April 14, 2000
Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, announces the establishment of two new parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia: one in Buckingham Township, Bucks County and one in Upper Uwchlan Township, Chester County. "It is exciting to witness the growth of the Catholic population in both Bucks County and Chester County. What a unique blessing for the Archdiocese to establish two new parishes as we prepare to enter the Third Millennium," said Cardinal Bevilacqua.
In Bucks County, the new parish facilities will be located at the Northeast Corner of Route 263/202 and Quarry Road in Buckingham Township. In Chester County, the new parish facilities will be located at the intersection of Pottstown Pike (Route 100) and Fellowship Road in Upper Uwchlan Township.
Both Bucks and Chester Counties have experienced tremendous growth in recent years. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Doylestown, Bucks County, currently has 17,090 registered parishioners, double the number of parishioners in 1990. Projections indicate that the population in Doylestown Township will increase a total of 93.5 percent between 1990 and 2020. Projections indicate a 67.3 percent increase in population in Buckingham Township from 1990 to 2020.
As of December 31, 1998, there were 23,901 registered parishioners in the north-central section of Chester County. This is a 32 percent increase since 1990. Projections indicate that the Catholic population in this same area will increase to between 32,350 and 36,232 by the year 2010.
(Statistics provided by the Archdiocesan Office for Research and Planning)
Cardinal Bevilacqua said, "I commend the Regional Vicar for Bucks County, Reverend James D. Beisel, and the Regional Vicar for Chester County, Reverend Monsignor James T. McDonough, as well as the faithful who participated in the studies and helped to prepare for this day. More work is ahead but I know that our lay faithful with their priests will prayerfully and successfully create vibrant parish communities for each of the new parishes as well as support future building efforts."
The recommendations for the new parishes originated with the Cluster Pastoral Plan of Cluster 30 in Bucks County (accepted by Cardinal Bevilacqua in July 1999) and the Cluster Pastoral Plan of Cluster 43 in Chester County (accepted by Cardinal Bevilacqua in May 1999). Cluster Pastoral Planning began in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1996. It is an outgrowth of Parish self-study and Parish planning which began in 1993. Cluster Pastoral Planning is a grassroots process in which priests, religious and lay people recommend the best way to use available resources to create a stronger Catholic Church in their community.
NEW PARISH
UPPER UWCHLAN TOWNSHIP
CHESTER COUNTY VICARIATE
LOCATION
* Intersection of Pottstown Pike (Route 100) and Fellowship Road in Upper Uwchlan Township
* 36 acre parcel
* Land purchased from Pulte Homes Corporation Inc. in January 2000
BOUNDARIES
* New parish will be comprised of portions of:
Saint Basil the Great Parish (Kimberton)
Saint Joseph Parish (Downington)
Saint Peter Parish (Honey Brook)
Saints Philip & James Parish (Exton)
* In creating the new parish, boundaries were changed for:
Saint Basil the Great Parish (Kimberton)
Saint Cecilia Parish (Coatesville)
Saint Clare Parish (Linfield-Montgomery County Vicariate)
Saint Joseph Parish (Downingtown)
Saint Peter Parish (Honey Brook)
Saints Philip & James Parish (Exton)
Saint Thomas More Parish (South Coventry)
* Students already enrolled in other parish schools may remain in those schools
* PREP (Parish Religious Education Program) (CCD) students will remain in their current programs until the new pastor has adequate resources to support a program in the new parish
STAFFING
* One priest (pastor) to be named by Cardinal Bevilacqua prior to June 2000
* Pastor will be invited to reside in Saint Joseph's rectory in Downingtown until permanent housing decisions are made
NAME
* Parish name is not yet determined
* It is expected that Cardinal Bevilacqua will invite a recommendation from the pastor in consultation with parishioners
BUILDING
* No building time line established
* This will be a priority for the new pastor and parishioners
Potential temporary worship locations in Upper Uwchlan Township are being investigated for immediate use
NEW PARISH
BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP
BUCKS COUNTY VICARIATE
LOCATION
* Northeast corner of Route 263/202 and Quarry Road in Buckingham Township
* 34 acre parcel
* Land purchased from a private citizen in January 1997
BOUNDARIES
* New parish will be comprised solely of territory from within the present boundaries of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Doylestown
* Expansion of facilities at Our Lady of Mount Carmel is not possible because parish-site is land-locked
STAFFING
* Pastor and Parochial Vicar to be named by Cardinal Bevilacqua prior to June 2000
* Residence for new pastor yet to be determined
NAME
* Parish name not yet determined.
* It is expected that Cardinal Bevilacqua will invite a recommendation from the pastor in consultation with parishioners
BUILDING
* No building time line established
* This will be a priority for the new pastor and parishioners
* Potential temporary worship locations in BuckinghamTownship are being investigated for immediate use
Contact
Donna Crilley
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747