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	'We Are an Active and Vibrant Parish' Courier-Post April 18, 2008 http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/NEWS01/804180356/1006 Letter to Bishop Joseph Galante, sent by parishioners of St. Mary's in Malaga, dated April 10: Your Excellency: We, as parishioners of St. Mary's Parish (Malaga), united with our Pastor and Parish Council, are writing this letter for two purposes: (1) to appeal to you, Bishop Galante, to reconsider any decision to merge our parish; and (2) to safeguard our rights as parishioners under canon law. Although there were no opportunities for clarification or questions at your parish reconfiguration webcast announcement of April 3rd, 2008, our understanding is that it is your intention to merge St. Mary's with three other parishes and, once the merger has taken place, to eliminate St. Mary's Church as a "worship site." This is unacceptable to us and, in the event the webcast announcement of April 3rd is intended to be, in any manner, notice to parishioners of the intent to suppress, merge or otherwise reduce or alter the status of our parish, we hereby formally protest such moves and respectfully urge you to refrain from such action. As parishioners of St. Mary's, we are very concerned about the future of our parish. We are an active and vibrant parish. At St. Mary's, in addition to providing the Sacraments and religious education through our CCD program, we have had 40-hours Eucharistic Adoration weekly for more than ten years, we celebrate the Extraordinary form of Mass monthly, we have many active groups providing spiritual and material assistance to those in need in our community and surrounding communities, including the Legion of Mary, Junior Legion of Mary, Third Order Carmelites, Youth Group, Holy Name Society, St. Vincent De Paul Society, and Knights of Columbus. We have an Adult Choir, a Children's Choir, a Rosary Garden and outdoor Stations of the Cross. We have celebrated the Feast of the Assumption annually for approximately 85 years. We are financially secure and have not experienced dramatic population changes. Furthermore, there is no current priest shortage, and in the event of a future priest shortage, alternative measures can be taken which would allow parishes, like St. Mary's, to remain open. In fact, we feel the results of merging our parish will be directly opposite the Diocese's stated policies and the goals of the "Parish Planning" initiative. As such, we fully intend to exercise our rights as Catholics and as parishioners under canon law for the purpose of safeguarding the existence and future of our parish. In closing, we, as parishioners of St. Mary's, united with our Pastor and Parish Council, respectfully request that St. Mary's Parish remain as it is, canonically constituted as a juridical entity in the Diocese of Camden. With due respect for the legitimate authority of the Bishop of Camden, we ask that this decision to merge St. Mary's with other parishes be reconsidered and that St. Mary's ecclesiastical stature as a parish be maintained. We respectfully request your prompt response to this letter, so that we may take our case to the appropriate dicastery in Rome in the event that the future of our parish is in jeopardy. We make this appeal with prayerful respect for Your Excellency and we ask the fervent intercession of the Mother of God united with the guidance of Her Divine Spouse, the Holy Spirit, that our cause be heard. May God Bless You. Sincerely Yours in Christ, Leah Vassallo Antoinette Cesare Charles Chamberlin Joseph Podsiadlo Kevin Kelton Diane Trace In Support and in Jesus' Name, Fr. Jerome C. Romanowski, Pastor
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