Church Closed until Easter As Cash-strapped Parish Can’t Afford to Keep Doors Open

By Nick Pisa
Daily Mail
January 3, 2012

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2081688/Church-closed-Easter-cash-strapped-parish-t-afford-doors-open.html

A cash-strapped priest has closed his church until Easter because offerings have plunged during the economic crisis and he cannot afford to keep the building open.

Father Stefano Taffarel will close the picturesque 15th Century church of St Peter at Fontanelle, near Treviso, northern Italy, from the middle of this month until April.

Father Taffarel told parishoners in his weekly newsletter at Christmas that rising fuel costs meant weekly Mass offerings were no longer enough to cover the church's heating bill.

God help us: The 15th Century church of St Peter at Fontanelle, near Treviso, northern Italy, is to shut from the middle of this month until Easter

The historic church has a capacity of around 400 people and attracts a healthy weekly congregation in one of Italy's most prosperous areas.

But in recent weeks hikes in fuel and energy bills, coupled with the severe economic crisis hitting the country, have hit the parish hard.

Charity: Father Stefano Taffarel told parishoners their contributions were no longer enough to cover the bills

In a statement published in the parish news letter Father Taffarel said: 'After the Mass of the 14th of January we have been forced to move all services except funerals to the church in the centre until Easter because of rising costs.

'The weekly Mass offerings are just not enough to cover the costs of heating and power. It may be that if the weather improves we may open before Easter.'

Father Taffarel has been parish priest at St Peter's since 2004. The building is renowned for its artistic works including a painting by Baroque master Giambattista Pittoni of the the three kings visiting the infant Jesus.

Today local bishop monsignor Corrado Pizziolo said he 'sadly agreed' with the decision to close the church.

Locals said they would be looking at methods of attracting sponsorship to try and keep the building open.