December 31, 2017

Springfield’s Our Lady of the Rosary Parish to close

REGIONAL
Staff Report

Springfield – Just months after marking their centennial, parishioners of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in the Liberty Heights’ section of Springfield learned this weekend that their parish would be closed by the end of January.

In a letter from Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski (full text can be found at the end of this article) that was read at all Masses Dec. 30 and 31, the decision to close was announced. In it, Bishop Rozanski referenced a report citing declining attendance and financial concerns which were presented at an open parish meeting held back on Nov. 8.

Bishop Rozanski wrote, “I am sure for those who regularly attend Mass these findings of decreased attendance came as no great surprise. Of course such a decline also has a direct impact on the financial stability of your parish community. This is a scenario we have seen play out in a number of other parishes, where despite the dedicated efforts of parishioners, their beloved parishes were no longer able to be sustainable.”

In fact, Our Lady of the Rosary’s attendance has been in decline for many years but was financially sustained by income from the rental of its former school building. Currently, the city of Springfield rents the facility to house the Springfield Conservatory of the Arts School. That school will be moving to a permanent location in 2018, resulting in a major decline in parish income.

As part of this announcement, read in English and Polish, Bishop Rozanski designated Immaculate Conception Parish in Indian Orchard as the receiving and welcoming parish, instructing Father Stanley Sokol, who served as pastor of both Our Lady of the Rosary and Immaculate Conception parishes, to reconstitute both the finance and parish councils to include members of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Our Lady of the Rosary was founded in 1917 to minister to a growing Polish population which had settled in the North End of Springfield. The first church was dedicated in 1918 in the Liberty Heights section of the city. A second church was dedicated in 1940 on Franklin and Underwood streets. A fire in 1963 destroyed much of that structure which was then fully renovated and re-opened Christmas Day 1965. A parish school opened in 1919 closed in the 1960s.

In announcing the closing, Bishop Rozanski acknowledged it was a difficult decision to make.

“Understandably, this is a painful decision to share and even harder to hear, one wrought with many emotions. Yet I urge you to remain faithful to the values which have marked the 100-year legacy of Our Lady of the Rosary, avoid the temptation to assess blame or fault but rather give this beloved parish a dignified closure.”

He concluded: “Our Lady of the Rosary Parish has played an important role in the Catholic Church here in western Massachusetts and that great heritage will remain long after this sad closing.”

The parish will close after the final Mass on Jan. 28.

The full text of the bishop’s letter follows:

December 29, 2017

Dear parishioners of Our Lady of the Rosary,

I am writing to you in response to a report presented to your parish community back on November 8 and subsequently shared with me regarding concerns over the continuing viability of the Our Lady of the Rosary Parish.

I am sure for those who regularly attend Mass these findings of decreased attendance came as no great surprise. Of course such a decline also has a direct impact on the financial stability of your parish community. This is a scenario we have seen play out in a number of other parishes, where despite the dedicated efforts of parishioners, their beloved parishes were no longer able to be sustainable.

Sadly this is the situation we now find ourselves in with Our Lady of the Rosary.

In some regards this trend has been evident for a number of years; however the rental of the school building helped to offset the decline in collections. But, as you know, that school is scheduled to be re-located in 2018 making any future rental revenue uncertain and further diminishing parish resources. Even more pressing is the recent discovery of serious problems with the steam pipes that heat the church. Add this to the overall uncertainty of any other potential repairs which may arise in such aged buildings, I feel we have no other recourse than to act sooner rather than later.

Therefore after careful consultation and prayerful reflection, and with a very heavy heart, I must inform you that Our Lady of the Rosary Parish will cease operations after the final Mass on January 28, 2018.

I have designated the Immaculate Conception as the receiving parish and have directed Fr. Sokol to reconstitute the parish and financial councils to include members of your community.

Understandably this is a painful decision to share and even harder to hear, one wrought with many emotions. Yet I urge you to remain faithful to the values which have marked the 100 year legacy of Our Lady of the Rosary, avoid the temptation to assess blame or fault but rather give this beloved parish a dignified closure.

Our Lady of the Rosary Parish has played an important role in the Catholic Church here in western Massachusetts and that great heritage will remain long after this sad closing.

Please know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers in the coming weeks.

Prayerfully yours,

(Most Rev.) Mitchell T. Rozanski
Bishop of Springfield