N. Prot. D. 07 / 2007

D E C R E E

Greetings in Our Lord

Saint Brigid's Parish was canonically established on December 3, 1889, by the Most Rev. Joseph Thomas Duhamel, Archbishop of Ottawa.

More recently, a number of socio-economic factors have affected the situation of parishes in the Centretown area of the City of Ottawa. These include a diminishing number of practising Catholics in the area, but also a significant increase in the number of English-speaking diocesans.

At the same time, it was decided by my predecessor, the Most Rev. Marcel Gervais, to make Notre Dame Cathedral more representative of the demographic profile of the Archdiocese. This led to the addition of a number of ministries and services in English offered at the Cathedral.

Since substantial sums of money have already been spent on the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral and of St. Patrick's Basilica, it is not advisable, nor would it be responsible stewardship of limited funds, to spend substantial sums of money on the restoration of St. Brigid's church.

The Diocesan Bishop alone is competent to erect or suppress parishes, or to alter the limits of parishes (canon 515, par. 2), having heard the Council of Priests and, according to the situation, with the consent of the College of Consultors and the diocesan Finance Committee. These consultations, and the appropriate consents prescribed by canon 1277 were obtained by Archbishop Marcel Gervais in his capacity as Archbishop of Ottawa. These consultations having been carried out, and the required consents for an eventual sale obtained, We, the undersigned, presently Archbishop of Ottawa, having received and carefully studied the report of my predecessor, the Most. Rev. Marcel Gervais, having examined the facts and circumstances relating to St. Brigid's Parish, having consulted with the parish priest and informed the parishioners, by virtue of our pastoral office and by the present decree, do hereby revoke the 1889 decree establishing the parish.

St. Brigid's Parish ceases to exist as a juridical entity and its territory is joined to that of Notre Dame Cathedral and of Our Lady of Mont Carmel Parish in the city of Ottawa. The parochial boundaries of these two parishes are to be redrawn accordingly (see Appendix "A").

The parish registers for baptisms, confirmation, funerals, marriages, as well as other parish registers will be entrusted to Notre Dame Cathedral parish, where they will be carefully preserved.

The pastoral care of St. Brigid's Elementary School is entrusted to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish.

Parishioners, who until now have belonged to St. Brigid's Parish, will now belong either to Notre Dame Cathedral Parish, or to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish. However, they may register in any other parish if they so wish.

For all other matters not mentioned in this Decree, the prescriptions of Canon Law will be observed.

This decree takes effect on Sunday, September 16, 2007, after the final celebration of the Eucharist in the parish church.

This decree shall be promulgated by making it known at an appropriate time in St. Brigid's church, at Notre Dame Cathedral, and at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish church.

Given at Ottawa at the Metropolitan Curia, under our sign and seal and countersign of our Chancellor, on the fourteenth day of the month of September in the year of Our Lord two thousand and seven.

+ Terrence Prendergast, S.J.
Archbishop of Ottawa

Fr. Doris Laplante, C.Ss.R.
Chancellor

c.c. Saint Brigid Parish
Notre Dame Cathedral Parish
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish
Diocesan Administration

Appendix A

The territory of the Parish of Saint Brigid will be divided and joined to Notre Dame Cathedral Parish and to the Parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel as follows:

a) The part joined to Notre Dame Cathedral Parish:

Beginning at a point where Beechwood Avenue and Springfield Road intersect,

Then westerly on Beechwood Avenue to the centre line of the Rideau River,

Then southerly along the centre line of the Rideau River to the centre line of Cummings Bridge,

Then westerly on Cummings Bridge and along Rideau Street to the centre line of the Rideau Canal,

Then northerly along the centre line of the Rideau Canal to the point where it intersects the Interprovincial boundary situated in the Ottawa River,

Then northerly and easterly along the Interprovincial boundary situated in the Ottawa River to a point where it intersects with a line extended westerly from the southerly limit of the Rockcliffe Park,

Then easterly along the aforesaid line, continuing easterly along the southern limit of the Rockcliffe Park to the Rockcliffe Parkway,

Then easterly along the Rockcliffe Parkway, Princess Avenue, Lisgar Road and Rideau Terrace to the point where Rideau Terrace intersects with Springfield Road;

Then southerly on Springfield to the point where Springfield Road intersects with Beechwood Avenue, being the point of beginning.

b) The part joined to the Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel:

Beginning at a point where Beechwood Avenue and Springfield Road intersect,

Then northerly on Springfield Road until it intersects with Rideau Terrace;

Then westerly on Rideau Terrace, Lisgar Road, Princess Avenue and Rockcliffe Parkway to a point where Rockcliffe Parkway intersects with the southern boundary of Rockcliffe Park,

Then westerly along the southern boundary of Rockcliffe Park and continuing westerly along a line that would extend to a point intersecting with the Interprovincial boundary situated in the Ottawa River;

Then northerly and easterly along the Interprovincial boundary situated in the Ottawa River to a point located at the intersection of the Interprovincial boundary with a line extended north from the intersection of Acacia Avenue and Rockcliffe Parkway.

Then southerly along the said line to the intersection or Rockcliffe Parkway and Acacia Avenue,

Then southerly along Acacia Avenue to its intersection with Maple Lane,

Then easterly along Maple Lane to its intersection with Lansdowne Road South,

Then southerly along Lansdowne Road South to its intersection with Hemlock Road,

Then westerly along Hemlock Road and Beechwood Avenue to its intersection with Springfield Road, being the point of beginning.

It being the intention that the said territory be joined to the territory of the Parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel which is contiguously to the east of the aforesaid described territory.

For reference, a map showing the limits is attached hereto.

Division of St. Brigid Parish territory between Notre Dame Cathedral Parish & Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish - September 2007