Decree of Alienation
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DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG
DECREE OF ALIENATION OF THE FORMER SACRED HEART OF JESUS CHURCH
AND RECTORY, WILLIAMSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, WITHIN THE CANONICAL TERRITORY OF THE DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG
Canon 1222 If a church cannot be used in any way for divine worship and there is no possibility of repairing it, the diocesan bishop can relegate it to profane but not sordid use.
Where other grave causes suggest that a church no longer be used for divine worship, the diocesan bishop, after having heard the presbyteral council, can relegate it to profane but not sordid use, with the consent of those who legitimately claim rights for themselves in the church and provided that the good of souls suffers no detriment thereby.
Canon 1291: The permission of the authority competent according to the norm of law is required for the valid alienation of goods which constitute by legitimate designation the stable patrimony of a juridic
person and whose value exceeds the sum defined by law.
Canon 1292 Without prejudice to the prescript of canon 638 53, when the value of the goods whose alienation is proposed falls within the minimum and maximum amounts to be defined by the conference of bishops for its own region, the competent authority is determined by the statutes ofjuridic persons if they are not subject to the diocesan bishop; otherwise, the competent authority is the diocesan bishop with the consent of the finance council, the college of consultors, and those concerned. The diocesan bishop himself also needs their consent to alienate the goods of the diocese.
Canon 1293 51: The alienation of goods whose value exceeds the defined minimum amount also requires the following:
I Oajust cause, such as urgent necessity, evident advantage, piety, charity, or some other grave pastoral reason;
2 0 a written appraisal by experts of the asset to be alienated.
Other precautions prescribed by legitimate authority are also to be observed to avoid harm to the 
Church.
Canon 1294 An asset ordinarily must not be alienated for a price less than that indicated in the
appraisal.
The money received from the alienation is either to be invested carefully for the advantage of the 
Church or to be expended prudently according to the purposes of the alienation.
Having first relegated the current church edifice of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Williamstown from sacred to profane, but not sordid use, according to the norm of law and by separate Decree on January 1 5, 2023, I now take into account the following circumstances and facts, which, in my judgment, cumulatively lead to the "grave cause" required of me, as Diocesan Bishop, to grant permission to alienate the same church edifice as well as the adjacent former rectory:
The parish mission of Sacred Heart has already been canonically suppressed on July l , 2020 by my Predecessor, Bishop Ronald Gainer;
- On January 15, 2023, Bishop Gainer relegated the church edifice to profane but not sordid use according to the norm of law;
- There is no logistical or spiritual need for a second worship site or rectory within the parochial boundaries of Our Lady, Help of Christians Parish, Lykens. The parish church of Our Lady Help, of Christians is less than 5 miles (7.5 kilometers) from the church edifice and rectory of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Mission. The pastor has a secure and safe domicile there;
- Maintaining the church and rectory edifice in Williamstown would place an impossible financial burden upon Our Lady, Help of Christians Parish which is earnestly striving to break from financial debt (approx.. $88,000) to the Diocese of Harrisburg; the sale of the church would help to pay down the debt;
- The structures, in the estimation of the pastor, are "deteriorating fast with some of the concrete peeling off and mold appearing in some of the rooms." This he indicated in a correspondence sent to the diocese on July 3, 2023;
- It is not prudent whatsoever for the parish to receive any more financial assistance from the diocese at this time in order to maintain the crumbling church edifice and rectory. The diocese is just emerging from Chapter I I Bankruptcy and is not in a financial position to provide further financial help in this regard;
- The consecrated altar, lectern, statues, baptismal font, and other sacred objects that can be removed have been properly and carefully taken from the church building. These items have been placed in the parish structures in Lykens, properly stored at the parish or at the diocesan archives.
l . Having carefully considered the law and the facts; and- Having sought and obtained the written appraisals of experts who have provided the financial value of the property, in accord with the norm of canon 1293 S l , 20 ; and
- Having examined and accepted the experts' estimates of the value of the property, and the estimated value of the property is between the minimum and maximum amounts established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for the valid alienation of goods, which constitute the stable patrimony of those public juridic persons subject to our Episcopal authority, according to the norm of canon 1292 S l ; and
- Having obtained the consent of the Diocesan Finance Council on September 7, 2023 in accord with the norm of canon 1292 S l ; and
- Having obtained the consent of the College of Consultors on July 14, 2022 and again on August 2, 2023, in accord with the norm of canon 1292 and
- Having ensured by means of the original deed as well as having heard from others that there are no donors and, or, their heirs whose consent is needed to place this juridic act, in accord with the norm of canon 1292 S l; and
- Having heard the parishioners of Our Lady, Help of Christians, their pastor, town hall meetings, written surveys and studies, and through their parish pastoral council and parish finance council;
and - Having ensured through the diocesan solicitor that the proposed alienation will be valid civilly; and
- Having ensured that no harm shall come to the Church by the sale of the property, inasmuch as the proposed sale of the propeny has been given a certain amount of publicity (and parishioners have known of the intent to sell the existing church edifice for several years), the proposed buyer has the funds or the collateral to secure the payment, and having been assured that the proposed buyer will not use the edifice or property for any sordid use, in accord with the norm of canon 1 222 52; and
- Having ensured that there is no reasonable possibility of scandal or loss of the faithful which will result from the proposed alienation; and
I, the undersigned Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, by means of this Decree, do hereby grant permission for the alienation by sale of the former church and rectory edifices of:
Sacred Heart of Jesus Rectory and Church 140 East Market Street
Williamstown, Pennsylvania, 17098
This alienation by sale is only for profane but not sordid use, in accord with the norm of canon 1222 sS2. In keeping with the prescripts of canon 1294 and in keeping with the vote of the College of Consultors on August 2, 2023.
In keeping with the prescripts of canon 1294 52, the income resulting from the alienation of the aforesaid propeny must be invested carefully for the advantage of Our Lady, Help of Christians Parish or expended prudently according to the purposes of the alienation.
This Decree is to be communicated to the pastor of Our Lady, Help of Christians Parish, who is the canonical representative of the parish, according to the norm of law (cf. canon 532). It is also to be made known to the parishioners by posting it, at least in summary, on the parish website and bulletin. It may be challenged within the peremptory time limit of 10 days from the legitimate notification of the Decree and in accord with the norm of law (cf. canon 1734 52). Recourse must state the reasons why specific rights are injured or denied by this Decree, and such recourse begins by writing to me at the following address:
Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior
Bishop of Harrisburg
4800 Union Deposit Road
Harrisburg, PA 171 1 1-3710
Given in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on September 27, 2023.
Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior
Bishop of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania