Posted on 10/09/2011 12:02:40 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
HOLYOKE - After more than 100 days of vigil inside the closed Mater Dolorosa church in Holyoke, the parishioners who have been occupying it were sued by the Catholic Diocese of Springfield this week in an attempt to get them to vacate the building.
"We had hoped that through their prayerful vigil, the very rapid rejection of their Vatican appeal, and two separate and independent findings on the deterioration of the steeple, they would have come to accept these most difficult but equally necessary decisions," said Mark E. Dupont, the diocesan spokesman. "Not only is their presence without permission or authorization, it also prevents the very necessary work of addressing the safety of the steeple."
Among other disagreements, one primary point of impasse centers on the structural stability of the building.
A structural analysis conducted by a firm hired by the diocese showed the steeple was in danger of collapsing. However, a structural analysis conducted by a company hired by the protesters showed that damage was only minor.
Both groups have completely rejected reports from the other side.
The Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, ruled that both Mater Dolorosa and Holy Cross churches in Holyoke should close and create one new parish. Our Lady of The Cross opened in the former Holy Cross building on Sycamore Street in Holyoke in July.
In addition to concern about the condition of Mater Dolorosa's steeple, the diocese cited the diminishing number of Catholics in Holyoke as another reason for closing the church.
On Sept. 19, the Vatican upheld the decision to close Mater Dolorosa, but parishioners filed an appeal on Sept. 29, questioning the whole situation.
"The decision at the Vatican is made in secret. But since the diocese has decided to take us to court, there are things that will come out into the open through the process," said attorney Victor Anop, a spokesman for the Friends of Mater Dolorosa. "Everybody here is saddened and shocked that the bishop would interrupt a prayer vigil like this. It's unheard of. We can't believe our own people in Christ would treat us this way."
Dupont said the diocese has tried other avenues with the group, but they have failed to reach an agreement.
"This action was undertaken with heavy heart, but it should be noted after repeated efforts by the diocese to convince these individuals to end their trespass," Dupont said. "Sadly after meetings and conversations over the past two weeks, it became clear they would not relent."
The lawsuit, filed this week in Hampden Superior Court, names Anop and eight other parishioners as defendants and includes all other unnamed people inside the church. The complaint seeks a court order forcing them to vacate the premises -- a move Anop said is unheard of in the Catholic Church.
"There are at least six vigils going on in Massachusetts, and several of them in Boston have been ongoing since 2004," Anop said. "It is unprecedented that a bishop would use the courts to interrupt a prayer vigil. We will remain here until we have to make a decision to do otherwise. Our ancestors dug the foundation for this church and paid for this building again and again over the years. It's more than just a building to us."
A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled to take place this coming Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Springfield.
....The Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, ruled that both Mater Dolorosa and Holy Cross churches in Holyoke should close and create one new parish. Our Lady of The Cross opened in the former Holy Cross building on Sycamore Street in Holyoke in July.
In addition to concern about the condition of Mater Dolorosa's steeple, the diocese cited the diminishing number of Catholics in Holyoke as another reason for closing the church. On Sept. 19, the Vatican upheld the decision to close Mater Dolorosa, but parishioners filed an appeal on Sept. 29, questioning the whole situation.
This place is ready to fall down. They should have been paying more attention earlier in the process.
I love how they think the Vatican is a democracy.
>> Our ancestors dug the foundation for this church and paid for this building again and again over the years. It’s more than just a building to us.
OK, then keep the damn thing repaired. Better yet, why not form your own church. You could call it the “NOT the Catholic Church”. It’s worked so well for the Episcopal church. /s
I believe they do have the cannonical right to appeal.
We don’t know the whole story, or the stories of the churches in Boston.
...hmmmm..if only a “miracle” could occur there. An “apparition” of some kind..that causes people, both great and small, to come see the “vision”. A bleeding wafer or a crying statue. Or a relic they can’t budge from under the alter. something SOMETHING to intervene.
Wow, that is a nice church.
They did appeal and the appeal was turned down. It is very rare for such an appeal to overturn a Bishop’s decision.
One of the churches that was slated to be closed, got their act together and got their numbers up and their financial house in order.
The Bishop rescinded his order for that church.
But these guys did not increase their rolls, and the physical structure needs thousands in the repairs. It does not make sense for them not to close.
The final thing is that the diocese does not have enough priests to go around.
I know 99% of the story. I am a member of the one church that was able to overturn a shut down decision in this diocese.
I have a relative who has one of the highest professional lay positions in the diocese.
The church is falling down. The members did not work as hard as other parishes, and they started late. The diocese is growing tired of their grandstanding long after the decision has been made.
It is a shame, but it is a fact of catholic life these days.
While I regret the loss of beauty, I am becoming more appreciative of some of the more cheaply built churches of late. It’s not a good thing when the building matters more than the Faith and evangelism.
Diocesan officials were careful to say that decision were based primarily on geography and equity - not on the financial health of certain parishes....
Catholic Diocese of Springfield names 14 churches to be closed by year's end
I also read elsewhere that it didn't matter how thriving the parishes were. I wondered if it had been the conservative churches that had gotten the ax.
I'm very glad that your church was spared, thank God. I'm trying to remember which church I went to during my Williamstown visits, years ago. The Berkshires were great, and I went all over: Adams, Chicopee, Pownal, VT. Nice country up there. You're blessed.
I wish I could see those stained glass windows up close. The old artistry of the painted images is seldom found in today’s work.
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