My Parish is Closing

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tina777

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My parish is the oldest church in our city and is considered a historical building. It failed to raise enough money to renovate the building. The diocese recently announced that it will close very soon. I am very sad by this – this was the parish I received my Sacraments of Initiation on the Easter Vigil. Please pray for all all members of our parish community. Thank you.
 
Loving God, may the memories of this parish strengthen former members. May new parishes welcome them. Comfort those who are sad. Remind them that You, Merciful Father, exist outside the bricks and mortar of the old beloved building. May former parishioners sustain old friendships and make new ones. May they draw comfort from you in the sacraments. God bless them one and all. Through Christ Our Lord.

:signofcross:

[SIGN]Farewell to the Old[/SIGN]

and

[SIGN]Welcome to the New[/SIGN]

​
 
Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
 
tina777 said:
My parish is the oldest church in our city and is considered a historical building. It failed to raise enough money to renovate the building. The diocese recently announced that it will close very soon. I am very sad by this – this was the parish I received my Sacraments of Initiation on the Easter Vigil. Please pray for all all members of our parish community. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Will the members move to a different parish once it is closed?
 
I am praying for you!

***Holy Mary,
help those in need,
give strength to the weak,
comfort the sorrowful,
pray for God’s people,
assist the clergy,
intercede for religious.
Mary all who seek your help
experience your unfailing protection.
Amen. ***

:signofcross: :byzsoc: :highprayer:
 
I understand your feelings, our childhood parish and school was suppressed many years ago and yet I am still sorry I can not go there any more. Praying for all of you.
 
tina777 said:
My parish is the oldest church in our city and is considered a historical building. It failed to raise enough money to renovate the building. The diocese recently announced that it will close very soon. I am very sad by this – this was the parish I received my Sacraments of Initiation on the Easter Vigil. Please pray for all all members of our parish community. Thank you.
Click to expand...
praying I am sadded for your loss. I too am fond of historical churches. Please keep us posted.
 
njlisa said:
Loving God, may the memories of this parish strengthen former members. May new parishes welcome them. Comfort those who are sad. Remind them that You, Merciful Father, exist outside the bricks and mortar of the old beloved building. May former parishioners sustain old friendships and make new ones. May they draw comfort from you in the sacraments. God bless them one and all. Through Christ Our Lord.

:signofcross:

[SIGN]Farewell to the Old[/SIGN]

and

[SIGN]Welcome to the New[/SIGN]

​
Click to expand...
Praying for you and your fellow parishioners…
 
tina777 said:
My parish is the oldest church in our city and is considered a historical building. It failed to raise enough money to renovate the building. The diocese recently announced that it will close very soon. I am very sad by this – this was the parish I received my Sacraments of Initiation on the Easter Vigil. Please pray for all all members of our parish community. Thank you.
Click to expand...
:highprayer: Heavenly Father, we pray for members of this parish community as they transition to new parishes, that you keep the great memories of this parish with them; that you aid them in the adjusting to new parishes and surround this parish community with your joy and peace!!!
 
tina777 said:
My parish is the oldest church in our city and is considered a historical building. It failed to raise enough money to renovate the building. The diocese recently announced that it will close very soon. I am very sad by this – this was the parish I received my Sacraments of Initiation on the Easter Vigil. Please pray for all all members of our parish community. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Ah, I feel for you. You will no doubt go through a period of mourning. Whatever parish becomes your new home, please remember that Christ is there waiting for you.
These things are hard to understand. Even new parishes like mine, suffer under crushing debt. As hard as it is to keep up a single household, so much more for an aging parish, or even a new parish that is not really established.
May God smile on your old and new congregations. God bless you.
 
bwhite06517 said:
:highprayer: Heavenly Father, we pray for members of this parish community as they transition to new parishes, that you keep the great memories of this parish with them; that you aid them in the adjusting to new parishes and surround this parish community with your joy and peace!!!
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What Bruce said above.
 
Praying for the clergy and parishioners that you will find shelter of our Lord in another building and a smooth transition. May you all be welcomed and well received in your
new parish and together work to build a stronger community of faith.
 
Praying for you and for everyone in your parish. Situations like that are awfull and nobody should have to go though that… :crossrc:
 
Hail Mary, Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee,
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
 
myway said:
Will the members move to a different parish once it is closed?
Click to expand...
Yes, the diocese will re-open a parish that’s been closed since 2008. It’s not as old as my current parish, so the building is considered safe and parishioners will re-locate to this parish.

Thank you for your prayers, everyone! 🙂

A lot of members of the parish have been attending Mass here for decades! The parish will remain open if it can find a way to secure the funds to renovate the building, so everyone’s praying for some kind of miracle. It’s set to close in 2 months.

Also, 46% of the people in my area are Catholic, but Mass attendance is at a much lower percentage – the entire diocese has low Mass attendance rates – 14% of Catholics regularly attend Mass. There are 450,000 Catholics in the diocese, but reception of the Sacraments continues to decrease. My current parish is already the result of being merged with other parishes and is a big building, so it feels like we have a lot of people who attend Mass on Sundays, but the actual percentage of people who attend Mass is likely pretty low. Please pray for all the inactive Catholics to return to the Sacraments! God bless all of you at CAF.
 
You all have my prayers.

“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”
“I plead with you! Never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.”
“If He asks much of you, it is because He knows you can give much.”
  • St Pope John Paul II
 
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