We’ve had several of these already and I expect we’ll get even more in the next month. Here’s yet another story about parishioners fighting to keep their parish open. Yes, it’s the big, bad archdiocese trying to screw the little guy again. As I’ve said before, these people just don’t understand that some parishes have to close. It may not be their parish and they may have some reason to believe their parish should remain open, but people are kidding themselves if they think it’s not going to happen.
Of course, the way Gate of Heaven parish in South Boston is going about it may be the way to succeed. They are encouraging parishioners to continue to fill the pews every week to show that the parish is vibrant and alive. If they can pull it off, then that’s reason enough to keep it open. Of course, it’s sad that it took this to convince people to go out and get their neighbors back to church, that they weren’t motivated by what’s good for their neighbors, but with saving something they love. But whatever the motivation, the end result could be good.
I hope for Southie GOH stays open. Unfortunately it’s previous pastor was ill and did little to keep it vibrant. I believe Fr Casey still pastors both GOH and St Brigids’-which is about a mile up the street.
Still, I admire and applaud their approach-fill the pews! Get back in here! Better than wasting time jeering at the Adiocese.
Go Southie!
I just need to vent about this:
If I lived in Southie, I am sure I would have attended that Mass, even if I were not in the parish, but my first thought about Gate of Heaven and the one in the North End that was in the paper last week, was probably the same as everyone else’s: where have these people been all along? There was a letter to the editor in the Globe yesterday from a man who attends a church in
?Wilmington, but considers the church in the North End (the one to be closed) his home parish. He was of course annoyed with the archdiocese for feeling a need to close the North End church. Why don’t people understand that churches require $$ to run, like any other type of building or community? I go to different churches around the archdiocese occasionally, like Mission Church, St. Cecilia’s in the Back Bay, St. Joseph’s in the old West End, and it’s depressing – the congregation is a handful of people, most of whom look to be over 80. Okay, I’m exaggerating, but not too much.
I hate the idea of closings too, but what can we do? Demographics *do* change, younger people *don’t* go to Mass as much as older people do. In spite of the influx of newcomers over the past few years, many of whom may not be Catholic, Southie probably does have the “Catholic” population to fill three churches every week, but I don’t think that happens. Sorry to sound like Scrooge, but really, if there is blame to be placed, it bothers me that people are acting like the Church is the bad guy in this – what about those who should be at Mass every week and financially supporting their church, and are not?
Okay, I’m done.