St. Thomas More ... ‘No longer exist’
The Immaculate Heart of Mary has been portrayed in many places in the world — Guadalupe, Lourdes, Fatima, Garabandal, Akita and Medjugorje. One of her most important messages came at Akita, Japan, that told of the horrors of the chastisement, if people don’t repent.
The central person in “the message of Akita” centered around Sister Agnes Sasagawa who suffered paralysis in her hands and legs. She later became totally deaf. Sister Sasagawa was a Buddhist but became a Catholic later in life, after she was afflicted with her infirmities.
The Lady, in trying to soften the anger of God, influenced Sister Sasagawa to become a victim soul. Through prayer, penance, poverty and sacrifice Sister Sasagawa would help with the conversion of sinners. Even though she was deaf at that time, Our Lady gave Sister Sasagawa many messages, but her final message was on the chastisement that would befall the world.
Of the six statements she gave Sister Sasagawa, I will concentrate on the sixth statement which states, “Churches and altars will be desecrated and Satan will lead priests away from God, and there will be no forgiveness, if sins continue.”
St. Thomas More of Dalzell was suspended for a couple of years and later opened and given an option to become one of three parishes that Father Pat Fixsen would service. I always felt priests should handle more churches and the laity would help in the operation of the church, so I was happy to see the Bishop make this decision. There are no priest shortages; there are priests that will not say masses to those parishioners who are without a pastor because of the Bishop’s orders. We should petition to change the Bishop and his flimsy excuses that have existed .
On Saturday, Sept. 22, at Mass, we were informed in a letter by Bishop Jenky that our church will be closed again, and St. Thomas More would “no longer exist,” and the parishioners would have to merge with Holy Trinity Church of Cherry, Ill., as of July 1, 2014. We will also lose our adoration chapel with this closing.
You began to wonder what will happen to our church. Will it be torn down like St. Benedict’s in Ladd or sold to the highest bidder?
I will pray and will ask the people of St. Thomas More to have Our Lady of Akita to intercede and change the minds of the people who made this decision and leave St. Thomas More Church alone and not merge with Holy Trinity of Cherry.
Carlo Olivero
Dalzell
