News Tribune
June 2, 2009
http://www.newstrib.com/articles/news/nci/default.asp?article=D49DF8F154E7CE198431490533951124F85D77C6799A0AF9
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| John Heuser contributes his thoughts on “suspended services” at St. Benedict’s Church in Ladd. More than 70 parishioners agreed to form Project HOPE, Help Our Parish Exist in hopes of persuading the Peoria Diocese to keep the church open. |
Dozens of parishioners at St. Benedict Church in Ladd have banded together in hopes of persuading the Diocese of Peoria to keep the church open.
Sunday, more than 70 parishioners met and agreed to form Project HOPE, Help Our Parish Exist.
Members seek to petition Bishop Daniel Jenky to reverse the decision to suspend services at the Ladd church, effective June 17. (The church would, however, remain available for special services such as weddings and funerals.)
“We may be fighting a losing cause,” said Tom Martin, meeting organizer. “But one thing we know for certain: if we don’t try, we lose.”
The bishop’s office did not return telephone messages seeking comment on the group’s formation or position.
The Very Rev. Robert Rayson, who was appointed administrator of St. Benedict, was traveling abroad and not available for comment.
St. Benedict was established as a Benedictine mission church in 1893, and has continually been staffed by priests from nearby St. Bede Abbey.
Abbot Claude Peifer, O.S.B. of St. Bede Abbey said the church had been overseen by the Rev. Henry Fritz, O.S.B., who is 84 years old and recently had to retire for health reasons. Peifer said Monday the Benedictine community cannot replace Fritz at the Ladd parish and noted a shortage of priests throughout the nation.
“It would be desirable if we had enough priests to supply all these parishes, but we have to face the reality of the times,” Peifer said. “Perhaps the crisis will stimulate more vocations for the future.”
Peifer said he had no position on the parishioners’ campaign, calling it a matter between the diocese and the parish.
Martin said he and other parishioners are grateful to the Benedictines for the many years of service to the people of Ladd.
“We hate to see the union broken, but hope that somehow, even if for only one Mass a week, we can secure a priest to keep our church open,” Martin said. “It is vital for the spiritual health of our community.”
Project HOPE includes a letter-writing campaign, with letter-writing parties to be held at 8:30 a.m. each day in the parish hall. Parishioners interested in helping with Project HOPE are encouraged to attend the morning sessions or to contact one of the committee chairmen for more information, Martin said.
Organizers also formed a committee formed to serve as liaison between church officials and parishioners. Committee members are Jan Grivetti, Dennis Hassler, Bob Mack, Gerilyn Miller, Diana Potthoff and Mike Urbanowski.
Martin said the consensus reached was that while the St. Benedict parishioners respect Jenky’s decision, they intend to express their desires.
Grivetti of Ladd said she was “very sad” at the news that services would be halted. Grivetti said her parents and grandparents were parishioners at St. Benedict, where she was baptized and married and christened her three children.
Asked if she thought the parish could get Jenky to reverse his decision, Grivetti replied: “We’re going to give it our whole try.”
“I have a lot of history at St. Benedict’s,” said Jean Anne Panizzi, another life-long parishioner. “I don’t want to see us lose our church. It is such a vital part of our community, of our lives.”
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