November 15, 2004 - Archdiocese of Boston
to Grant Closing Extensions to Six Parishes
Requests granted to six pastors
who met with Archbishop last week
(Boston, Massachusetts) November 15, 2004…The
Archdiocese of Boston today announced that six of the 30 parishes remaining
to be closed as part of the Archdiocesan reconfiguration have been granted
extensions of their closing dates. Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Belmont, Sacred
Heart Parish in Watertown, Holy Trinity Parish in Lowell and St. Jeremiah Parish
in Framingham have been assigned new closing dates as indicated below. Sacred
Heart Parish in Lexington and St. Florence Parish in Wakefield will be assigned
new closing dates following further consultation between the Archbishop and
the pastors.
These six parishes are among eighteen that had previously received a date
for closing. The pastors of those eighteen parishes met with Archbishop O’Malley
on November 11. At that meeting, the Archbishop listened to pastors’ comments
and observations regarding their parish’s preparation for closing, with
particular attention to their difficulties, and offered the pastors the opportunity
to extend the closing date if that would be helpful to them. The other twelve
pastors who attended the November 11 meeting may contact the Archbishop if
there is a determination that they also wish to extend their parish closing
dates. In all cases the Archbishop desires to provide the assistance that will
help the parish community to make as calm, peaceful and prayerful a transition
as is possible.
Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Belmont, MA
Original Closing Date: November 18, 2004
New Closing Date: December 31, 2004
Pastor: Reverend James McGowan
Holy Trinity Parish, Lowell, MA
Original Closing Date: November 20, 2004
New Closing Date: April 3, 2005
Pastor: Reverend Msgr. Stanislaw Kempa
Sacred Heart Parish, Watertown, MA
Original Closing Date: November 22, 2004
New Closing Date: January 9, 2005
Pastor: Reverend Joseph Curran
St. Jeremiah Parish, Framingham, MA
Original Closing Date: December 1, 2004
New Closing Date: May 15, 2005
Pastor: Reverend Ronald G. Calhoun
Sacred Heart Parish, Lexington, MA
Original Closing Date: November 21, 2004
New Closing Date To Be Determined
Pastor: Reverend Arnold Colletti
St. Florence Parish, Wakefield, MA
Original Closing Date: November 27, 2004
New Closing Date To Be Determined
Pastor: Reverend H. Joseph Murphy
The reconfiguration of parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston began in January
of 2004, when there were 357 parishes divided into five regions. Since that
time, 47 parishes have closed and other parish communities have welcomed
those parishioners. When reconfiguration is completed, it is estimated that
83 parishes and 67 churches will have been closed, eight new parishes will
have been created and eight churches will remain open as worship sites. This
activity will result in 282 parishes and 290 churches serving the cities
and towns that comprise the Archdiocese of Boston.
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