To be known as Saint John Paul II Parish

SOUTHBRIDGE – Bishop McManus has decreed that the name of Blessed John Paul II Parish be changed to Saint John Paul II Parish, effective 12:01 a.m. April 28 the day after the late pope is canonized a saint of the Roman Catholic Church, April 27 in St. Peter’s Square by Pope Francis.
The bishop’s decree:
“Blessed John Paul II Parish in Southbridge, Massachusetts, will now be known as St. John Paul II Parish, and will remain a territorial
parish in the town of Southbridge, in accordance with canon 121 of the Code of Canon Law, and will retain and enjoy all canonical rights and privileges, in conjunction with the norms of law.
“Notre Dame Church, Saint Hedwig Church and Saint Mary Church will retain their respective titles, in accordance with canon 1218.
“The effective date of this decree in April 28, 2014, at 12: 01 a.m.”
Blessed John Paul II Parish was created by the bishop on July 1, 2012, by merging Notre Dame, St. Mary and St. Hedwig parishes.
Father Peter Joyce, pastor, said a group of 16 from the parish will travel with him to the Vatican April 22 for the canonization ceremonies. He said the group will arrive on April 23, travel to Assisi, leave for Florence on the 25th and then go to Rome for the canonization. They will return home on April 30.

DECREE
In Nomine Domini.  Amen.

Blessed John Paul II was born Karol Josef Wojtyla, May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Republic of Poland. He was ordained to the priesthood on November 1, 1946, becoming a priest of the Archdiocese of Krakow. On September 28, 1958, he was consecrated auxiliary bishop to the Archbishop of Krakow, Poland, and in 1964 he was appointed Archbishop of Krakow. Pope Paul VI created him a cardinal on June 26, 1967. He was elected Supreme Pontiff on October 16, 1978. He died in Vatican City on April 5, 2005, after reigning for twenty-seven years.

Pope Benedict XVI beatified Pope John Paul II on May 1, 2011, in Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City, and he was given the title “Blessed.”

On Sunday, April 27, 2014, Pope Francis will canonize Blessed John Paul II in Saint Peter’s Square a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. His feast day will be celebrated on October 22, the anniversary of the inauguration of his ministry of universal pastor.

Blessed John Paul II Parish is a territorial parish located in Southbridge, Massachusetts. It was created on July 1, 2012, by merging the former parishes of Notre Dame of the Sacred Heart, Saint Hedwig, and Saint Mary, all in the town of Southbridge.

Given that Blessed John Paul II will be canonized in Vatican City on April 27, 2014, by His Holiness, Pope Francis, Supreme Pontiff, it becomes necessary to change the name of Blessed John Paul II Parish, Southbridge.

In view of this, I, the Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester, holding before me my pastoral responsibilities to this particular church, hereby declare and decree the following:

Blessed John Paul II Parish in Southbridge, Massachusetts, will now be known as Saint John Paul II Parish, and will remain a territorial parish in the town of Southbridge, in accord with canon 121 of the Code of Canon Law, and will retain and enjoy all canonical rights and privileges, in conjunction with the norms of law.

Notre Dame Church, Saint Hedwig Church, and Saint Mary Church will retain their respective titles, in accord with canon 1218.
The effective date of this decree is April 28, 2014, at 12:01 a.m.
I order that this decree be published.
Given at Worcester, Massachusetts, in the halls of the Chancery, this the fourteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord, two thousand fourteen.

Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, S.T.D.
Bishop of Worcester

Mr. Raymond L. Delisle
Chancellor