St. Mary's Rectory Auctioned; Bidder Pays $97,900

By Elizabeth Doran
The Post-Standard
April 27, 2012

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/04/st_marys_rectory_auctioned_bid.html

Laura Davies (center), a parishioner of St. Mary's Church in Jamesville, reads a letter to the bishop concerning the auction of St. Mary's rectory, shown in the background, at 6437 E. Seneca Turnpike in Jamesville, in this photo from April 7.

Jamesville, NY -- The rectory of St. Mary's Church in Jamesville and its contents were auctioned this week despite the objections of former St. Mary's parishioners

The rectory, assessed at $118,000, sold for $89,000 plus $8,900 in commission for a total of $97,900, said Amy Bush, manager of Brzostek's real estate division. There were 17 bidders for the property; Bush would not disclose the buyer. She did say the home needs repairs.

The 2,652-square-foot rectory, at 6437 E. Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville, is a house away from the closed church.

St. Mary's supporters had demonstrated just before Easter in front of the rectory opposing the auction, but Bishop Robert Cunningham said it would be auctioned because St. Mary's is no longer a parish. He has said the church won't be auctioned.

In April 2007, St. Mary's was among at least 40 parishes targeted for closure as the seven-county Catholic diocese struggled with a shortage of priests, declining attendance and population shifts. The church's records, assets and liabilities and parishioners were assigned to Holy Cross Church in DeWitt as part of the reconfiguration plan.

Opponents of the plan appealed to the Vatican, and won two Vatican decrees that ex-parishioners say ruled in their favor, but the Syracuse diocese hasn't seen it the same way.

The doors of St. Mary's continue to be locked. No trespassing signs remain on the doors, and a security system has been installed.

The rectory was being sold by St. Mary's Church Corp. at the direction of Holy Cross Church in DeWitt. The proceeds will go to Holy Cross to care for the families who have joined Holy Cross, according to diocese officials.

Meanwhile, parishioners of St. Mary's have asked Cunningham to expedite repairs to the church so it can re-open.

Save St. Mary's organizers hope the decision last month by the Vatican to overrule the closing of 13 parishes by the Cleveland Diocese will have a positive effect on the Syracuse diocese.