CLEVELAND (OH)
The Plain Dealer
By Ken Prendergast, Sun News
CLEVELAND Because nothing official has been received from the Vatican to overrule Bishop Richard Lennon’s decision to close 13 churches, St. Patrick Church in the West Park neighborhood will not be reopened Saturday.
But that won’t stop the church’s former parishioners from holding a prayer service at 9:30 a.m. Saturday on the front steps of the church at Rocky River Drive and Puritas Avenue.
The parishioners requested that the Cleveland Catholic Diocese reopen the church for one day for a Mass inside and to celebrate the 164th anniversary of the parish’s founding. Saturday is St. Patrick’s Day. A group of former parishioners will march in the big St. Patrick’s Day parade downtown.
Diocese spokesman Bob Tayek said Lennon received the request to reopen the church from the parishioners several weeks ago. Instead, a Mass was scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Blessed Trinity Church, 14040 Puritas Ave.
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