Local8/13/2004

New suppression decrees signed

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BRIGHTON — Archbishop Seán P. O’Malley has signed a new set of decrees announcing the suppression of eight parishes. The decrees were sent to the affected pastors Aug. 10. Pastors are expected to release the full text of the decrees to parishioners this weekend.

In the city of Boston, Our Lady of The Presentation Parish in Brighton will close its doors Aug. 30. St. Margaret Parish and St. William Parish, both in Dorchester, will close Aug. 31. According to the decrees, a new parish, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, will be formed from the two parishes.

The other suppression dates released were:

St. Joseph Parish, a French personal parish in Salem, Aug. 17;

St. Louis de France Parish, a French personal parish in Lowell, Aug. 26;

Nuestra Señora del Carmen Parish, a Spanish personal parish in Lowell, Aug. 31; and

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Revere and St. Joseph Parish, in Lincoln, Sept. 1.

In all but two cases, the decrees state that “the goods and obligations” of the suppressed parishes will “become the goods and obligations of the Archdiocese of Boston.”

In Dorchester a portion of the two parishes’ assets will be transferred to the newly formed Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish. “St. Margaret Church” and “the property of St. William School” will be given to the new parish, but the remaining goods and obligations of both parishes will become “the goods and obligations of the Archdiocese of Boston,” according to the suppression decrees.

The decree of erection of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish, was not among those released to The Pilot Aug. 10.

To date, the archdiocese has released 20 decrees of suppression.