Update | Seven Dolors Parish, Hurlingen to Saint Joseph Parish, Easton Amalgamation
Decree Amalgamating Seven Dolors Parish, Hurlingen to Saint Joseph Parish, Easton
Whereas my previous Decree dated July 10, 2023, promulgated the extinctive union of Seven Dolors Parish, Hurlingen, to Saint Joseph Parish, Easton, effective at the end of the day on September 17, 2023; and
Whereas the “Petition for Hierarchical Recourse Against the Elimination of Seven Dolors Parish, Hurlingen,” dated July 19, 2023, in accord with canon 1734, § 1, seeking my revocation or emendation of my Decree dated July 10, 2023, was received in my office on July 19, 2023, within the ten useful days as stipulated in canon 1734, §2; and
Whereas my denial of either a revocation or emendation of my Decree, dated July 10, 2023, Amalgamating Seven Dolors Parish, Hurlingen to Saint Joseph Parish, Easton, was communicated in a decree dated August 4, 2023, stating that a right of recourse may be made to the Dicastery for the Clergy; and
Whereas the recurrents petitioned the Dicastery for the Clergy within the peremptory time limit for hierarchical recourse against the decree dated July 10, 2023, which merged Seven Dolors Parish in Hurlingen with neighboring Saint Joseph Parish in Easton in an extinctive union; and
Whereas Lazzaro Cardinal You Heung sik, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, in a decree dated December 4, 2023, “confirms the 10 July decree of the Bishop of Kansas City- St. Joseph, which joined Seven Dolors Parish in Hurlingen to that of Saint Joseph in Easton in an extinctive union, since the petition for hierarchical recourse as presented has no foundation in law or in fact and is rejected both in procedendo et in decernendo;” and
Whereas the peremptory time limit for recourse against the decree of the Dicastery for the Clergy before the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura has terminated:
THEREFORE
I, the Most Reverend James V. Johnston, Jr., by the grace of God and the favor of the Apostolic See, Bishop of Kansas City – Saint Joseph, for the same reasons stated in my Decree, dated July 10, 2023, declare Amalgamating Seven Dolors Parish, Hurlingen to Saint Joseph Parish, Easton to be effective at the end of the day on May 19, 2024.
Given at the Chancery of the Diocese of Kansas City- Saint Joseph on this 19th day of the month of March in the Year of Our Lord 2024.
Most Reverend James V. Johnston, Jr.
Bishop of Kansas City – St. Joseph
Very Reverend Kenneth A. Riley
Vicar General – Chancellor
Decree Amalgamating Seven Dolors Parish, Hurlingen to Saint Joseph Parish, Easton (PDF)