By Denise Allabaugh
Citizens Voice
August 25, 2008
http://www.citizensvoice.com/articles/2008/08/25/news/wb_voice.20080825.t.pg4.cv25cdchurch_s1.1898597_top2.txt
Sacred Heart of Jesus/St. John's parishioners are trying to save their 100-year-old church on North Main Street in Wilkes-Barre.
The Scranton Diocese last month made a preliminary recommendation to consolidate the church with the smaller St. Stanislaus Kostka parish on North Main Street and locate the new parish at the St. Stanislaus site. The move is strongly opposed by parishioners who make up the Sacred Heart Wilkes-Barre Foundation.
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| Sacred Heart of Jesus/St. John’s parishioners Noreen and Tony Foti stand in front of their historic church on North Main Street. The Citizens' Voice File |
The foundation scheduled an "urgent" meeting for today at 7 p.m. at the Ramada Inn on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre to discuss their efforts to preserve their historic church founded by the Rev. Joseph Murgas, a biologist, botanist and an international pioneer in radio and wireless telegraphy.
"A lot of people are interested in seeing this church saved because of its historical value, its cultural significance, and its architectural and artistic value," said Noreen Foti, a lifetime church member and one of the founders of the Sacred Heart Wilkes-Barre Foundation.
Following Diocesan preliminary recommendations for consolidation of Sacred Heart of Jesus/St. John's into St. Stanislaus, the foundation called the recommendation an "ill-informed and poorly researched decision arrived at without parishioners' involvement."
The Diocesan planning commission also recommended that St. Christopher mission in Bear Creek be closed and that Holy Saviour on Hillard Street in Wilkes-Barre, St. Stanislaus and Sacred Heart of Jesus/St. John's be consolidated within three years.
Bill Genello, spokesman for the Scranton Diocese, cautioned that recommendations are preliminary and each "cluster" team, composed of parish representatives involved in the project, will prepare a response to the Diocesan Planning Commission by Oct. 1. The planning commission will study the responses and make final recommendations to Bishop Joseph F. Martino. He will announce final decisions in January 2009.
"During this stage of the planning process, all parishioners are encouraged to engage in prayer, study and conversation about the preliminary recommendations," Genello said. "This should not be a debate, but rather a respectful dialogue."
The Sacred Heart Wilkes-Barre Foundation submitted a 16-page dissenting opinion with several exhibits and charts to the Scranton Diocese and consultant Reid Group detailing finances, statistics and establishing a case for Sacred Heart of Jesus/St. John's Church to remain open in North Wilkes-Barre.
"Our position is and has always been that the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church is a truly magnificent and beautiful church," said Tony Foti, another founder of the Sacred Heart Wilkes-Barre Foundation. "Our vision is this should be the last church standing when looking at the North End area of Wilkes-Barre."
The foundation's figures show that Sacred Heart of Jesus/St. John's Church has more parishioners and a larger seating capacity than Holy Saviour/St. Christopher and St. Stanislaus Kostka.
According to the figures, Sacred Heart of Jesus/St. John's has 2,809 parishioners and a seating capacity for 600. The church's income was $540,500 in 2006-07. Sacred Heart's school was one of six Luzerne County Catholic elementary schools the diocese shut at the end of the 2007 school year.
Holy Saviour/St. Christopher has 1,198 parishioners and a seating capacity for 400. St. Stanislaus has 482 parishioners and a seating capacity for 300.
Sacred Heart of Jesus/St. John's Slovak Church has a long history on North Main Street. It started as a little wooden church that Murgas realized could no longer accommodate the growing parish. Murgas suggested a larger brick church be constructed. The present Gothic-style church was completed on May 30, 1908.
Today, the church is in need of restoration. Tony Foti estimated the first phase of the project could cost about $2 million, but he said this restoration is not needed to keep the church open. The $2 million project would rebuild the 100-year-old church using today's technology and "that would allow it to survive for another 100 years," Tony Foti said.
Contact: dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2115.
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