Worcester Diocese to Close 5 Churches, by Ron Sanders, WBZ, May 19, 2008

Worcester Diocese to Close 5 Churches

By Ron Sanders
WBZ
May 19, 2008

http://wbztv.com/local/worcester.churches.close.2.727839.html

[with video]

WORCESTER (WBZ) — Martine Blanc, who has no family here, walked out of Notre Dame Church — the majestic landmark in downtown Worcester's Salem Square. This church has served a parish that dates back to 1869. Wiping a tear from her cheek, Martine confessed, "it's helped me tremendously...it's brought peace into my life."

Notre Dame des Canadiens, which burned down and was rebuilt just before the Great Depression, is one of the five churches being closed July 1 by the Diocese of Worcester. It had already been twinned with St. Joseph's. The four others, St. Casimir's, Ascension Church, St. Margaret Mary and Holy Name of Jesus will be merged with other parishes.

Bishop Robert McManus, who was in Washington D.C. on Monday, said in a letter to the parishes over the weekend, "more announcements are expected."

Photo by WBZ

WBZ's Ron Sanders asked Diocese of Worcester spokesman Ray Delisle if "more announcements" equals more closings. "More announcements may involve more closings. They may involve more mergers. There may be other twinnings. These are various configurations that we use in this diocese," said Delisle.

In a city with about 22,000 Catholic households, only about 32 percent "provide regular offertory support," according to the bishop.

Delisle said the closings reflect a demographic reality, "our suburbs are growing; our urban centers are declining."

Janet Bouley of Millbury, who worships at Notre Dame said, "I'm sad because I think it's a good spot for a church for the locals to come to; a haven, so to speak, for the people downtown; but I understand it has to be. It's a thing that has to be."

The Worcester Bishop said in his letter to the parishes that are closing, it's fitting to grieve for what they've lost but hope can be found by, "eagerly looking forward to what we can become tomorrow."

Unfortunately for some, "tomorrow" will probably include more church closings. "What we learn from this experience in the city of Worcester will now be applied over the coming year, and perhaps years, in the other urban centers," said Delisle.

He was responding to a question about the future of churches in urban centers such as Fitchburg.

The bishop wrote that these decisions are never easy, but said he had, "become convinced for pastoral reasons such as declining Mass attendance and little or no religious education or sacramental life that the spiritual lives of parishioners would be better served in parishes with a more vibrant pastoral life."

Sanders asked Martine Blanc what she will do now that her church is closing. Still wiping tears from her cheek on a blustery afternoon under high clouds, she softly said, "probably keep praying. I'd find another church but it wouldn't be the same."