SFGate 3-part article: The Lost Parish

[Book Lover]

This is an interesting story about the fight members of the parish of St Brigid's in san Francisco led after receiving word that the parish was to be closed. I don't think church officials gave much input to the article (after reading it, I think they refused to participate; as respectful as the journalist is, the story is still about how parishioners felt betrayed and excluded from the decision-making process). But I do think it is interesting reading.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/25/MNGRSKRH2E223.DTL

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/26/MNGA5OQR921.DTL

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/27/MNGS9OR1K21.DTL

[hedgehog]

1. The diocese sounded a theme that I've heard over and over -

that a parish must be disbanded because there are not enough Catholics. Yet, the areas around these parishes have not been depopulated. It's just that the bishops feel no call to evangelize. They are so busy keeping tabs on the faithful they have no time for other people waiting to hear the Good News!

[DemBones DemBones]

2. It's so sad when parishes close. I know

that many cities have huge old churches in neighborhoods where there are no longer many, or any, Catholics, another bad effect of suburban sprawl. I guess some of them have to be closed and sold because it costs so much to maintain buildings, but I wish there were a better solution, like bus service from suburbs to downtown parishes. Churches built today just can't compete with the beauty of the old churches.