area Pastoral Planning Initiative that has been ongoing in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Both parishes merged at the location and retained the name of Holy Name of Jesus Parish.

At that time, the Saint Laurentius Church building became a worship site of the newly formed Holy Name of Jesus Parish and was made available for the occasional celebration of Mass as well as funerals, weddings and baptisms. This practice is customary whenever possible in the case of a parish merger.

Additional information regarding that merger can be found at the following link: http://archphila.org/press releases/pr002178.php


Today's Announcement

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced today that Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. relegated the Saint Callistus and Saint Laurentius Church buildings to profane but not sordid use effective October 1, 2014. This formal, canonical designation means that the buildings will no longer serve as worship sites and will close as Roman Catholic churches. Copies of the official canonical decrees can be found at http://archphila.org/conversion/conversion_index.php.

The formal request to close these worship sites originated from the pastors of the parishes, together with their parish pastoral and finance councils. The requests were then reviewed by the Archdiocesan Council of Priests and presented to Archbishop Chaput, who, after a careful review of all supporting factors, made the final decision.

This information was shared with Our Lady of Lourdes and Holy Name of Jesus parishioners at all Masses over the course of this weekend. Additionally, the pastors of both parishes have regularly communicated with their parishioners throughout the process of request for the buildings be relegated to profane but not sordid use.

Further Information Regarding Today's Announcement

Saint Callistus

The Saint Callistus church building faces a dangerous mold problem. It also is in need of repairs to the roof as well as waterproofing of the foundation. These necessary repairs and corresponding environmental clean-up work are estimated to cost a minimum of $260,000 over and above routine maintenance and utility costs. This figure represents an expense that Our Lady of Lourdes Parish cannot absorb and that would jeopardize the stability of vital ministerial programs and parish finances. Additionally, there have been no requests for funerals or weddings at Saint Callistus, and no Eucharistic celebrations at the church site for the last ten months.

When Saint Callistus and Our Lady of Lourdes Parishes merged, all real estate holdings, assets and debts of the former Saint Callistus Parish were transferred to the newly formed Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. These transfers are part of standard procedure in the case of all parish mergers.

As such, the former Saint Callistus church building is the property of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. The future disposition of this building will be determined by the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in consultation with his parish pastoral and finance councils in a manner consistent with providing for continued parish viability and sustainability.

Saint Laurentius

In March 2014, an inspection by an independent engineering firm resulted in the discovery of serious structural problems at the site and led to a recommendation for immediate closure out of concern for the safety of parishioners, students and the surrounding community. More information can be found here: http://archphila.org/press releases/pr002344.php The cost to repair and restore the church, including rebuilding the towers, would cost nearly $3.5 million, while the cost to demolish the church is approximately $1 million.

When Saint Laurentius and Holy Name of Jesus Parishes merged, all real estate holdings, assets and debts of the former Saint Laurentius Parish were transferred to the newly formed Holy Name of Jesus Parish. These transfers are part of standard procedure in the case of all parish mergers.

As such, the former Saint Laurentius church building is the property of Holy Name of Jesus Parish. The decision to demolish the Saint Laurentius church building or repair it will be determined by the pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in consultation with his parish pastoral and finance councils in a manner consistent with providing for continued parish viability and sustainability.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced today the continuation of the Parish Area Pastoral Planning Initiative with 14 parishes in Philadelphia, Delaware and Montgomery Counties entering the process. It is designed to allow groups of parishes within close geographic proximity, known as Pastoral Planning Areas (PPAs), to undertake a program of self-study. It is led by the pastors in conjunction with parish leadership, parishioners, and the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee (ASPC).

The need for this process was outlined in a pastoral letter from the Fall of 2010 which called on all parishes in the Archdiocese to determine if they possess the resources necessary to accomplish their roles in the mission of Christ while remaining sustainable and vibrant faith communities. It is hoped that the end result will be the strongest possible parishes that are poised for stability, growth, and service to God's people now and far into the future throughout the five-county Archdiocese.

The work of Parish Area Pastoral Planning is conducted in multiple stages. It involves a review of information related to demographic, financial and spiritual activity followed by consultation with parish leadership, parishioners and the ASPC. Finally, recommendations are made for the future. In some cases these recommendations may involve parish mergers. In other cases there may be no change in parish structures but would include a plan to assure future sustainability and pastoral vibrancy.

Every outcome is based on a combination of factors, including, but not limited to, demographic shifts in Catholic populations, concentrated density of parishes in a limited geographic area, history of Mass attendance and sacramental activity, increasing economic challenges that threaten sustainability, a decrease in the availability of clergy to staff parishes and a review of facilities.

The ASPC, made up of lay persons, priests and Archdiocesan personnel, assists all parishes within the Archdiocese in gauging their viability and in assessing whether they possess the resources to accomplish their role in the mission of the Church while remaining sustainable and vibrant faith communities.

Parish Area Pastoral Planning is designed to be as collaborative and consultative as possible. Its goal is to provide pastors, after consulting their parish leadership, with the opportunity to dialogue with members of the ASPC in providing joint recommendations for parish growth and sustainability within their respective geographic areas.

During the process additional steps are taken to be as inclusive as possible. In the majority of cases, the regional bishop and the dean meet with the pastors as well as their pastoral and finance councils to hear their concerns and receive their recommendations which are brought before the ASPC and the Council of Priests for their observations and recommendations. Input and consultation from all of these groups is provided to the Archbishop who makes the final decisions. The work associated with this round of planning will be ongoing throughout the next several months. Final results will be announced in late Spring of 2015.

Information regarding the Pastoral Planning Initiative was shared with all affected parish communities through announcements at masses during the weekend of October 11th and 12th as well as through letters mailed to all registered parishioners at their homes.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747