Writing for a miracle
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LADD — Parishioners at area Catholic churches aren’t taking the news lying down that services are being suspended at their churches.
On May 21, parishioners at St. Benedict’s, Ladd; St. Thomas More, Dalzell; Sts. Peter and Paul, Spring Valley; and St. Gertrude’s in Seatonville were stunned to hear of Bishop Daniel R. Jenky’s decision to suspend Masses as of June 17. In a letter, Jenky wrote the move was being made due to the challenges of “financial deficits, decrease in regular giving, decrease in parish families and an overall demographic drift from a previous generation.”
One week later, more than 70 members of St. Benedict’s gathered in hopes of being able to change Jenky’s mind. By the end of the meeting, the parishioners had a plan titled, "Project HOPE (Help Our Parish Exist)" to let Jenky know how they felt about his decision.
The focus of Project HOPE is a letter-writing campaign. Parishioners have gathered and will continue to meet at the church to put their feelings about the church on paper. They will send those feelings/comments to Jenky.
Geri Miller, one of the six committee chairmen chosen to act as liaisons between church officials and parishioners, said the letters are designed to give people the opportunity to make their voices heard.
In her letter, Miller said she expressed her disappointment with the decision and listed various reasons why the church should continue to hold Masses, such as the church’s service to the entire community.
She wrote, “I am hoping one mass per weekend, a mere hour, is not too much to ask to provide a ray of light to strengthen and continue our religious faith in this small community."
Miller, who sent the letter to the bishop, Rev. Robert Spilman of St. Anthony’s and Immaculate Conception churches in Spring Valley, and St. Benedict’s new priest, the Rev. Robert Rayson, who will replace the Rev. Henry Fritz, concluded by writing, “I am hoping for reconsideration.”
Miller said letters can be mailed as soon as they’re written or taken to the church. Additional letter writing sessions will be conducted at the church at 8:30 a.m. Friday, and after Saturday’s 4 p.m. Mass and Sunday’s 7:30 and 10 a.m. Masses.
St. Benedict’s was founded in 1893. The current church building was built in 1930, and the parish currently serves 195 families. When asked what those families would do if Jenky’s decision takes effect, Miller said quietly no decision had yet been made.
Tom Martin, who organized Sunday’s meeting, acknowledged the prayer campaign might be a losing cause.
“But one thing we know for certain, if we don’t try – we lose,” he said. “We are a small parish, but have always rallied together when our priest needed us. Now, we need a priest.”
