St Colman Parishioners Relish Efforts That Saved Their Congregation from Being Closed, Harlan Spector, Plain Dealer Reporter , May 4, 2009

St. Colman Parishioners Relish Efforts That Saved Their Congregation from Being Closed

By Harlan Spector
Plain Dealer Reporter
May 4, 2009

http://www.cleveland.com/living/index.ssf/2009/05/st_colman_parishioners_relish.html

Sisters Sue McMasters, left, and Shirley Panagopoulos celebrate the good news at Mass Saturday.
Photo by Gus Chan

CLEVELAND -- After early Mass Sunday, June Smith scanned the big chalk letters on the sidewalk in front of St. Colman Catholic Church.

"THANK YOU, DEAR GOD AND BISHOP LENNON," the message read.

"Wonderful," said Smith, who was born in this parish 70 years ago. "We are so happy."

She didn't seem to be talking to anyone in particular -- just savoring the aftermath of Cleveland Catholic Bishop Richard Lennon's announcement that the church on West 65th Street and nearby St. Ignatius of Antioch would be spared closure.

Lennon announced in March that St. Colman would close and merge with St. Stephen on West 54th Street, as part of a sweeping diocese downsizing.

Sunday morning, St. Colman parishioners came up the front steps, through the tall, wooden doors and hugged and congratulated one another.

"We did it!" Patty Cunningham said, embracing the Rev. Robert Begin, St. Colman's pastor.

A few minutes later, Begin opened 11 a.m. Mass with a hearty "Congratulations, everybody." Parishioners rose to their feet and cheered.

"This is our house. We've made it our home," Begin told them. "It's a place where we are part of each other."

They had campaigned hard for the church, which was built by Irish immigrants 95 years ago and has magnificent bell towers that can be seen for blocks.

Supporters said the church plays an important role in the community, helping the poor with food and living expenses and reaching out to new immigrants.

Margot LaRosa and her husband, Murray, said the people at St. Colman are like family.

Shirley Panagopoulos hugs the Rev. Robert Begin at the 5 p.m. Mass Saturday, after learning that St. Colman Catholic Church will remain open.
Photo by Gus Chan

"I like the mission," LaRosa said, as they sipped coffee from paper cups in the parish hall.

Pointing to Begin, she said, "I don't think he turns anyone away. They come to the door for bus fare, for help paying the utilities."

Though St. Colman won an appeal to remain open, it still has much to prove. In a letter to Begin on Friday, Bishop Lennon said the church must attract new parishioners, repair its buildings and strengthen its finances in the next four years.

"The bishop gave us some challenges," said Bill Sheehan, who pedaled a rusty bike in front of the church after Mass.

Sheehan, a parishioner since 1963, authored the sidewalk message Saturday evening. He said it replaced an earlier message: "GOD SAVE ST. COLMAN."

Some said God answered the prayer.