His Excellency, The Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton,
Bishop of Belleville,
makes the following announcement.
THE PASTORAL PLAN FOR PARISH RENEWAL AND RESTRUCTURING
Suppression of Two Parishes in the PARISH PARTNERSHIPS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
In accord with the Code of Canon Law, especially Canons 500 and 515§2, we hereby suppress St. Andrew Parish in Christopher and St. Mary Parish in Sesser and designate the former parish churches as Chapels of St. Joseph Parish in Benton.
This action is taken after consultation with the leadership of St. Joseph Parish in Benton, St. Andrew Parish in Christopher, and St. Mary Parish in Sesser and hearing the points of view of many of the parishioners and after careful consideration of the pastoral situations of the three parishes in Franklin County with the Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, Reverend Monsignor John W. McEvilly; and the Vicar Forane of the South Vicariate, The Very Reverend Steven L. Beatty. At the same time the boundaries of St. Joseph Parish are changed to embrace the former parishes of St. Andrew Parish in Christopher and St. Mary Parish in Sesser.
These changes are effective on Tuesday, the 11th day of September, in the Year of Our Lord, 2018.