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	Expanding Churches to Merge, Build Anew By Bronislaus B. Kush Telegram & Gazette May 22, 2008 http://www.telegram.com/article/20080522/NEWS/805220743/1008/NEWS02 The Diocese of Worcester, in its ongoing attempts to deal with changing demographics and a shortage of clergy, may soon close two more churches. However, unlike the announcement by Bishop Robert J. McManus last weekend that five parishes will permanently shut their doors on July 1, news of the possible closures of St. Francis Xavier Church in Bolton and St. Theresa the Little Flower in Harvard is being welcomed by chancery officials and by the affected parishioners. That's because St. Francis and St. Theresa are too small to accommodate the growing numbers attending services, and church officials are looking to build a new church that would comfortably serve both congregations. Members of both parishes voted recently to merge and to construct a new house of worship. The results of the tally were announced at Masses last weekend. About two-thirds of the membership voted yes. "The two existing churches are just too small and something had to be done as a result of the growth in our membership," said the Rev. Dennis J. O'Brien, who has served as pastor of both parishes since April 2006. Officials said Bishop McManus has approved the decision and parishioners have actively begun the search for a 10-acre site suitable for a new church. Two properties — both in Harvard — are under consideration. Church officials said the Harvard-Bolton situation reflects a trend within the diocese, the movement of more Catholics from urban areas to the suburbs. St. Theresa was founded in 1925 as a mission church of Immaculate Conception Church in Lancaster; St. Francis was established about 1952. Both parishes have seen incremental growth over the past two decades. About 750 families are registered at both churches, with between 600 and 700 people attending Mass on weekends. About 30 families from Boxboro, which does not have a Roman Catholic church and which is part of the Archdiocese of Boston, are registered at St. Theresa. Eighteen babies were baptized over the past two months and about 50 children make up this year's First Communion class. Church officials said those numbers pale in comparison to those of Holy Name of Jesus, St. Casimir, Ascension, Notre Dame and St. Margaret Mary, the five Worcester churches that will close this summer. Over the summer, St. Francis and St. Theresa parishioners will begin planning for a new facility, as well as launching a fundraising campaign for the complex, which is expected to cost about $6 million. An architectural firm will be hired to perform a feasibility study and to draw up a conceptual design. Meanwhile, parish committees and staff, assisted by diocesan personnel, will add input. Rev. O'Brien said parishioners from St. Theresa and St. Francis, over the past two years, have examined various options to deal with short- and long-term growth. Both churches seat fewer than 200 people and have limited classroom and office space. Some Masses at the Harvard church are so well attended that the spillover crowd watches the worship service on closed-circuit television in the basement. Rev. O'Brien said the new church would seat 300 to 400 people and would be constructed in such a way that — if the need exists — the walls could be taken down and rebuilt to accommodate more seating. Contact: bkush@telegram.com
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