By Jeanette Deforge
The Republican
December 31, 2009
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/parishioners_flock_to_final_ma.html
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| Margaret M. McNulty, left, prays at the last Mass at Our Lady of Hope Church Thursday evening. She grew up in the Hungry Hill neighborhood, but now lives in Granby, Conn. In the background, parishioners take communion. Photo by Michael S. Gordon / The Republican |
SPRINGFIELD – Parishioners of Our Lady of Hope ended the year with a final Mass and then closed the doors of the church forever.
“My parents were married here, all of us went to Our Lady of Hope School. Who thought in our lifetime we would see something like this,” said Linda M. Ingalls, of Springfield.
The Mass was more special because it was held in memory of her grandparents Lyman J. and Julia A. McKenzie.
Ingalls attended with her mother, Shirley M. Manferdini, of Springfield, and her sister, Maryellen Papianou, of Ludlow. Papianou now attends a church in Ludlow and Manferdini and Ingalls said they plan to join Sacred Heart Church in Springfield, even though Our Lady of Hope and St. Mary’s Church are to join together to create a new church, Mary Mother of Hope, in the former St. Mary’s Church on Page Boulevard.
“I don’t think it really has sunk in yet that it is closing,” Ingalls said.
Monsignor David Joyce likened to the last Mass to a funeral, saying members will celebrate the life of the 103-year-old church as well as mourn its passing.
“We need to let go of the anger. We need to let go of the sadness. We need to let go of all those emotions that are not doing any good to our mental health,” he said.
“As painful as it is, we must all decide to move on,” Joyce told the standing room-only crowd.
Among the people at the Mass were Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and state Rep. Sean F. Curran, a church member and one of the people who successfully petitioned the Springfield Historical Commission and the City Council to declare the building a historic district.
Tuesday the council passed the ordinance despite objections from the Springfield Roman Catholic Diocese. The ruling, which will go into effect in 20 days, will ban anyone from altering the church’s exterior without permission from the Historical Commission.
Bishop Timothy J. McDonnell will decide if the diocese will appeal the decision to the courts.
Michael and Doris M. Purcell, of Springfield, said they are happy the building may be preserved. The parochial school, which was closed last year, was also saved since it was sold to the city and is now being used as a public school.
“It was sad. We all knew it was coming to an end,” Michael Purcell said. The couple, who have been members for 29 years, said they will probably choose a parish in Chicopee, which is closer to their home.
William B. O’Neill, of Springfield, joined the church after he moved from Ireland and has been a member for 20 years. Thursday he was the last member to receive communion there.
“I’m shocked. It just happened. I looked behind me and there was no one else there,” he said.
O’Neill said he too will miss his church.
“It is sad. It is a shame. I had my daughter baptized here,” he said.
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