Church closings

[Rebecca_New]

Tonight was a meeting that informed this diocese that 100 Roman Catholic Churches are going to be closed over a period of time. I was told that this is happening around the country. Can anyone enlighten me as to why this is happening, and is it really a new movement?

 

[bogeyjlg]

In my diocese (Rochester, go figure), 2 next to the parish i go to are basically closing because they are heavily in debt and there are no priests serve as pastor. There are others closing as well.

 

[MrS]

some of it has to do with population shifts… some with a shortage of priests, and some with the high expense of keeping older churches in working order.

Most bishops, I would think, find these choices difficult. Some are not always the best choice - but it is inevitable.

I think our diocese will see 3 or more (out of 78, I believe) parishes merged or closed. Two adjoining parishes might merge, with the older (more classic architecture) becoming a “wedding” chapel, or type of mission church. Money is always a big issue.

 

[Catholic29]

In short they are these reasons, population shifts, a priest shortage in the diocese, lack of worshippers and money. Or matters related to money such as old church buildings requiring millions of dollars in repairs that the parish doesn’t have nor can hope to raise.

 

[Lucania]

No churches closing around here. If fact, the congregations are growing by leaps and bounds, especially in some areas.

 

[stbruno]

I always feel so diminished inside of me when I read about another church closing. But ultimately, I think we should always remember the promise Jesus gave us. Our church will always prevail for all times! A church yes, is more than a building…it is a community of believers. Let us pray for an increase not only in vocation, but also for an increase in the number of people who once again are practiciing and living their faith in all ways. That’s where we need to place our trust…in the wisdom, power and glory of God! Keep praying!

 

[axolotl]

Examp;e, not too far from me, there are two churches 1 mile apart on opposite sides of the street, both struggling to fill their classrooms. Hello!

But I live in an interesting area. The other weekend we decided to go to Denny’s.

We drove past our church, 4 miles up the street is Holy Trinity Ukranian Orthodox Church, which is directly next to Pokrova Greco-Ukranian Catholic Church, and a stone’s throw from St. Columbkille, go another 1/2 or so and there’s St. Sergius Russian Orthodox Cathedral, then St Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, finally after 5 miles from home, we reach Denny’s, across from St John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cathedral. I’m not even considering all the Catholic or Orthodox churches just off the intersections. We’re pretty lucky to have such diversity!

 

[mdzialo1]

One day before Christmas I listened to NPR. They had a panel discussion. One person said, Do you know what? Religion is back. One person on the panel was surprised about such a statement. But the other two panel members chimed in and agreed that, yes, it’s amazing, but religion IS back.

I then went to the first vigil Mass here in CT. Our church was filled upstairs, so I went downstairs where we have a video hookup but the entire downstairs was completely packed, even up the stairwells to the doors. So I went home and wondered, who are these people? I don’t know what happened at the second vigil Mass but the next day, the church was packed, again.

They collected about $14,000 (usually it’s about $3500).

 

[rwoehmke]

I have a son and daughter-in-law who explain the packed church. My daughter was teaching her niece the days of the week and she got them all but Sunday, so my daughter said to her,“What day do you go to church.” My granddaughter says,“Oh, Christmas and Easter.” Its getting to be an American tradition. Go to church on Christmas and Easter and forget the rest of the year.

 

[Psalm89]

Yes religion is “back”, but more importantly Christianity is growing. As much as the modern, naturalist, secular culture hates God, He of course is getting His message of salvation to the people.

In the LCMS we have a new program called Ablaze to reach 100,000,000 people with the Gospel by 2017. So far 1,533,548 have been reached.

The societies that have rejected God, like Western Europe are tragically dying off.

I don’t know if the rift between Lutherans and Catholics will ever be fully healed, but I think we can both be joyful when there are more Christians and sad when Churches must close.

 

[asquared]

all 4 Catholic churches in our town have plans to build new churches or expand existing church, among these 4 parishes are also at least 6 missions, who may become regular parishes as soon as a priest can be found, since population is growing around them as well.