Decree of the Union of the Parishes of Weymouth and Portland
Right Reverend Christopher Budd
Bishop of Plymouth
DECREE OF UNION OF PARISHES
Our Lady & St Andrew, Portland, St Augustine, Weymouth and St Joseph, Weymouth
Having received the proposal from the Pastoral Councils concerned and consulted the Council of Priests in accordance with Canon 515 §2;
To respond to new circumstances and make appropriate juridical provision for established pastoral arrangements;
To foster the communion between the communities involved and to promote greater effectiveness hi pastoral ministry;
I, Christopher Budd, Bishop of Plymouth, do hereby decree that the parishes of Our
Lady & St Andrew, Portland, St Augustine, Weymouth and St Joseph, Weymouth, be suppressed
and united to form a new parish which will take the name of Our Lady Star of the
Sea. The ecclesiastical goods and patrimonial rights of the parishes of Portland
and both Weymouth parishes, together with their respective obligations, in accordance
with Canons 121 -
The Parish Church will be St Joseph, Weymouth. The former Parish Church of St Augustine will become a Chapel of Ease of the new parish. The Portland Church will remain closed.
In accordance with canon 524, I appoint Fr Stephen Geddes as the parish priest of the new parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea.
This Decree will become effective on the First day of April 2008.
Given at Plymouth on the 27th day of March 2008
Signed by
Bishop of Plymouth
and
Chancellor of the Diocese of Plymouth
Bishop’s House
31 Wyndham Street West
PLYMOUTH Devon PL1 5RZ
Office of the Bishop
Right Reverend Christopher Budd
Letter of Appointment to the Office of Parish Priest
Reverend Stephen Geddes
The Presbytery
38 Dorchester Road
Weymouth
Dorset DT4 7JZ
April 2008
Dear Stephen
By reason of my care and concern for the people of the parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Weymouth, Dorset, and with regard for your devotion, enthusiasm, integrity and love for the Church, it is with confidence that I hereby appoint you to the office of parish priest of the said parish, with all the rights, duties and responsibilities as laid down in both universal and particular law.
Your appointment will take effect from 1st April 2008, and shall be for an indeterminate period. Your taking up of residence in the presbytery shall constitute the taking of canonical possession of the Parish as required by law.
It is your first duty to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to those entrusted to your care, to preach and make available instruction in the Catholic Faith to all those who need to grow in the knowledge of Christ, giving special care to the young and those with little understanding of the things of God.
It is through you that the faithful are nourished by the Sacraments, and so you must ensure that they are celebrated with the necessary dignity and enthusiasm, especially the Eucharist which is to be the centre of the life of the parish.
In caring for the people, you are to give particular attention to the most needy, the sick, the distressed and those in any kind of difficulty.
Above all, remember that like Christ, you come to serve and not to be served. You are to encourage the lay members of the parish in their calling to make the Church present and fruitful in the places and circumstances of their work and daily lives. You are to enable them to play a full part in the life of the local Church in all areas that are proper to them.
In addition, I ask you to work with members of other Christian traditions towards
the building up of the Kingdom of God. I ask you especially to co-
I pray God will richly bless you in your Ministry
Signed by
Rt Rev Christopher Budd Bishop of Plymouth
and
Chancellor
Given at Plymouth on 31 March, 2008, The Feast of the Annunciation
