Please, Archdiocese, Let US Pray on Our KNEES, Bostonist, May 23, 2008

Please, Archdiocese, Let US Pray on Our KNEES

Bostonist
May 23, 2008

http://bostonist.com/2008/05/23/please_diocese.php

The Globe reports that the Archdiocese of Boston is planning to close two churches in the city, Holy Trinity Church in the South End and St. Casimir in Brockton. Just two years ago, the diocese finished shutting down over 60 local parishes, but the archdiocese says these new closures are not part of a larger consolidation movement.

Holy Trinity has long been a haven for German Catholic immigrants, and is one of few churches left still offering mass in Latin. About 50 people attend a German community service (mostly in English) there each week, while 100 attend the Latin Mass. The church also has a monthly mass in German.

St. Casimir, which has a largely Lithuanian-American congregation, offers services with some readings in Lithuanian and celebrates Lithuanian holidays. The church has worked to stay alive, with parishioners posting crosses outside the church to show their support and evoke the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania.

The archdiocese cites low mass attendance and sacrament rates as reasons for shuttering the parishes, and plans to incorporate German services at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. No word on a new location for Lithuanian services.

Despite the archdiocese's protests to the contrary, the local Council of Parishes is convinced that these closures indicate a plan to end services at additional local churches.

This Bostonist grew up Catholic, but has never been to a Latin mass. If you haven't, either, now might be a good time to give it a try. Hurry to Holy Trinity Sundays at 9 a.m. before the church closes on June 30 and the Latin Mass moves to Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Church in Newton.