Seek the City final plan draws mix of emotions from Baltimore Catholics

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Baltimore-area Catholics reacted with a mix of disappointment, relief and resignation after the archdiocese announced the final plan for the Seek the City to Come initiative May 22.

Faced with shrinking numbers in the pews, the Archdiocese of Baltimore spent two years listening to parishioners and planning ways to reimagine the Catholic Church’s mission in Baltimore City and a few close-in sites in Baltimore County. 

The archdiocese announced a reduction of its physical footprint in the region from 61 parishes to 30 worship sites (in 23 parishes) in the coming months. 

Some are pleased with the revision that kept as many as three more worship sites open and they look forward to welcoming new parishioners from other sites.

“We are very grateful that we are staying open as a worship site,” said Louise Wright, a parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi in Mayfield for 50 years. “I know it was a very difficult decision, but we feel like the archdiocese made the right one to keep St. Francis open. We know the parishioners from our neighboring parishes are grieving, but we look forward to welcoming them here.”

St. Francis is currently in a pastorate with St. Dominic, Shrine of the Little Flower, St. Anthony of Padua and Most Precious Blood, which all will merge with St. Matthew and Blessed Sacrament in Northwood. The parish will be seated at St. Matthew with St. Francis designated as a worship site.

Celestia Drake, a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier in East Baltimore for 78 years, said she was happy her church would remain a vital part of her community, but was sad for those who are losing their churches.

“I am happy, but there are no winners in something like this,” Drake said. “I love my church and I hope the three merging churches (St. Francis Xavier, St. Ann and St. Wenceslaus) can work together. Change has to come, but I’m still sad for the churches that have to close.”

Other Baltimore Catholics are disappointed their church is scheduled to close.

“It’s sad,” said Kathy Jarosinski, a 40-year parishioner of St. William of York in Southwest Baltimore, which is set to merge with St. Agnes in Catonsville. “I don’t understand why they would close a church that is (financially sound) and our Masses are 90 percent full. We were already in a pastorate with St. Agnes and felt like we worked well together, and now we’re just scheduled to close?

“All I can say is the Lord has a plan and we have to figure it out,” said Jarosinski, a former parish council member.

Others are disappointed with their parish’s fate, but understand the demographic realities the archdiocese faces.

“I’m heartbroken because I went through RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and was confirmed at Corpus Christi,” said Avendui Lacovara, a parishioner of the historic Bolton Hill church that will merge with the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “I know how hard the (Seek the City) committee worked over the past two years to gather all the information. While I’m sad, I realize the church can’t be all about historic preservation. I just hope the archdiocese can preserve and transfer that welcoming spirit and sense of community that we’ve had here at Corpus Christi.”

Bedford Bentley Jr., a parishioner for 40 years at St. Edward in West Baltimore, used the term “unavoidable” to describe the process that will result in his parish merging with St. Bernardine, St. Peter Claver, St. Gregory the Great and St. Pius V.

“Something had to be done,” Bentley said. “It remains to be seen whether this approach will make the church viable in the city, but it was unavoidable. I guess the writing was on the wall. Many of the city parishes have small memberships and are struggling financially.

“Most people regard their parish community as family, and it’s always tough for a family to break up,” Bentley added.

Deacon Oscar Velasquez looked at the final plan from a twofold perspective. He is a parishioner of St. Patrick in Fells Point, which will merge with St. Leo the Great and St. Vincent de Paul and he serves as a deacon at St. Clare in Essex, which will merge with Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Essex.

“As a parishioner of St. Patrick, I’m sad that we are going to lose our church, but I look at it as an opportunity to merge with other faith groups and evangelize,” he said. “As a deacon at St. Clare, I know the people are very upset and grieving the loss of their church.

“We have a growing Latino population at St. Clare and moving to a new parish is a concern.  It will be my job as a deacon with Father John (Streifel) and Father Sampson (Onwumere) to get them through that grieving process and become a part of the Mount Carmel community. We have to show them that the Holy Spirit is guiding us. The healing will take some time, though, and then we can get back to the business of evangelizing.” 

In a message sent to parishioners, Archbishop William E. Lori said, “To achieve our eucharistic vision and pour more resources into mission and ministry, as opposed to leaking roofs, crumbling walls and failing electric and plumbing, the Archdiocese of Baltimore will merge 61 parishes to 30 worship and ministry sites. …  New investment in ministries and buildings will follow and careful consideration will be given to any church property that will eventually be sold to ensure responsible reuse for the community and our neighbors.”

Rita Amrhein, a parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua in Gardenville since 1958, said she was praying for the archbishop.

“Archbishop Lori, I pray that this process goes smoothly as people have been upset about the process, especially churches that have been around 100 years like St. Anthony of Padua,” Amrhein ​​wrote in an email response to a Flocknote message from the archbishop.  “People never thought this would happen in the 21st century. Please be assured of my prayers for this transaction.”

She told the Catholic Review she still looks forward to celebrating St. Anthony’s 130th anniversary this fall before the church closes its doors, but was surprised to hear that the nearby Church of Annunciation in Rosedale now was scheduled for closure.

Archbishop Lori recognized the moves do not come without some pain in a city the church has had a presence in since 1789.

“Of course, this heart-wrenching – but necessary and overdue – decision leaves many grieving, no matter whether one agrees with the reasons. Some may feel angry, others relieved. I know your hearts are heavy. Mine is too,” he said in his message to parishioners.

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

This story was updated at 10:36 a.m.

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