ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

DECEMBER 2001

Cluster 23 / Philadelphia-South Vicariate

The Pastoral Plan for Cluster 23 was accepted by Cardinal Bevilacqua in March, 1999. Under Goal # 2 of this Plan, it was stated that "the parishes of St. Aloysius and King of Peace twin in 2000 and subsequently close in 2002 unless a review would indicate otherwise".

In early September, separate review committees for the two parishes were formed. Each committee consisted of five parishioners. They met separately with Father Thomas Rossi (pastor of both parishes) and Monsignor John Conway (Vicar for Philadelphia-South). Doctor Pat Kelly (not associated with either parish) was engaged as facilitator.

After five meetings, the following recommendations come from the review committee of St. Aloysius Parish:

• As of July 1, 2003, St. Aloysius Parish be suppressed (that is, closed). Parishioners become members of St. Gabriel Parish or the parish in whose boundaries they live.

• As of July 1, 2003, St. Aloysius Church be used as a worship site of St. Gabriel Parish. In other words, the church building at 26^th and Tasker Streets would still be called "St. Aloysius Church" (not parish) and would become part of the facilities of St. Gabriel Parish. It would be used for one Mass on Saturday evenings or Sunday mornings. Also, funeral Masses could be celebrated there.
  
  

After five meetings, the following recommendations come from the review committee of King of Peace Parish:

• As of July 1, 2004, King of Peace Parish be suppressed (that is, closed). Parishioners become members of St. Gabriel Parish or the parish in whose boundaries they live.
  
  
• The parishioners be given the opportunity to vote on whether King of Peace Church would then (as of July 1, 2004) become a worship site of St. Gabriel Parish or that the church building would, at that time, no longer be used.
  
  

One of the major considerations during the 1998/99 Cluster Pastoral Planning process was the decrease in the number of diocesan priests available to serve in our parishes. In 2000, the Norbertine Fathers simultaneously withdrew from St. John Neumann High School and offered to staff the "twinned parishes" of St. Aloysius and King of Peace. At the time, they made a commitment until 2002. Since then, the Norbertine Fathers have offered to extend their commitment, but not beyond 2004. In fact, it is understood that, should there arise the need on the part of the Norbertines to reduce the number of their priests here (presently, two at St. Gabriel in addition to Father Rossi) prior to these proposed dates, St. Aloysius would become a worship site at that time (not waiting until 2003); King of Peace would become a worship site at that time (not waiting until 2004).

These recommendations will be presented to the Cluster 23 Implementation Team, charged (along with the Vicar) with implementing the Pastoral Plan. Then, they will be forwarded to the Archbishop for his acceptance.