AKA: Sabotage and Brow Beating Dressed Up as Legitimate "Process" 

Left: A wolf in sheep's clothing. Below, the [becoming more apparent] wolf in wolf's clothing.

This blog is a continuation of the previous blog's "Status Chart of the Merger Manual Agenda Items for the Newfield, Malaga, and Buena Group," dated June 15, 2010.

Note:  At the beginning of Meeting 4 (Jan 12th), the merger date of January 2011 was announced without any input or coherent explanation.

 

The Following Are Dates of the Core Team Meetings where Agendas Were Supposedly Covered:

Mtgs 1-3: Nov 17^th (no minutes from any other meeting provided)

 

Mtg 4: Jan 12^th

 

Mtg 5: Mar 1^st

 

Mtg 6: April 6^th

 

Mtg 7: May 4^th

 

• There was also an additional meeting held on October 14, 2009, where the CORE TEAM met to vote on the Presbyteral Council's recommended plan that Collings Lakes remain stand-alone.

 

• Although this plan was presented as somehow originating with the CORE TEAM, it in fact did not. When the CORE TEAM had met earlier in the year with Msgrs. Burton and McGrath, the idea of Collings Lakes standing alone was never even brought up. Rather, the CORE TEAM had recommended a cluster instead of a merger.

 

• While this October 14, 2009 meeting did not cover anything other than the new proposal, it is worth noting that the original vote was 6-6. It was only after a very lengthy arm-twisting session, that the second vote was taken and resulted in an 8-4 tally in favor of the proposal. During this arm-twisting /brow-beating session, it was promised by the CONVENERS that there would be no timeline with the new proposal. They said that the merger process could take as long as necessary to do it right. A time period of 3-5 years was possible.

 

• It was also stated that all of the churches could remain open under the new proposed plan. Conversely, it was threatened that St. Mary's would be imminently closed if we did not vote "yes." (Despite the threatening, St. Mary's core team members still voted "no.")

 

• Even though a 3-5 year timeline given, within three months of our vote to have Collings Lakes stand alone, we were given a target merger date - without any explanation, discussion, or input - of one year. The previous "Status Chart of the Merger Manual Agenda Items" shows how unrealistic this is, not to mention severely lacking in integrity.

Since it's well-known, at least among people in Vineland, that Bishop Galante has long wanted to close the historic and beautiful Sacred Heart (roughly the size of the cathedral in Camden), which outrages many (myself included since this is the church of my ancestors), this is no great surprise. In fact, it's the oldest trick in the book. One way of messing with a group's identity is to remove its long-standing leader. While Fr. Amabile's mother is apparently sick, (may the Lord bless her,) that seems a very convenient thing for the Galante administration.

What's still so surprising is that a native Vinelander, Msgr. John Burton, would continue to work with Galante in achieving this end. Shame! (One wonders, is it all about getting ahead and making brownie points?)

His departure would not affect Galante's plan to cut 124 parishes in the diocese down to 68, Walton said. Sacred Heart Parish and St. Isidore the Farmer Parish on Magnolia Road will merge under the plan, with St. Isidore assuming primary worship duties.

It seems to be most people's assumption that since St. Isidore's on Magnolia has so much land, Galante plans to use it to create his gigantic Vineland, evangelical protestant-style megachurch on that spot. But I suppose a traditional and beautiful Catholic church, no matter the size or history, does not serve the bishop's purposes.

(Below are maps of St. Isidore's on top and Sacred heart on the bottom. If you'd like to examine the maps more closely just click on them.)

View Larger Map


View Larger Map

Besides all that, closing Sacred Heart would rip the soul out of what is left of downtown Vineland. What a way to build "community" and help the less fortunate--to move the main Vineland parish to the burbs.

It would seem appropriate at this time to thank the Augustinian Order, in all seriousness and sincerity, for helping us in South Jersey by sending us priests for all these years. They have been a great blessing, and continue to to be, even, as Fr. Marty Smith referred to them, as "rent-a-priests" when parishes are in a pinch. We thank you!

The article is below. You may also read Daily Journal article by clicking here.

Sacred Heart pastor moving on to N.Y. post

By KRISTI FUNDERBURK • Staff Writer • August 11, 2009

I know that this contributor is not the only person who feels the "process" to determine which parishes would close and which ones would remain open was significantly flawed; that basically, it was biased and politically motivated. The argument goes that generally those who were "in" with the bishop got to keep their parishes open. I personally don't know since I wasn't a party to the discussions, and I don't know too much about diocesan politics. But the evidence is there. What do you think?

This is what was submitted to Save St. Marys yesterday, 6/23, by email:

Been doing some checking and researching and am attaching information I put together from the 2008 Diocesan Directory and several Issues of the Star Herald. 

I find it interesting that most of the members of the Bishop's committees who held the fates of our parishes in their hands, have just about kept all their Parishes open.

 

CAMDEN DIOCESE PRESBYTERIAL COUNCIL AND PARISHES TO BE KEPT OPEN OR CLOSED a/o 4/3/08

Most Rev Joseph A. Galante, Presider

Rev. Joseph E. Wallace, Exec Secretary (Christ the King-Haddonfield) OPEN, Stand Alone Parish

Rev. Thomas S. Donio, Recording Secretary (Nativity-Franklinville) OPEN

    - Merge Nativity (Franklinville), St. Bridget (Glassboro) and St. Catherine (Clayton)

      with worship sites at Nativity and St. Bridget (for Spanish community)

EX OFFICIO MEMBERS:

Rev. Msgr. John H. Burton (St. Isidore-Vineland) OPEN

      - merge with Sacred Heart (Vineland) as secondary worship site

Rev. Msgr. Peter M. Joyce (Incarnation-Mantua) OPEN - Stand Alone Parish

Msgr. Robert T. McDermott (St. Joe's Pro Cathedral-Camden) OPEN

-merge with St. Cecilia's (Pennsauken) & St. Veronica (Delair) (both closing)

Rev. Msgr. Roger E. McGrath (St. Pius X-Cherry Hill) OPEN

  -     Merge with Holy Rosary (closed)

Rev. Terry Odien (St. Peter Celestine-Cherry Hill) OPEN

  -      Merge with Queen of Heaven (closed)

Rev. William Weiksnar, OFM (Immaculate Conception-Bridgeton) OPEN

Merge St. Teresa of Avila (Bridgeton), Immaculate Conception (Bridgeton), St. Michael (Cedarville) and St. Mary (Rosenhayn-closing) with primary worship sites at  Immaculate Conception, particularly for the Hispanic community, and at St. Michael

Rev. Msgr. William A. Brennan (St. Pius X-Cherry Hill) OPEN

merge with Holy Rosary (closed)
 

APPOINTED MEMBERS:

Rev. Msgr. Joseph V. DiMauro (St. Patrick's-Woodbury) OPEN

Merge St. Patrick's (Woodbury), St. Matthew (National Park) and Most Holy Redeemer (Westville Grove-closing) with primary worship site at St. Patrick and secondary site at St. Matthew

Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. McIntyre (Star of the Sea- Cape May) OPEN, Stand Alone Parish

 

Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Morgan (St. Thomas Moore-Cherry Hill) OPEN

Cluster St. Thomas Moore and St. Mary's (both open)

Rev. Msgr. Victor S. Muro (Immaculate Heart-Vineland) CLOSED

Merge Immaculate Heart with St. Francis of Assisi (Vineland) with worship site at St. Francis

Rev. Thomas A. Newton (St. Peter Celestine-Cherry Hill) OPEN

Merge St. Peter Celestine and Queen of Heaven (Cherry Hill - closing) with worship site at St. Peter Celestine

Rev. Msgr. William Quinn (St. Paul-Stone Harbor) OPEN

Merge Maris Stella (Avalon) with St. Paul with the primary worship site at Maris Stella and a secondary worship site at St. Paul

Rev. Msgr. Russell L. Rock (St. Maria Goretti-Runnemede) CLOSED

Merge St. Teresa (Runnemede) and St. Maris Goretti (Runnemede) with worship site at St. Teresa

Rev. Msgr. Patrick M. Tierney (Maris Stella-Avalon) OPEN

Merge with St. Paul (Stone Harbor) with primary worship site at Maris Stella and secondary site at St. Paul

Rev. Msgr. James R. Tracy (St. Charles Borromeo-Sicklerville) OPEN, Stand Alone Parish

 

ELECTED MEMBERS:

REPRESENTATIVES BY ORDINATION SENIORITY

Rev. Vincent G. Carpinelli-Group 1 (Our Lady of Lourdes-Glassboro) OPEN

Merge Our Lady of Lourdes (Glassboro) and Queen of Peace (Pitman) with primary worship site at Our Lady of Lourdes and a secondary site at Queen of Peace

Rev. Joseph D. Wallace-Group 2 (Christ the King-Haddonfield) OPEN, Stand Alone Parish

Rev. James A. Casadia-Group 3 (St. Ann's-Wildwood) OPEN

Merge St. Ann (Wildwood) with Assumption (Wildwood Crest) with the worship site at St. Ann.  Assumption will continue as a secondary site for summer tourists

Part 1: The Origins of St. Mary's
Part 2: 1922-1939: A Mission Church of Sacred Heart Parish
Part 3: 1939-1961: A Mission Church of St. Rose of Lima Parish
Part 4: Since 1961: An Independent Parish
Epilogue: Pastor's Vision for the Future
Acknowledgments: About this history

The entire history is taken ver batem from the wonderful booklet prepared for St. Mary's 75th Anniversary in 1997. The booklet is entiteled, St. Mary's of Malaga, 1922-1997: A Delsea Drive Landmark Celebrates Its Diamond Jubiliee. The booklet was written by William Sansalone. The following are the author's acknowledgements printed in the front of the book:

"I thank the people of Malaga and the business community there for the funds to print this booklet. (They are listed on the program for the October 19 celebratory dinner.) Mr. Stephen Cesare's brief history of our church (1962) served as a starting point for the present booklet. Since May, numerous parishioners shared their knowledge of long-past and recent parish events, and I am appreciative. Mr. Michael Sanderson, a photographer with PhotoQuik (Vineland), gave me valuable advice. Special thanks go to Father Jerome Romanowski and Ms. Angela Iannello, his assistant, for their help during my recent fact-finding visits to Malaga.

"In the Washington, D.C. area, I am indebted to Ms. Susan P. Stark, who skillfully edited the entire contents of this booklet. Mr. Ralph Slesinski and Ms. Cathy Lee of Westland Printers (Burtonsville, Md.) did the design and layout. I am grateful to Westland's craftspeople for producing this booklet with thought and care. My wife, Alice, has consistently encouraged and supported me in this project."

---

Part 1: The Origins of St. Mary's
Part 2: 1922-1939: A Mission Church of Sacred Heart Parish
Part 3: 1939-1961: A Mission Church of St. Rose of Lima Parish
Part 4: Since 1961: An Independent Parish
Epilogue: Pastor's Vision for the Future
Acknowledgments: About this history