Local Catholics lose priest, fear church closure

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Gallup Independent
May 18, 2015

http://gallupindependent.com/

GALLUP – Catholic parishioners in one Gallup church are losing their popular priest and their parish faces an uncertain future because of the alleged inappropriate actions of another priest elsewhere in the Diocese of Gallup.

Parishioners at St. John Vianney Parish were stunned to learn last weekend that Bishop James S. Wall is abruptly transferring the Rev. James E. Walker, their pastor for more than five years, to Bloomfield so Walker can take over the ministry duties of the Rev. Bob Mathieu, who has resigned.

According to a diocesan announcement delivered at Mathieu’s two parishes, St. Mary in Bloomfield and St. Rose of Lima in Blanco, Mathieu resigned “after some incidences of imprudence in the use of social media – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.”

“These did not include anything illegal, or anything having to do with minors, but it was inappropriate, public, and contrary to the diocesan Pastoral Code of Ethics,” the announcement stated. “Bishop Wall wants to thank the parishioners who reached out to the diocesan officials with their concerns regarding Father Mathieu,” the statement added. “We continue to encourage all parishioners to continue to reach out to Bishop Wall or anyone at the Diocese if you have any concerns now or in the future.”

Mathieu did not respond to messages requesting comment that were left on his cell phone and sent to his email. Suzanne Hammons, the diocese’s media coordinator, declined to “speak to the details of the inappropriate social media use” in an email Friday.

‘Hearts are broken’

“I know that a lot of hearts are broken,” JoNell Becenti, St. John Vianney’s director of religious education, said of Walker’s transfer in a phone interview Wednesday.

In addition to losing Walker, parishioners were told their church would be reduced to the status of a chapel, with only two weekend Masses, no resident priest, and the loss of sacraments such as baptism, reconciliation, confirmation and marriage.

The Rev. Kevin Finnegan, the current diocesan chancellor and vicar general, is scheduled to take over the two Masses.

According to Becenti, an impromptu parish meeting on Monday evening drew about 40 parishioners, many of whom are upset by the loss of Walker and concerned that turning the church into a chapel is the diocese’s first step toward closing the parish.

Becenti said parishioners are wondering why a church with three weekend Masses “packed to the rim” is being targeted to lose its resident priest and be reduced to a chapel. They are seeking a meeting with the bishop to learn why this decision was made, she said.

“There are questions we want answered,” she said, “and we feel we’re being left in the dark.”

Becenti said she understood there was a “legitimate cause” to transfer a priest to fill Mathieu’s position, but she questioned why it couldn’t be one of the diocese’s newly ordained or soon-to-be-ordained young priests.

Walker had already retired, she explained, but was continuing to work at St. John Vianney, where under his pastoral leadership the parish was flourishing.

“I would understand if St. John Vianney was not thriving,” agreed local physician Lawrence Andrade, in a phone interview Wednesday.

Andrade, whose family formerly attended Sacred Heart Cathedral, said under Walker’s leadership the parish’s Masses were not only very well attended, the parking lot had to be recently expanded to accommodate the crowds, the religious education program for children was growing in enrollment, and a program for adults wanting to join the Catholic Church was about to be launched.

Andrade said he believes Wall should have replaced Mathieu with an assistant priest from a church that already has more than one priest. Andrade said plans are being made to circulate a petition during this weekend’s Masses requesting Wall reconsider all or part of his decisions concerning St. John Vianney.

‘Mass exodus’

Although Andrade said he was “shocked and angry all at the same time” by the bishop’s decision, he said he was also not surprised.

According to Andrade, there has been a “mass exodus” of Catholics leaving Sacred Heart Cathedral, with many now worshipping at St. John Vianney. While St. John Vianney’s congregation and weekly collection have been growing, he said, Cathedral’s attendance and collections have been dwindling.

Andrade attributed that exodus to the “conservative, overly reverent pre-Vatican II” changes imposed at Cathedral by Wall and the Rev. Matthew Keller, the Cathedral pastor and a close associate of the bishop.

“It made you feel like you were not even holy enough to be in the church,” Andrade said of the changes. “It was very unwelcoming,” he added, explaining he and his fellow physician wife “felt pushed away at the Cathedral.”

In contrast, Andrade said, they have found St. John Vianney to be a “very welcoming, uplifting and joyful” place to attend Mass.

Andrade said he believes Wall is catering to a “minority of conservatives that are driving the agenda” at Cathedral, and that the decision to transfer Walker and reduce St. John Vianney to a chapel is related to Cathedral’s declining attendance and collections.

“I think there’s some jealousy and anger,” Andrade said of Wall’s decision.

“His job is to bring people into the church,” Andrade said of the bishop. Instead, Andrade added, if Wall continues to impose his conservative, pre-Vatican II worship style on local Catholics, more will likely feel alienated and some will possibly leave the church.

Becenti said parishioners are determined to continue to attend Mass at St. John Vianney and “pack the parish” to show diocesan officials it is a viable church. Becenti said she believes the situation is a “test of faith” for parishioners.

If St. John Vianney is “on the road to being closed down,” Becenti said, “that is really, really going to frustrate and disappoint a lot of people.”

According to Becenti and Andrade, former city councilman Bryan Wall has asked chancery officials to arrange a meeting between parishioners and the bishop but was told the bishop was out of town. As of Friday, neither Becenti nor Andrade had heard if Wall has agreed to the meeting.

In her emailed response to media questions, Hammons said, “We also welcome any parishioner who has further concerns to come to us directly with questions or concerns, but we will not communicate using the press as a middleman.”

Hammons encouraged “anyone who has further questions” to contact the bishop’s office at 505-863-4406 ext. 24.