Dear Sisters and Brothers of Saint Cecilia, Saint Felix, Holy Family and Saints Peter and Paul Parishes:
On April 12, 2015, when I initiated On Mission/or The Church Alive!, who ofus could have ever imagined the ways in which the COVID-19 virus and crisis would af

fect every aspect of our daily lives? As we continue to live through many changing realities, please know that I pray for you daily asking our Heavenly Father to shower you with abundant grace, good health and much hope.
Despite present challenges with the pandemic, your parishes successfully completed the merger process by presenting a Virtual Parish Assembly and gathering written and electronic feedback from parishioners. Members of your Pastoral and Finance Councils worked with your administrator to complete all necessary documentation for the merger. In tum, your grouping administrator, Father Robert J. Miller, petitioned me to merge the parishes. On October 19, 2020, the diocesan Priest Council and Vicars General gave consent to the proposed merger, and I have decided to enact these recommendations.
Effective January 4, 2021, your current parishes will cease to exist, and the new parish of Our Lady of the Valley will take their place. No church buildings will close at this time. Parish leaders and parishioners will need to follow a thorough process to consider which buildings will best serve the needs of the faithful and the community. At this time the name of the school associated with the parish, Saints Peter and Paul School, will not change.
Every member of your current parishes is now a member of the newly formed Our Lady of the Valley Parish. Our Lady of the Valley Parish will also inherit all of the assets, responsibilities and liabilities of the current parishes.
Our Lady of the Valley Parish will be served by the following clergy team:

• Father Robert J. Miller, Pastor                                      •     Father Mark Carter, OFM Cap., Parochial Vicar
• Father Paul Kuppe, OFM Cap., Senior Parochial   •    Father Michael Greb, OFM Cap., Institutional Vicar                                                                                           Chaplain

Most Reverend David A. Zubik  Bishop of Pittsburgh
 

              


DAVID ALLEN ZUBIK

By the Grace of God and the Authority of the Apostolic See
BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH DECREE

THE EXTINCTIVE UNION OF
HOLY FAMILY PARISH, SAINT CECILIA PARISH, SAINT FELIX PARISH,
AND SAINTS PETER AND PAUL PARISH
INTO
OUR LADY OF THE VALLEY PARISH

Whereas, Holy Family Parish was established in 1994 by the merger of Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish with Saint Joseph Parish as part of the diocesan reorganization and revitalization program.

Whereas, the origins of Saint Cecilia Parish can be traced to 1856 and the need to minister to the German-speaking Catholics of the area. That year, a mission church of Saint Mary Parish, North Side was built. Later, the mission was transferred to Saints Peter and Paul Parish in 1868. In 1900, Saint Cecilia became independent with the appointment of a resident pastor.

Whereas, Saint Felix Parish was established in 1906 in order to minister to the Catholic population of Freedom.

Whereas, the origins of Saints Peter and Paul Parish can be traced to 1830 when priests from Saint Patrick Parish, Sugar Creek and Saint Paul Parish, Pittsburgh began visiting the area to celebrate Mass. A church was built and dedicated in 1837 and then in 1847, Saints Peter and Paul became a parish in its own right with the assignment of a resident pastor.

Whereas, information regarding the future of the parishes has been consistently communicated to the parishioners in the weekly, combined parish bulletin, on the parish website, and at announcements during weekend Masses.
 
Whereas, because in-person assemblies could not be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a virtual parish assembly was posted on the parish website on September 1, 2020, to provide information to the people of the parishes and to receive parishioner input regarding the possible merger of the parishes.

Whereas on September 28, September 29, October 2, and October 5, 2020, four (4) petitions were presented to the diocesan bishop, each signed by the one priest who serves as Administrator of Holy Family Parish, Saint Cecilia Parish, Saint Felix Parish, and Saints Peter and Paul Parish, along with the signatures of the respective Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils requesting that Holy Family Parish, Saint Cecilia Parish, Saint Felix Parish, and Saints Peter and Paul Parish be merged into Our Lady of the Valley Parish forming an extinctive union.

Whereas merging these parishes will provide more vibrant and effective ministries to the faithful and, because of the fewer number of priests in the diocese and faithful in the territory, forming one parish will facilitate a stronger community of the faithful for liturgical worship, ministry, and outreach.

Whereas, merging these parishes will better facilitate the ability of the assigned clergy to work together, building upon one another's individual talents, in order to better serve the People of God entrusted to their pastoral care.

Whereas, merging these parishes will provide greater and more accessible resources for parochial administration and the employment of effective staff members.Whereas, the need for evangelization is pressing in the territories concerned and merging these parishes will make resources available for the effective proclamation of the Gospel so as to enliven the Faith, bring the people closer to the Lord, and win souls for Christ.

Therefore, having received the petition of the four (4) parishes and having heard the Presbyteral Council on October 19, 2020 and the Vicars General on the same day, and with no harm coming to the good of souls and indeed for the spiritual benefit of the faithful, and all of the requirements of canons 50, 51, 127, 166, and 515 having been fulfilled, we do hereby decree the following:

1.      By means of an extinctive union Holy Family Parish, Saint Cecilia Parish, Saint Felix Parish, and Saints Peter and Paul Parish are merged and subsumed into the newly formed Our Lady of the Valley Parish, which is erected by this decree according to the prescriptions of canon 515§ 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

2.      In accordance with the norms of law (cf. canon 121), all assets, responsibilities and liabilities of Holy Family Parish, Saint Cecilia Parish, Saint Felix Parish, and Saints Peter and Paul Parish are transferred into the newly erected Our Lady of the Valley Parish. The intention of donors is to be respected.

3.      Furthermore, the voluntary offerings of the faithful and all other grants that have been made and will be made to Our Lady of the Valley Parish constitute its revenue.

4.      All sacramental records from Holy Family Parish, Saint Cecilia Parish, Saint Felix Parish, and Saints Peter and Paul Parish will be housed at the Archives and Records Center of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

5.      All churches are to remain open to the faithful for at least occasional sacred worship, whether public or private (cf. can. 1214). If a church is not used for regular public worship, the holy Mass is to be celebrated there at least every year on the solemnity of the anniversary of the church's dedication and on the solemnity of the church's title, in accord with current liturgical norms (cf. can. 1167 §2 and 1168 of the former Code of Canon Law, and can. 2 of the present Code). If such an observance is impeded by another date of higher rank according to the Roman calendar, the impeded solemnity is to be transferred to the first available date thereafter.

6.      All present members of Holy Family Parish, Saint Cecilia Parish, Saint Felix Parish, and Saints Peter and Paul Parish are entitled to be parishioners of Our Lady of the Valley Parish according to the universal law and legitimate custom within the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
7.      The boundaries of Our Lady of the Valley Parish shall be as follows: BEGINNING  at  the point of  beginning  at  the intersection  of  the  Beaver County-Butler County border and State Route 288, proceed south along the Beaver County-Butler County border to the intersection with Freedom Crider Road; proceed west along the centerline of Freedom Crider Road to the intersection with State Route 989; proceed west via airline route to the endpoint of Holly Hill Drive; proceed west via airline route to the northeast border of Conway Borough; proceed west along the Conway Borough border to the middle of the Ohio River; proceed north and west in the middle of the Ohio River to the intersection with the Industry Borough-Vanport Township border; proceed west along the Industry Borough-Vanport Township border to the Industry Borough-Brighton Township Border; proceed west along the Industry Borough-Brighton Township border to the intersection with Barclay Hill Road (State Route 4037); proceed west via airline route to the intersection of the Brighton Township-Industry Borough-Ohioville Borough borders; proceed west along  the  Industry  Borough-Ohioville  Borough  border  to  the  intersection  with Willowbrook Drive; proceed north along the centerline of Willowbrook Drive to the intersection with Tuscarawas Road; proceed northwest via airline route to the Intersection of Lisbon Road (Route 4022) and Old Blackhawk Road (Route 4029); proceed east along the South Beaver Township border to the Chippewa Township border; proceed east along the Chippewa Township border to the southeast border of Chippewa Township; proceed east via airline route to the  intersection  with Constitution Boulevard (PA Route 51) at a point directly opposite 4th Street East; proceed south along the centerline of Constitution Boulevard (PA Route 51) to a point directly opposite the southwest border of Patterson Heights Borough; proceed east via airline route to the southwest border of Patterson Heights Borough; proceed east along the southern border of Patterson Heights Borough to the middle of the Beaver River; proceed north in the middle of the Beaver River to the intersection of the City  of Beaver Falls border with the south border of Eastvale Borough; proceed  north  and west along the Eastvale Borough border to the intersection with the City of Beaver Falls-North Sewickley Township border in the middle of the Beaver River; proceed north in the middle of the Beaver River to a point directly opposite the intersection of Gillen Road (T6 I 5) and River Road (Route 04005); proceed east via airline  route to the intersection of Gillen Road (T615) and River Road (Route  04005);  proceed  east via airline route to the intersection of Bessor Road (T647) and Old Furnace Road; proceed southeast via airline route to the intersection of the Beaver County-Butler County border and State Route 288, the point of beginning.

This decree becomes effective at 12:01 AM on January 4, 2021, anything to the contrary notwithstanding.

Finally, those who have the right may appeal this decree in accordance with the prescriptions of the law.

Given at Pittsburgh, PA, this 19th day of November, in the Year of Our Lord 2020.

Most Reverend David A. Zubik
Bishop of Pittsburgh
 
Ellen M. Mady
Chancellor





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