St. Casimir Closes Despite Protests
Worcester Parishes Closing: an Emotional Toll
By Bronislaus B. Kush
Telegram & Gazette
June 29, 2008
http://telegram.com/article/20080629/NEWS/723149652/1116
WORCESTER— About 80 members of St. Casimir Church - some wearing colorful native garb, some waving yellow, green and red Lithuanian flags - prayed, sang, and offered words of encouragement to each other during a somber vigil held yesterday afternoon to protest the Diocese of Worcester's decision to close the 114-year-old parish.
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| Parishioners view crosses placed on the lawn at St. Casimir Church yesterday. A vigil was held before yesterday's Mass to protest the Diocese of Worcester's decision to close the parish. Photo by Steve Lanava |
St. Casimir, which was founded by Lithuanian immigrants and still largely caters to those of Lithuanian descent, is one of five city parishes that will be officially closed Tuesday because of a number of factors including a shortage of diocesan priests, the flight of Central Massachusetts Roman Catholics to the suburbs and dwindling financial resources.
Some parishioners, many of them members of Friends of St.
Casimir, have vowed to fight the church closing.
David M. Moulton, the church's music director and a committee member, said parishioners formally sent Bishop Robert J. McManus an appeal letter on Tuesday.
Friends' members said they expect the Worcester prelate to turn down their request and added they plan to make a further appeal to Vatican authorities.
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In a closed meeting with parishioners on June 15, Bishop McManus said he would not reconsider his decision.
Yesterday, church members gathered together in a show of solidarity, with the vigil starting about an hour before the 4 p.m. Mass.
More than a dozen handmade wooden crosses of various sizes were placed on the small front lawn of the Providence Street church in opposition to what many parishioners viewed as "an authoritarian decision" by the bishop.
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| Holy Name of Jesus |
Similar crosses were placed for decades on a hill in Saulai, Lithuania, to protest Soviet oppression. The crosses would be cleared by troops, only to be put up again by resisters.
Many openly wept as the rosary was recited in both English and Lithuanian and as the vigil closed with participants singing "Amazing Grace."
At least six members of St. Casimir Church in Brockton showed up at the protest. That church will be closed tomorrow by the Archdiocese of Boston.
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| St. Margaret Mary |
"We're going to be sending some people down to Brockton to show our appreciation for their visit to Worcester," said Frank Statkus, a Shrewsbury resident who is chairman of the Friends Committee.
Many residents said they were upset with the bishop's decision because the parish is financially viable. They said they were willing to work with the diocese to recruit younger families to the aging congregation.
"We're still hoping for some compromise," said Lorraine Dailida Starr.
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| St. Casimir |
She said that, at the least, the diocese should consider converting the parish's old school into housing for the elderly and that a chapel should be constructed in the building where St. Casimir parishioners could worship regularly.
Mrs. Starr noted that the lives of many parishioners deeply revolve around the church.
For example, she said her daughter, Elektra Halasz, thought the church was so significant in her life that she had her 2-year-old son, Dylan, baptized at St. Casimir.
Mrs. Halasz and her husband, Les, live in Singapore.
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| Ascension |
Asta Grigalauskas, who lives in Marlboro, said St. Casimir's Parish helped acclimate her to American ways.
"I'm not sure I would not have done as well as I have, if it were not for this church," said Ms. Grigalauskas.
Arvydas Klimas of Oxford, who graduated from the parish's elementary school in 1967, said people are upset because the church holds so many memories for them.
Mr. Klimas, who served as an altar boy, said that he fondly remembers his school days.
"The nuns were tough on us, but I believe they helped us make it in society," he said.
After the vigil, many participants took part in the Mass, which, according to diocesan officials, served as the official closing service for the parish.
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| Notre Dame des Canadiens |
The Rev. Richard A. Jakubauskas, the church's pastor, said during the homily that he and congregants were grieving over the passing of their parish.
"Right now you may feel that you're on the cross and that you've been betrayed," said Rev. Jakubauskas, pointing to the large crucifix at the altar area. "But remember there is glory in resurrection and that things will work out."
He said parishioners had built up the parish over the years "for God, with no strings attached.
"We can't hang onto things, even the church," he said. "We don't want to be materialistic. That's not discipleship."
He said that it was pointless to criticize Bishop McManus, noting it was just time for St. Casimir to pass into history.
There will be Masses this morning at the church and the bishop will allow St. Casimir to be opened for funerals and special services for another year.
Diocesan officials have suggested that parishioners join St. John Church on Temple Street.
Contact Bronislaus B. Kush by e-mail at bkush@telegram.com
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