St. John Bosco Holds Final Mass, by Shirley West, The Observer, February 24, 2008

St. John Bosco Holds Final Mass

By Shirley West
The Observer
February 24, 2008

http://www.observertoday.com/articles.asp?articleID=19508

SHERIDAN — St. John Bosco Roman Catholic Church held its final Mass on Saturday afternoon to an overflowing crowd of dedicated, and slightly heartsick, parishioners.

The lovely stone-faced church left its doors wide open during the Mass, welcoming any who would wish to say goodbye to what was to many "a home away from home."

Parishioners of St. John Bosco Roman Catholic Church in Sheridan line the walkway following the final Mass celebrated Saturday.
Photo by Shirley West

Appropriately, the reading was of Exodus 17, when the Israelites began to grumble against Moses for removing them from Egypt. The congregation was comforted with the timeless history of God's will working in mysterious ways but always providing.

After the Mass, the church began a procession of the Eucharist and Communion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, blessing the time spent at St. John Bosco's and the time to come in their new parish.

According to the recommendations of Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, as part of the Journey in Faith and Grace Commission, St. John Bosco in Sheridan, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Silver Creek and St. Rose of Lima in Forestville will merge into one parish, using both sites in Silver Creek and Forestville.

St. John Bosco's doors will close and the future of the building will be up to the new parish.

Parishes may be able to maintain the property if a use is found for it within the new parish community.

"If the parish can find a reuse for the property, that's the first consideration," Kevin Keenan, Communications Director at the Buffalo Diocese has stated previously.

However, if an unused church is sold, there will be deed restrictions within the sale contract.

"We are very careful in considering who we will sell to," Keenan said. "You will not see, for example, a Catholic church sold to anyone who will use it as a bar or restaurant."

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