The Archdiocese of Baltimore launched a process a few years ago to re-envision what the Catholic Church looks like in the city of Baltimore. We heard about it periodically and prayed for the process. The Catholic population in the city has dropped dramatically as the demographics shifted to the suburbs and the Church was now left with small congregations, struggling ministries, debt and maintenance costs. After 2 years of sessions, the tone and weight of the process increased. In Fall of 2023, the mood changed. All of a sudden with the new year what we thought was impacting our neighbors was now at our front door. Despite reassurances over the years and being located in the county and being told we were paying our bills, the mood changed and it became evident that closures were coming and coming in a huge way and that OLV was in jeopardy of closing/merging.
By the time Lent came we realized the precarious position of OLV and many parishes. Fr Bill tried to lead with charity and kept us focused on Christ. My goal and constant reminder was to keep my heart focused on Christ, the Church building/ location/ family are all important but they are not required. I knew God had us but what that meant for Sunday worship I didn't know.
Then the Seek the City proposal came out. Apr 13, 2024 OLV was on the list to close and merge with St. Agnes. 30 out of 60 parishes would be closing. Many people felt completely blindsided. It was a struggle to not descend into bitterness, negativity, and cynicism. There was a draw to panic and so much criticism. The feeling of helplessness was immense, but strong arguments immerged, real reasons to keep us open. We could only tell our story and pray. Growing since the pandemic, a large campus, active outreach, location, and a Burmese refugee community
List of proposed parishes with mergers in Archdiocese of Baltimore
There was good reason to be angry with the AOB. Sexual abuse and coverup. Corruption. Financial mismanagement, Abuse lawsuits. Bankruptcy. The AOB was not communicating well.
The parish began a letter writing campaign, We held a town hall to frame our position. AOB wide listening sessions were set up and kept changing. at one point one was scheduled to be at OLV. I designed a t-shirt which the parish rush ordered. OLV showed up at the Archdiocese Listening sessions at Curley high school and brought 3 buses to the Cathedral. OLV got good press coverage with our people and story showing up by name in multiple TV and press spots. It was weeks of rollercoaster emotions and activity. Those along with all of our charitable letters on blue stationary made an impact.
There was a flood of relief and tears of joy. I expected to feel so much better but that unease in my stomach didn't abate. The nauseous feeling in my stomach raged. This was going to be hard. Merger would be hard. Losing our pastor would be painful.
The Plan was for mergers and closures to happen by Advent 2024 or Lent 2025, but for OLV we would be thrown right into it, as there was a retirement and Fr. Bill was being reassigned as of July 1. Our new pastor was the pastor of St. Joseph's Monastery. The plan was to initially have 6 months to ease into the merger, but because of the July 1 reassignment we are thrust into change without any prep. It was clear the Fr. Mike was not eager for the new position during an open house meeting during Father Bill's last week. Fr. Mike wasn't planning to move to OLV and there was apparently OLV debt that he wasn't thrilled about. It was deflating.
Then we held Fr. Bill's last Mass and threw a going away party. I got him and Jim matching socks with their faces on it. Jim had Men's Fellowship for the last time at the rectory. We had Fr. Bill over for dinner his last weekend and he said Mass for us around our dinning room table.
It has been months of stress and loss and it is hard. I have to constantly refocus my heart to look to Christ. A transition team will be put in place and our parish will rework itself into something new. Praying that we will be fruitful and glorify God.
Our Lady of Victory - Pray for us
No comments:
Post a Comment