Church Closings. Reversing the Trend. Re-Evangelizing.

I hope to see the day when we don't close churches, but rather open more up. I hope to see that our beautiful churches are preserved and well taken cared of, instead of being boarded up and have rusty "For Sales" hanging and swinging in the wind. I hope the churches cement the community, as the epicenter, the heart and soul of the neighborhood. A place where families, friends, along with the lost, broken and confused, congregate, learn, commune and celebrate. Keeping our churches open and active is vital to the survival of the worldwide Catholic Church. If we can focus on all the amazing, spiritual moments that happen because of these special places, and we're allowed to return, even if we haven't been there in a long time, gives us hope. A hope, that was sowed 30 - 40 years ago when a baby is baptized, a hope nurtured since a 7 year old received their first communion, a hope, that this person can get up Sunday morning, drink their coffee, and go listen to the word of the Lord, Jesus Christ. I recently lost an uncle and attended his funeral mass at St. John the Baptist Church in Westport, MA. It was my first time in there, and it certainly won't be the last. Or will it? The church could close if folks stop attending mass. I suppose it's hard to fathom that we're taught to trust in God, believe in the church and all of its wisdom, but then when times get hard, the church closes its doors, throwing all that it sowed and reaped out the window. It's happening everywhere. People lose faith, stop going to mass, less money collected to support the church, then the archdiocese closes the church. I understand the church must be prudent. Prudence is a holy thing. But there are situations where there is enough gray area, where financial common sense is in conflict with the social common sense. I hope that the College of Cardinal will select a new Pope, where he can use his leadership, make these tough decisions to keep underperforming churches alive and open with the hope for a brighter future. This will have to be a major part of the Re-Evangelizing movement in the church.

St. Frances X. Cabrini of Scituate was shutdown in 2004. The Archdiocese of Boston went down to the church and locked all of its doors, but by a miracle, a door remained opened. Church members took action and began a 24/7 vigil. According to their website, http://www.stfrancesxcabriniscituate.org/, there has been somebody in the church for over 3000 days! There is no way the archdiocese can lock the doors with folks inside. Appeals all the way to the Vatican supreme court have not yielded a change of heart. The parishioners have not given up or lost heart! They hold mass every week. A sympathetic priest consecrates the eucharists and last Easter they had over 800 folks come through. What dedication, what love for the Lord and their space. I'm sure a lot of their families helped build and grow the church.

In my community, a very old and well known church closed, spurring outrage and disbelief in the community. St. John the Baptist parish was founded in 1871 and is the oldest Portuguese parish in America. There is no 24/7 vigil happening there, but if given the opportunity, parishioners would follow suit of St. Frances X. Cabrini of Scituate. Parishioners are raising funds to repair the roof. New Bedford, MA has a very rich and diverse history because of maritime and textile industries. Many Portuguese people emigrated to New Bedford. Now the Catholic Church has decided to close the doors of a very important and historical church. The Portuguese nation, was founded by King Afonse Henrique and recognized by the Pope in the 12th century. Portugal is first nation ever in the world, to be created with holy distinction. It's the oldest nation in Europe, with its original borders. The Portuguese spread the love of the Lord and establish many churches around the world including Brasil, Angola, India, China, Persian Gulf and the list goes on and on. Ferdinand Magellan, Portuguese, left the cross on an island in the Philippines on his famous journey around the world. Here in the greatest nation on Earth, the USA, the people of Portugal, a nation humbly created by God and its church, will have their first US church closed down because of a fiscal reasons. There are loving, loyal parishioners that will keep the church alive and active. With faith and activism, the church will regrow. It's our social responsibility, and common sense, to reopen this church. Please visit http://www.johnthebaptistchurch.org/ to learn more about the church and how you can help save it. I imagine many people, upon hearing the news that the church reopen, will return. Like a scorned lover given a second chance at love.

God Bless you all. God Bless Pope Benedict XVI.