Parishioners Compromise with Vatican

By Anaridis Rodriguez
WWLP
June 10, 2012

www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/hampden/Parishioners-compromise-with-Vatican


[with video]

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - Nearly a year after holding an on going prayer vigil inside the Mater Dolorosa church, hundreds gathered to announce they will abide by the Vatican's request to vacate the parish. "I used to be an altar server here before it closed and yesterday when I was here I was trying to relive the moments when I did," said 10-year-old Kathryn Fydenkevez Sunday morning inside the church.

For five generations, Fydenkevez's family has known Mater Dolorosa Church as their second home. On Sunday she and her brother were among the legion of parishioners ready to show they will fight to keep their church open.

Kathryn's mother, Sharon, told 22News exposing her children to this experience was an easy decision. "They've been involved right from the start, right from the start, they didn't want to leave."

But a Vatican decree says otherwise. On May 25th, the Vatican tribunal issued a ruling ordering parishioners to leave the parish which has been part of the Holyoke community since the late 1800's.

"It's very hard for us to leave this place it's been in our blood for so many years. I was baptized here, I went to school at Mater Dolorosa, I was confirmed, and I was married. My children went to school here," said Joe Kos who's been part of the church for more than 60 years.

Crippling debt combined with record low attendance and baptism rates led to Diocese closing the church last July. Since then, parishioners have appealed the decision and according to Victor Anop, the attorney representing the parishioners, their case is now being considered in Rome to reopen the church.

Anop has been representing parishioners since the vigil started June 30 ^th, 2011. He told 22News their decision to leave came after the Vatican decided to review their appeal. "It could take months, it could take years there's no formula for that. We've submitted enough evidence that when they look it over they'll rule in favor of reopening the church," said Anop Sunday morning.

Parishioners will honor the Vatican's ruling trusting the bishop will not remove any of the statues, decorations or donations from inside the church and not knock down the steeple; its structural safety has long been a topic of contention.

Anop says on October of 2011, a Hampden Superior Court judge ruled the steeple posed no "imminent threat." However, the Springfield Diocese disagrees.

"We obviously disagree regarding the safety of the steeple and we have extensive reports to back up our position on it and it's a great concern to us and it's a concern to us going forward," said spokesperson for the Springfield Diocese Mark DuPont.

Mater Dolorosa Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell said in a statement, "It was gratifying to see the good will of the occupants of Mater Dolorosa Church in following the Vatican directive to leave the building."

And despite the setbacks, those who love the church found the decision to leave did not seal their fate and say their fight is far from over. "We may not be inside there but the vigil is not over," said Christopher Boruch.

Brouch told 22News the parishioners plan to continue to meet elsewhere for weekly prayers.