Friends Of Saint Vincent Pallotti

Friends Of St. Vincent Pallotti

Catholic Star Herald: "Bishop Galante Designates St. Vincent Pallotti Church
to be the Parish Seat"

This weekend, thirty months removed from Bishop Joseph A. Galante’s original announced intentions of April 3, 2008,
we can announce encouraging news. Our pastor, Fr. Walter Norris, received a letter from Bishop Galante on Friday,
Sept. 24, 2010. The letter (see online @ www.fosvp.org), which was personally addressed to Fr. Walter, was in
response to a recommendation by the Core Team, and Priest-Convener Father Walter, that the seat of the proposed
merged parish be located at St. Vincent Pallotti Church. The following paragraph from the letter was shared by Father
Walter with the parishioners after that weekend’s Masses:

“Therefore, having heard again from the Presbyteral Council in this regard [the location of the seat of the parish], and
having carefully considered the needs of the Faithful in this area of the diocese, I accept the recommendation of your
Core Team and hereby designate St. Vincent Pallotti Church as the seat of the new parish that I intend to form from
the consolidation of St. Aloysius Parish and St. Vincent Pallotti Parish.”

Subsequently, on Friday October 8, the following headline appeared in the Catholic Star Herald: “Bishop designates
Haddon Township church as location for consolidation of parishes” (see reverse side).

The Friends of St. Vincent Pallotti Inc. warmly embrace the bishop’s letter, and are reassured by the article in the Star
Herald. We appreciate Bishop Galante’s understanding and wisdom as regards this re-evaluation. We believe that
the bishop, inspired by your letters and respectful behavior over the past 2 ½ years, has listened to the parishioners of
St. Vincent Pallotti church. We also believe that our respectful disagreement, which is not only allowed by Canon law
but encouraged by Canon law, moved the bishop to seek further counsel from the Core Team members once the
neighboring geographic modifications were resolved. Praise the Lord, and thank you everyone for all your support,
your donations, your prayers and for all that you have done for St. Vincent Pallotti church!

The Friends of St. Vincent Pallotti Inc. also wishes to thank the Core team members of both parishes, as well as our
pastor Father Walter, for their courageous recommendation and for their hard work. We again thank Bishop Galante,
who listened to and recognized our concerns, and we look forward to working with and uniting with our friends at St.
Aloysius parish. Please continue to pray that, through the intercession of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the Core Team
may move forward in a prayerful spirit of cooperation with the merger of the two parishes.
***

The Star Herald article appears 918 days after the bishop’s announcement of April 3, 2008.
Curiously, some biblical books put the active ministry of Jesus at 918 days (from his baptism in
the Jordan by John the Baptist, to Easter Sunday and his glorious resurrection). So, from our
baptism of fire at the first announcement, to our announced resurrection as the official parish
seat, it was also 918 days.

“This is the day that the Lord has made,Let us rejoice and be glad!”

UNA VOCE

Oct. 17, 2010