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	Agawam Parishioners Plead with Diocese Officials Not to Close All Saints Parish By David Bergengren The Republican October 11, 2008 http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/10/agawam_parishioners_plead_with.html?category=Agawam AGAWAM - A church official has told the members of All Saints Parish - slated to close along with its two churches Jan. 1 - that he will convey to Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell their request to keep one church open as a chapel and create a new parish in conjunction with the congregation at Sacred Heart on Springfield Street. With more than 100 parishioners present at St. Therese Catholic Church on Bridge Street Thursday night, Monsignor John J. Bonzagni, director of pastoral planning for the Springfield Diocese, fielded sometimes heated questions and comments for about two hours. Referring to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield's pastoral reorganization plan announced in August, Bonzagni said, "With only about 65 priests (expected to be available) in about five years time, we're trying to design something that 65 priests can serve, without killing them." The diocese has nearly 100 active ordained priests at present. Anthony C. Bonavita of Cooper Street said the shortage of priests should not be used as an argument to close the parish's St. Therese and St. Anthony churches. "Father Amo is doing a great job going back and forth between parishes," Bonavita said, referring to Father Steven C. Amo, who since April has been the priest for both All Saints and Sacred Heart, whose church is on Springfield Street. When the subject of money was raised, Bonzagni, who remained calm throughout the evening, said, "From the beginning (of the diocese's planning process), we took money off the table." If money is made in the closing of a church or parish, that money will stay with local parishes, he said. "Location is the primary consideration, and then infrastructure," Bonzagni said. "And in Agawam, as far as we know, there is no (need) for three parishes." St. John's, with a church on Main Street, is the third parish in Agawam. The All Saints parishioners, however, said the human factor should be taken more into account. "These people you are looking at," John P. Moccio, an Agawam police officer, told Bonzagni, "are basically a family. This is a community. ... What happens here, is if you close this church, you're going to (lose) the identity of this area." "We draw a distinction between the Catholic faith and the Catholic Church," said Shelia E. Byrne of Westfield. "You fellows sound like you're running a business, which I guess you are." Amanda R. Bessette, 17, a senior at Agawam High School, fighting back tears, said, "It seems like you're abandoning the sheep." Bonzagni assured the parishioners the diocese's decisions had been made with "utmost seriousness." "We know we're affecting people's lives," he said. "We don't fool around with that." "Yes, a great deal is being asked of you, and I'm sorry about that," Bonzagni said. With the looming shortage of priests, he added, "Life is changing for all of us - some sooner than others." Father Amo was supportive of his parishioners' aims. The creation of a new name and identity for the combined Sacred Heart and All Saints parish, and leaving St. Therese open as a chapel with a limited number of Masses "is a reasonable request," he said. F. William Euliano Jr., chairman of the Pastoral Council for All Saints, said he thought some progress had been made on Thursday. "I'm happy that we started a dialogue. ... I'm hopeful that he can persuade the bishop to address our concerns," Euliano said, referring to Bonzagni. Contact: dbergengren@repub.com
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