Decree merging Hartley and Spencer parishes

OFFICE OF THE BISHOP

 Walker

By the Grace of God and the Favor of the Apostolic See

Bishop of Sioux City

DECREE MERGING THE PARISHES OF SAINT JOSEPH IN HARTLEY, IA,

AND OF SACRED HEART IN SPENCER, IA,

Willingly encouraging everything in our powers to provide more suitably for the good of souls; and in an effort to evangelize more effectively the faithful in Clay County and O'Brien County, as well to administrate the temporal goods of the faithful more efficiently, we have determined that the parishes of Saint Joseph, located at 260 N 4th Avenue Win Hartley, and of Sacred Heart, located at 1111 4th Avenue Win Spencer, both in the state of Iowa, be merged canonically.

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 a meeting between the clergy assigned to both parishes and my representative, Deacon Mark Prosser, on October 11, 2023;

And having ascertained from documents and deeds and consulted those concerned that there are no major donors or heirs to be heard;

And having heard the Presbyteral Council, in accordance with canon 515 §2 on May 10, 2024;

And having determined that the good of souls requires it;

I have deemed it necessary and proper an extinctive union by which the Parish of Saint Joseph in Hartley be merged into the Parish of Sacred Heart in Spencer.

The reasons motivating this decision are as follows:

1. The number of Catholics in both parishes has been in decline, consistent with the decline in population observed in Clay and O'Brien Counties for the last 5 decades;
2. The number of sacramental celebrations has also seen a decrease, in particular the number of marriages and weddings in both parishes;
3. Since 2018, the Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish has also been the pastor of Saint Joseph, with the administration of both parishes having been consolidated at Sacred Heart Parish;
4. To better effect the preaching and spread of the Gospel.

I, the undersigned Bishop of Sioux City, exercising my ordinary power and virtue of canon 515 §2, do hereby decree that the Parish of Saint Joseph in Hartley, with all the rights, obligations and privileges accorded it by law, be and is hereto merged into the Parish of Sacred Heart in Spencer by means of an extinctive union.

The Parish of Sacred Heart in Spencer shall now comprise the territory of the extinct Parishes of Saint Joseph in Hartley, and Sacred Heart in Spencer.

The Parish of Sacred Heart remains in the Northeast Deanery.

The intentions of the founders and donors regarding the temporal goods and patrimonial rights proper to the extinct Parish of Saint Joseph must be respected. In addition, the patrimonial goods, rights, and obligations of the extinct Parish of Saint Joseph must be defined and allocated in accordance with norm of law. (cc 121 and 122).

All the parish and sacramental records of the extinct Parish of Saint Joseph are to be properly preserved and safeguarded by the Parish of Sacred Heart, in accordance with the norm of law.

This decree is to be effective on July 1, 2024.

This decree is to be communicated to the pastor, who is the legal representative of the parishes and to all interested persons, according to the norm of law. (c. 532). This decree is to be read to parishioners of the Parishes of Saint Joseph and Sacred Heart on June 1 and 2, 2024. This decree is also to be published in the June 6, 2024, edition of The Lumen. It may be challenged within the peremptory time limit of ten days from the legitimate notification of the decree and in accordance with the norm of law. (c. 1734 §2).

Given in Sioux City, IA on May 20, 2024.

Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless 
Bishop of Sioux City

Reverend Mark J. Stoll, JCL, Chanellor