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[email protected] Bishop Byrne announces decree to merge three parishes in Holyoke HOLYOKE – Bishop William D. Byrne of the Diocese of Springfield, has issued a "Decree and Order" merging Our Lady of Guadalupe and Immaculate Conception Parishes in Holyoke into St. Jerome's Parish, also in Holyoke. This reconfiguration will take place August 15, 2021. The "Decree" along with the supporting documents have been posted on www.diospringfield.org. This merger came at the direct request of the parishes involved and was the result of many years of discussion between the three faith communities. “Since July 2020, our three parishes have worked closely in preparation for our formal merger on August 15. Parish leaders are convinced that the reconfiguration they have proposed will foster a stronger sense of community and promote a better sharing of resources,” said Father Mark Stelzer, the administrator of St. Jerome Parish. “The truly wonderful thing about this merger is that the request to merge came from parish leaders and was not imposed on parishioners by diocesan leadership. The entire process by which the Holyoke merger came about reflects the type of collaboration that builds stronger parishes and a more vibrant Church,” he said.