St. Frances has final service; parishioners plan new church

By Kristi Funderburk
Wicked Local Scituate
May 29, 2016

http://scituate.wickedlocal.com/article/20160529/NEWS/160525908

SCITUATE

Parishioners, both young and old, trickled into the St. Frances X. Cabrini Church for its final service on Sunday, May 29.

Some of the service was like any other Sunday, with prayers, readings and songs, but on this Sunday, many parishioners greeted each other with tears.

After more than 11 years, a vigil they began in the wake of an Archdiocese of Boston closure plan was ending. Attempts to appeal the archdiocese’s plan, including a plea before the U.S. Supreme Court, came and went without success.

“This has been an epic journey, a historic journey,” said Jon Rogers, spokesman of the Friends of St. Frances, the group that ran the 24-7 vigil. “Eleven years ago, we started a revolution of faith. It continued to this day. That’s because of you that that happened.”

He thanked the parishioners and other supporters for helping the Friends keep the vigil going.

Someone stayed within the church walls at all times to keep the archdiocese from closing it while the Friends appealed, but the Friends group promised once its appeals ran out, they would leave.

For some, Sunday’s service was regarded as a sad end, but others considered it a new beginning, as the parishioners plan to continue meeting. The group will meet at The Satuit Lodge/Masonic Temple, 344 Country Way, for 10 a.m. Sunday services.

“We’re going to keep the people we have and we’re going to continue until we can build our own church, even if it’s a barn,” said Nancy Shilts, a parishioner and Friends member. “It’s the beginning.”