By James F. Russell
Telegram & Gazette
June 28, 2010
http://www.telegram.com/article/20100628/NEWS/6280335/1101/raw_headlines
SOUTHBRIDGE — Protesting Notre Dame parishioners, livid about what they feel is a botched church-closing process, want the ouster of their pastor and are seeking clear direction about their church's future from the bishop in Worcester.
Parishioners say their nightly protests — in the form of prayer vigils — are a response to the diocese's and local church hierarchy's failure to involve them in the church-closing issue. Their goal is to keep Notre Dame open.
The protest movement began last month. The vigil begins at 7 p.m., and takes place each night on the sidewalk in front of Notre Dame Church on Main Street. Last night, a hundred people took part, with prayers in five languages, and live music with chorus. Many wore T-shirts saying: "Save Notre Dame."
After years of consideration, Worcester Bishop Robert J. McManus' issued a statement May 9 on the status of Notre Dame and Sacred Heart parishes. To the consternation of the protesters, the bishop did not say which church would close, or when the process would be completed. Masses continue at both churches. As a result of the bishop's statement, the protests began, vigil organizers said.
The bishop said in the statement that the Rev. Leo-Paul J. LeBlanc, who had been in charge of both churches, would be pastor of a new parish called Notre Dame of the Sacred Heart, and that the pastor would lead efforts, with the help of diocesan-appointed committee, "in developing a recommendation regarding which facilities" would continue to operate.
Notre Dame parishioners are angry because until last month, there was no inkling their church would face closure, according to Theodore W. Bartlett, one of several parishioners who led the prayer vigil last night.
He said that before the bishop's May directive, there was widespread sentiment among Sacred Heart and Notre Dame parishioners that Sacred Heart church would be shuttered. After a 100th anniversary Mass at Sacred Heart officiated by Bishop McManus in 2008, many Sacred Heart parishioners talked openly about the possibility of their church's potential closure.
Mr. Bartlett, 60, said Sacred Heart parishioners voted in 2008 to join the Notre Dame parish and that Notre Dame parishioners in turn voted the following year to accept the Sacred Heart communicants. He said more than 200 families, unhappy with Rev. LeBlanc, have left Notre Dame the past two years.
Notre Dame's former business manager, Margaret M. Farrand, 65, said in an interview that Rev. LeBlanc told her while she was still an employee of the parish that his preference was to keep Sacred Heart open and close Notre Dame.
| Karen Loin and her children Andrew, 11, and Amy, 7, sing hymns during last night\'s protest vigil outside Notre Dame Church in Southbridge. Photo by JIM COLLINS |
Ms. Farrand said that Rev. LeBlanc "told me that if it was up to him, he would prefer Sacred Heart." Ms. Farrand said the priest made the statement to her last year. She stopped working for the parish earlier this year following a labor dispute with Rev. LeBlanc.
Contacted Saturday, Rev. LeBlanc told a reporter he did not wish to be interviewed, explaining: "I have had very bad experiences with the secular press."
There is unhappiness and disappointment concerning the bishop, and open hostility toward Rev. LeBlanc among the Notre Dame church protesters, who say Rev. LeBlanc has alienated many church-goers, fails to involve parishioners in the church-closing process, wants to close Notre Dame, and is unfit to remain as their priest.
Rev. LeBlanc "will form a group and make it look like a group made the decision, but he had already made the decision," said Cheryl A. Caouette.
Parishioner Albert P. Latini said: "Father Leo is alienating everybody." Mr. Latini said he wants Rev. LeBlanc to leave and hopes Notre Dame stays open.
"I am furious with the bishop," said Darlene R. Kuleska, 63. "We have been in limbo for three years." Ms. Kuleska said she is attending the vigils to protest "how shabbily he (Rev. LeBlanc) has treated people. I am protesting the leadership." A call placed to Bishop McManus' office yesterday was not immediately returned.
Richard F. Gaumond said he left Sacred Heart more than two years ago "because of Pastor Leo." Mr. Gaumond said he was upset with Rev. LeBlanc's "putting down of the people."
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