Nesquehoning church fights to stay open

Belive & Pray Pray Pray- You are a fool. you have no clue as to the injustice that took place during this process. You must be a member of the ICC-Shame

GO FOR IT, YOU HAVE RIGHTS! I am so proud of you. You're in my prayers. God bless you and your efforts. May you succeed!

Dennis Mac wrote:

While I've heard all the "reasons" for these closings - according to the Diocese, I'm still unsure of the criteria they used to determine which Churches are to close.
If a Parish falls to below, say, 200, and there are other Churche(s) within a 10 mile radius, then there's no need to keep a dedicated Priest there.
But by what "yardstick" did the Diocese formulate this list?
An Orthodox Priest once told me that once a Parish exceeds 300, then it's time to build ANOTHER Church, rather than a LARGER one, since one Priest cannot possibly minister over more than that. Although there are several Orthodox Churches in the area with far more than 300, each has more than one FT Priest, some as many as three, not to mention Deacons and Sub-Deacons.
This way, the needs of the parishioners can be met fully: Visiting the sick, Blessing homes, officiating at Funerals and Memorial Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Confessions, Counseling, Fellowship, etc., not to mention Saturday Vespers, and Sunday Liturgies.

Just curious, what Orthodox Priest did you speak to. My family are members of St. Mary's up on fulerton Ave. so I was just interested in who you were talking to. Yes, you are correct, there is the one main priest, but there are other memebers who help as well when a church is exceding limits.

I'm sorry, I didn't read the original story. Why are they shutting down these particular churches? Is it loss in funds or membership, it just seems like alot.

Jay wrote:

Almost forgot !!!! God bless you too . INBREAD. You will be in my prayers tonight as well. Don't forget to send me a donation !

Don't be like that. There is no need for this hostile comment. Not all that go to Church or believe, deserve that stereotype because of others actions. This is a fight for something that many believe in, don't make light of it.

Trinity Apple wrote:

<quoted text>
Just curious, what Orthodox Priest did you speak to. My family are members of St. Mary's up on fulerton Ave. so I was just interested in who you were talking to. Yes, you are correct, there is the one main priest, but there are other memebers who help as well when a church is exceding limits.

The Priest I mentioned is no longer under the Omorphorion of any Bishop within this region, and will remain un-named.

If you agree with the statement, and agree that only the Ordained may act thusly in the Orthodox Church, then there is no question of yours to answer.

It's tough to be Catholic in a democracy. We've experienced personal freedom every day. We feel empowerment every time we step out of a voting booth or fight for societal change.

Like it or not, the Catholic Church is an autocracy. When policies change (Vatican II for example), they never say they were "wrong before" or "right now," which leaves logical gap for why the need for change... Apparently it's just "different" and the sheep must follow our earthly "shepherds."

All the diocesan priests are trying to be supportive in these changes. It must be hard on them, too. I personally will miss St. Joe's in S. Bethlehem, and I hope the ladies of St. Stanislaus will find a new place to make pirogies.

It is quite understandable why so many are so concerned over losing their home parishes, especially the ethnic ones. It has little to do with refusing to recognize the goodness of other cultures and a lot to do with preserving what little of their own that they can in this day and age. At the same time, I think everyone just needs to calm down. We are faced with the reality of a priest shortage not just in this diocese but across the country and in many other places around the world. If it werent for the numbers of new priests coming from Africa there would be many more church closings. Merging into a new parish is difficult, but it can be a fresh start that rejuvinates a community when they all come together to make it work. Bishop Cullen is a good and holy man, he isnt out to cheat anybody, but he has to make the difficult decisions because of the reality that is before him, and before all of us. We are not a democracy in the Catholic Church, but we are One Body, so lets start acting like it.

I thought the reason for the closures was a shortage of clergy? With all these closing, maybe there will be a layoff?

No churches in Coaldale, but yet two in Jim Thorpe? hmmmmmm

a thought wrote:

It is quite understandable why so many are so concerned over losing their home parishes, especially the ethnic ones. It has little to do with refusing to recognize the goodness of other cultures and a lot to do with preserving what little of their own that they can in this day and age. At the same time, I think everyone just needs to calm down. We are faced with the reality of a priest shortage not just in this diocese but across the country and in many other places around the world. If it werent for the numbers of new priests coming from Africa there would be many more church closings. Merging into a new parish is difficult, but it can be a fresh start that rejuvinates a community when they all come together to make it work. Bishop Cullen is a good and holy man, he isnt out to cheat anybody, but he has to make the difficult decisions because of the reality that is before him, and before all of us. We are not a democracy in the Catholic Church, but we are One Body, so lets start acting like it.

Why I agree with what you are saying, the issue here is that the one church that was kept open was not the best choice according to the recommendation of the diocese. No one is saying that he (Bishop Cullin) is not a Holy Man or just, the statement is that he was not well informed and the parish is asking that someone with no bias come up and review the two buildings and determine which is the best building.

Bottom Line is the entire process of deciding which church to keep open was underhanded and bias from the beginning. St. Frances of Yacupsin basically controlled all the meetings and put down anyone who dared question her. The sorry excuse for a priest that we have even voted against OLMC because he doesn't like italians, which he was not supposed to do. So much for the Catholic Church's sense of compassion and justice.

The Bishop is playing games, and needs to be educated and enlightened to not only the parishes in Nesq., but also of it's members and culture. The right thing to do is to keep OLMC and all of its buildings, fund-raisers, etc. Everyone knows that it is the best catholic church in town, and that is a blatant fact. The Bishop needs to listen to the people of this town and make the RIGHT decision, not the one he feels like or will profit the most from. If the appeal to the Bishop or Vatican fails, then the parish members should break free from the Allentown diocese and start anew.

This appeal is not only for the members of OLMC, we need to hear from Sacred Heart members as well. We understand that some are for ICC, but others should attend the meeting on Monday and join the fight!

It's all about what monies can be made so with that said, it's about the value of the property. I understand the story (and truth) about the lack of priests. We must remember, this is not just that issue. Need I say more?

check out www.rccnesq.org the church's website.

Look at the contributions for the week of June 1, 2008

ICC (the one staying open)$760
OLMC closing $1421
SH closing $2051

what's wrong with this picture. Sacred Heart, built in 1887, is the Mother church and yet it is closing. They never stood a chance of staying open. Plus over the years SH lost the school, the convent, the rectory and the Chapel at Lake Hauto. Guess you could say they were used to losing..........

we were taught to be kind, honest,and trustworthy. We have been through the process where committee members were all but honest and trustworthy. I would like all of the committee members to attend a meeting where we can ask questions as to how and why they came up with this decision...In fact I would like Clifford Bishop there also. I guess we will have to wait for him to be released from the hospital. Prayers for his quick recovery.

abc wrote:

check out www.rccnesq.org the church's website.
Look at the contributions for the week of June 1, 2008
ICC (the one staying open)$760
OLMC closing $1421
SH closing $2051
what's wrong with this picture. Sacred Heart, built in 1887, is the Mother church and yet it is closing. They never stood a chance of staying open. Plus over the years SH lost the school, the convent, the rectory and the Chapel at Lake Hauto. Guess you could say they were used to losing..........

I agree, As I understand it, the basement of the Church where Bingo was held if full of Black Mold and one of the members became ill and has filed against the diocese.Correct me if I am wrong, but that is what has been said about it,

abc wrote:

check out www.rccnesq.org the church's website.
Look at the contributions for the week of June 1, 2008
ICC (the one staying open)$760
OLMC closing $1421
SH closing $2051
what's wrong with this picture. Sacred Heart, built in 1887, is the Mother church and yet it is closing. They never stood a chance of staying open. Plus over the years SH lost the school, the convent, the rectory and the Chapel at Lake Hauto. Guess you could say they were used to losing..........

I heard that the collections will be going down even further, so I wouldn't use this as a good example. This could have been the begining.

Way to stand up for the parish that your families built. When we stop fighting for our families, can our faith be far behind?

The ethnic parishes need to boycott the diocese all together.

Meet in groups in the place of mass to say the rosary. No more dollars to Bishop Cullen.

It starts as a small group, castigated by KOC attack dogs. Then, another ethnic parish joins, and a third. Instead of turning us on one another, we take back the power ourselves.

Mary will guide us back to her son's house.

SI SE PUEDE