DECEMBER 18/19
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY AND OUR LADY OF VICTORY PARISHES
SUBMIT PROPOSAL TO
CARDINAL RIGALI FOR RESTRUCTURING
The input of parishioners in the two Parishes was solicited via a Communiqué which was distributed on the weekend of November 6th and 7th. Additionally, “town meetings” were held for parishioners, for other parents whose children are enrolled in the two Schools, and for the faculties of both Schools. Written summaries of parishioners’ feedback were submitted by the Pastor to the Office of the Regional Vicar.
The Steering Committee members met again on December 2nd to consider parishioners’ suggestions. A two-page (four-sided) summary of parishioners’ written responses was distributed to the members and reviewed. The “summary” actually is a long list of citations from notes and letters submitted by parishioners to the Pastor. The Pastor numbered each note and letter he received. The number at the end of each quote indicates to which note or letter the quote belongs.
The discussion that evening, which lasted for several hours, centered mostly on the response of the “Haddington Community”. Those identifying themselves as the “Haddington Community” in their responding to this proposal are Catholics and members of Our Lady of Victory Parish, as well as non-Catholics and residents of the Haddington section of Philadelphia. While the members of the Steering Committee agreed that no viable alternative to their preliminary proposal has been offered by any individual or group who responded, many points of the eight-page response of the “Haddington Community” are most worthy of consideration - whether or not this proposal is accepted by the Archbishop.
Final Proposals
On December 9th, the Steering Committee, therefore, submitted the following proposals:
1. Establish a new parish in West Philadelphia by consolidating the present Our Lady of the Rosary and Our Lady of Victory Parishes.
2. Locate the new parish at 63 rd and Callowhill Streets using the buildings at the present Our Lady of the Rosary site.
3. Upon acceptance by the Archbishop of these proposals, give the new parish a new name (that is, a name other than that of either of these two parishes).It is recommended that the restructuring of these parishes would be effective July 1, 2005.