Last year in June 2 new priest arrived to takeover 5 churches in Livingston County in Upstate in NY. Small changes happened like bullentins and committee meetings. Now there are important change with the masses for the 4 smaller churches. 1 church has no masses on the weekends. The smallest has 1 mass on Sunday at 8:10 am too early for younger kids. The other church has one mass and my church is losing 1 mass. However, the bigger church which for some people is 30 mins to 40 mins away has keeped all of its masses. Also, in the winter time some people that normal drive a short distance will be forced to drive longer more dangerous distance to be able to participate in their religion. The 2 priest refuse to even consider change 1 of the 4 masses in the bigger church only when the college students leave from the summer does a mass got dropped. Also, the college has a mass. Neither priest has made an effort to engage in the smaller churches communities, but they do live in 1.
2006-08-27 02:58:34 · 5 answers · asked by cmp1212 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It looks like Livingston County, NY is part of the Diocese of Rochester led by Bishop Matthew Clark.
His office can be contacted at the Pastoral Center Administration in Rochester at (585) 328-3210 or (800) 388-7177.
With love and prayers in Christ.
2006-08-27 17:08:21 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are fighting a loosing battle. This is happening all over the country. Here in Ohio they have closed scores of churches. Some of the parishes have sued and taken back their churches and church treasuries. The standard response from the diocese has been to stall and run up the legal costs for the parishioners suing in the hope that people will just give up.
2006-08-27 03:05:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Priests can't close churches. They don't have the authority- they are only the caretakers of the people and property.
Only the Bishop can make parish closing decision- start with him -or more likely, his Episcopal Vicar ( basically, his #1 assistant)
After that, you can go to the papal nuncio in DC.
2006-08-28 16:20:28 · answer #3 · answered by Mommy_to_seven 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic church usually close churches, if they don't have large attendance or doesn't make enough money. My church got closeup this year in April for that reason. But do try to talk to the local bishop about what is going on. You must realised that if the church don't make enough money to run it , the Catholic church must put in some of their money to keep it going. And they don't want to do that. Good luck.
2006-08-27 03:11:49 · answer #4 · answered by redsonya13 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's not the priests who close the churches... they just do as they are told... speak to the bishop
2006-08-27 03:05:02 · answer #5 · answered by dosey-rosey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋