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	Local Parish Is Already Prepared for Diocese Moves By Lucas K. Murray Gloucester County Times April 4, 2008 http://www.nj.com/news/gloucester/local/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1207293149215430.xml&coll=8 For clergy and parishioners at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Mullica Hill, the pending addition of St. Ann's in Elmer and St. Joseph's in Woodstown comes as no surprise they have been planning for it with other parishes in Gloucester and Salem counties for the past year. The Rev. Anthony DiBardino, pastor of Holy Name, said he will see his parish of 2,000 families grow exponentially over the next few years. A relocation of the church to a parcel of land south of Mullica Hill on Route 77 and Route 538 in Elk Township is on the books for the diocese. "We're in a unique area. This part of Gloucester County is really growing," DiBardino said. "Where the demographics of other areas are becoming lower you see many of those people are moving to this area." The land is paid for and the blueprints finalized, but the project first has to be granted permits. The consolidation of the churches is expected to boost the church community to more than 3,000. "It's a sad experience for some people. Many of the other parishes are going through it," DiBardino said of the changes sweeping through the Camden Diocese. "The move will be a challenge. Our task will be to try to make that as easy as possible." A group of parishioners from Holy Name worked with fellow Catholics from nine other parishes to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the needs of the churches in the local deanery. Though the changeovers aren't expected to be easy, Father DiBardino said there could be a new beginning for Catholics in the area. "Through the process (of the evaluation) they became excited and energized to create," DiBardino said. "The focus is to create dynamic parishes filled with vitality and life. That's the vision people are a really holding onto." Consistent growth and expansion has been the norm for Holy Name during its 112-year history. The church was refurbished inside and out for its centennial in 1996 and is recognized as a historic building by the state. Father DiBardino noted that even though there will only be 66 parishes in the diocese, there will be 100 worship sites. Many of the church buildings themselves could be retained as a worship site. Contact: lmurray@sjnewsco.com
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