• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Bishop Robert Barron
          • George Weigel
          • Question Corner
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Suzanna Molino Singleton
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Paul McMullen
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Father T. Austin Murphy Jr.
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • Advertising
  • CR Radio
  • Printing
  • Subscribe
The final Mass at St. Brigid in Canton, a faith community that pre-dated the Civil War, was held Feb. 2. (Kevi

St. Brigid in Canton closes, pastorate considers new uses for building

Paul McMullen February 27, 2019
By Paul McMullen
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Urban Vicariate

An angel wood carving decorates the front door of St. Brigid Church in Canton. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Bishop Denis J. Madden celebrated the final Mass Feb. 2 at St. Brigid in Canton, a faith community that pre-dated the Civil War.

“Declining numbers led to the final liturgy,” said Conventual Franciscan Father Dennis Grumsey, who became pastor of St. Brigid in spring 2017, when it was combined with St. Casimir in Canton and St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Highlandtown in the pilot phase of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s pastorate plan.

Three-tenths of a mile and O’Donnell Square separate St. Brigid and St. Casimir. One weekend in January, attendance for St. Brigid’s 4 p.m. Saturday vigil, its only liturgy, was 40 adults.

A pastoral planning team from the pastorate and Father Grumsey recommended that Masses no longer be held at St. Brigid, which was accepted by Archbishop William E. Lori.

“We invited people who had moved out of the area, and had about 100 to 120 for the final Mass,” Father Grumsey said in early February. “There was a reception afterward. It was a nice celebration.

“The worship site is closed. We invite people to join us at St. Casimir or St. Elizabeth.”

St. Brigid opened in 1854, as a mission to St. Patrick in Fells Point. Its initial worshippers included immigrants from Ireland, and its first resident pastor was newly ordained Father James Gibbons, who would go on to become the ninth archbishop of Baltimore.

Under Father Joseph Bochenek, pastor from 1988 until his retirement in 2017, its signature fundraiser had been volunteers serving as “hospitality ministers” at the Preakness.

St. Brigid’s former school closed in 1980. Father Grumsey said that the pastorate is soliciting suggestions for the former church, which was built in 1967.

According to Father Grumsey, St. Casimir Catholic School, which serves students in pre-K through eighth grade, is at capacity with approximately 220 students. He said that one of the suggestions made for the vacant St. Brigid Church is to repurpose it for a pre-K school.

Father Grumsey said that St. Casimir has 750 registered families and St. Elizabeth 250. Children from St. Elizabeth already go to St. Casimir for religious education, and Father Grumsey said that “sharing resources makes sense.”

The pastorate staff includes Conventual Franciscan Father Andrew Santamauro.

“Creating one parish council for the pastorate is something we want to move on right away, over the next two months,” Father Grumsey said. “It’s important that St. Brigid be a part of it.”

 

Email Paul McMullen at pmcmullen@CatholicReview.org

 

 

 

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Paul McMullen

Paul McMullen

Paul McMullen has served as the managing editor of the Catholic Review since 2008.

The author of two books, Paul has been involved in local media since age 12, when he began delivering The News American to 80 homes in his neighborhood. He began his journalism career with the Capital-Gazette Newspapers in Anne Arundel County, and spent more than 25 years as a sports writer for The Sun in Baltimore. His favorite writing assignments have included the Summer Olympics in Australia and Greece, the Archdiocese of Baltimore's response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and “Feet for Francis,” a 2015 walking pilgrimage from the Baltimore Basilica to Philadelphia to see Pope Francis.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

Latest Local News

Spirit moving: A dozen St. Augustine School students prepare to enter faith

Maryland Knights of Columbus, Cross Catholic Outreach team up to pack 40,000 meals

Maryland legislators increase BOOST funding, pass bills expanding prenatal care grants and giving pandemic relief

Girls develop skills and strength in NDP’s tech program

RADIO INTERVIEW: Spending less and living more

Latest World News

Bill introduced to expand Supreme Court to 13 justices

Sponsor a gargoyle: New fundraiser launched for Notre Dame in Paris

PBS documentary explores creator of ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’

Movie Review: ‘Roe v. Wade’

Federal appeals court says Ohio can enforce Down syndrome abortion law

Catholic Review Radio

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Bill introduced to expand Supreme Court to 13 justices
  • Sponsor a gargoyle: New fundraiser launched for Notre Dame in Paris
  • PBS documentary explores creator of ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’
  • Spirit moving: A dozen St. Augustine School students prepare to enter faith
  • Up with the birds
  • Movie Review: ‘Roe v. Wade’
  • Federal appeals court says Ohio can enforce Down syndrome abortion law
  • Maryland Knights of Columbus, Cross Catholic Outreach team up to pack 40,000 meals
  • German legislators consider ending state payments to churches
  • Maryland legislators increase BOOST funding, pass bills expanding prenatal care grants and giving pandemic relief

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2021 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED