DECREE OF AMALGAMATION OF PARISHES
SAINT FRANCES CABRINI PARISH of TUCSON, ARIZONA
with
OUR LADY OF LA VANG PARISH, of TUCSON, ARIZONA,
His Excellency The Most Reverend Edward J. Weisenburger
Bishop of Tucson
In the Name of God. Amen
Having invoked the Sacred Name, and willingly encouraging everything in our powers to provide more suitably for the good of souls, and having considered the law and the facts;
And having heard, in accordance with canon 50, all those whose rights might be injured by means of written communications published in the bulletins of both parishes on August 28, 2021;
And having heard from the parishioners, donors and/or their heirs via publications of the
1, full-page letters outlining the proposed merger on August 28, 2021 at Our Lady of La Vang Parish, also on August 28, 2021 at St. Frances Cabrini Parish, and having previously celebrated all Masses in person at St. Frances Cabrini Parish on the weekend of August 14th-15th at which time the proposed merger was referenced;
And having met with the Pastor of Our Lady of La Vang Parish, their Corporate Board of Directors, Parish Finance Council and Parish Pastoral Council on August 15th, 2021, whose unanimous recommendation was to proceed with the merger of parishes, and having likewise met with the Parish Administrator of St. Frances Cabrini Parish, their Corporate Board of Directors, Parish Finance Council and Parish Pastoral Council on August 22nd, 2021, whose unanimous recommendation also was to proceed with the merger of parishes;
And having heard the Presbyteral Council, in accordance with canon 515 $2 on May 24, 2021, whose advice and recommendation for the merger was unanimous;
And having determined that the good of souls requires a pastoral conversion as a new phase of evangelization;
I have deemed it necessary and proper that the Parish of Saint Frances Cabrini, 3201 E. Presidio Road, Tucson, AZ, and the Parish of Our Lady of La Vang, 800 S. Tucson Boulevard, Tucson, be united and amalgamated, and from this extinctive-union and amalgamation, the Parish of Our Lady of La Vang, Tucson, become coextensive with the current Parish of St. Frances Cabrini.
The reasons motivating this decision are as follows:
The population of St. Frances Cabrini Parish has diminished greatly in number, while the population of Our Lady of La Vang Parish continues to grow. Moreover, in the preceding three fiscal years the Parish of St. Frances Cabrini has expended approximately $300,000.00 more than its revenue. The funds needed to sustain these losses were withdrawn from their savings. At the current rate of financial loss it is anticipated that the parish would be bankrupt within the next eighteen to twenty-four months. Moreover, due to financial decreases in recent years the parish staff has been greatly reduced. The volunteers that have attempted to replace the staff have not been able to maintain ministries at the same level of competence or need. At the same time that this situation has unfolded at St. Frances Cabrini, the parish of Our Lady of La Vang has enjoyed growth and robust financial strength. They have outgrown the small, former protestant church in which they worship and attempt to provide parish programming. The extensive property and buildings at St. Frances Cabrini Parish will suit their needs and allow for additional growth.
With these facts before us, I, the undersigned Bishop of Tucson, exercising my ordinary power and in virtue of canon 515 $2, do hereby decree that the Parish of Saint Frances Cabrini, with all the rights, obligations, and privileges accorded it by law, be and is hereto united to and amalgamated with the Parish of Our Lady of La Vang.
I herewith decree that on account of this extinctive-union and amalgamation of the Parish of Saint Frances Cabrini with the Parish of Our Lady of La Vang, the aforesaid Parish of Our Lady of La Vang is hereto re-named and is legally known as the Parish of St. Frances Cabrini, with all the rights, obligations, and privileges granted it by law. It should be noted that it is the intention of the parishioners and I, the undersigned Bishop of Tucson, to petition the Holy See in the near future for a change of name for the resulting unified parish from the Parish of St. Frances Cabrini to the Parish of Our Lady of La Vang.
The Parish of St. Frances Cabrini shall comprise the territory of the extinct Parish of Saint Frances Cabrini, as well as the current membership of the non-territorial Vietnamese American Parish of Our Lady of La Vang.
The Parish of St. Frances Cabrini remains in Pima Central Deanery.
All the parish and sacrament records of the extinct Parish of Saint Frances Cabrini, Tucson and Parish of Our Lady of La Vang, Tucson are to be properly preserved and safeguarded by the Parish of St. Frances Cabrini, in accordance with the norm of law.
This decree is to be effective on December 6, 2021.
This decree is to be communicated to the pastors, or those referenced in canon law who serve legitimately in the place of a pastor, who are the legal representatives of the parishes and to all interested persons, according to the norm of law. (c. 532).
The civil law ramifications of this Decree to the corporate entities of Saint Frances Cabrini Roman Catholic Parish – Tucson (Arizona Corporation Commission Number 124422472) and Our Lady of La Vang Roman Catholic Parish – Tucson (Arizona Corporation Commission Number 12422122) will be set forth in a separate Memorandum of Understanding between the corporate entities.
Given on this the 25th day of October, 2021, at the Chancery of the Diocese of Tucson.
+ Swardt. Weisenburger
Most Reverend Edward J. Weisenburger
Bishop of Tucson
