By Ryan Burgess
Capital News 9
August 11, 2008
http://capitalnews9.com/content/top_stories/121791/more-churches-closing-in-county/Default.aspx
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NORTH ADAMS, MA -- "It's an emptiness. A feeling of emptiness. A void," said parishioner David Gilmore.
That's his reaction to an announcement on Monday that six Catholic churches in Berkshire County are set to close by the first of the year.
The Diocese of Springfield says the church closings include St. Francis of Assisi and Our Lady of Mercy in North Adams. In the town of Adams, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Stanislaus are also closing. In Lanesborough, North American Martyrs Parish is set to close, as well as All Saints Parish in Housatonic.
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Some local Catholics, like David Gilmore, say this is sad news.
"My spiritual self is being taken away from me. And, such a beautiful church. I have a lot of very good memories of it and it's being eroded from me. It's just an empty feeling," said Gilmore.
This isn't the first major announcement on church closings in the county. In February, the diocese told parishioners six churches would be closing in Pittsfield. According to the Diocese of Springfield, low attendance and a priest shortage are two main reasons. But for some local Catholics, that news is hard to take.
"That's my spiritual being and it's being taken away from me. I'm sure there's a reason for it because of the economy and they can't get as many priests, but still, it affects me from within," said Gilmore.
With Monday's announcement, that brings the total number of Catholic church closings in the county this year to 12.
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