Home About Archives RSS Feed

Time Magazine Records Parishioners' Fight

Staff Reports

www.randytrabold.com
Youngsters in Polish costume enter St. Stanislaus Church in this file photo.

The battle to keep St. Stan's open received national attention in this week's issue of Time Magazine. The story, "Postcard: Adams," is featured in the magazine's print and online publications for Jan. 8

Reporter Stefanie Friedhoff interviewed several people leading the vigil at the Adams, Mass., church, including Fran Hajdas and Hank Tomkowicz. She also speaks to Council of Parishes leader Peter Borre, who has been advising the church's members on conducting their vigil and appeal of the closure.

Likening the church's closing to a death in the family, Monsignor John Bonzagni, the Springfield Diocese's director of pastoral planning, told
Friedhoff that "If the parishioners at St. Stan's need to mourn this way, we will do nothing to interfere."

For the Time photo slideshow, click here.


Posted 12:55, Jan. 9, 2009

     

Support Local News

We show up at hurricanes, budget meetings, high school games, accidents, fires and community events. We show up at celebrations and tragedies and everything in between. We show up so our readers can learn about pivotal events that affect their communities and their lives.

How important is local news to you? You can support independent, unbiased journalism and help iBerkshires grow for as a little as the cost of a cup of coffee a week.

News Headlines
MountainOne Spreads Holiday Cheer with Berkshire Food Project
Veteran Spotlight: Air Force Sgt. J. Richard St. Pierre
Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest Opens for Submissions
Brayton Elementary and Berkshire Museum Bring Mobile Museum Units to Second Grade
Williamstown Police Looking for Suspects After Cole Avenue Shooting
Pittsfield Firefighters Battle Early Morning Blaze in Extreme Cold
Berkshire Public Health Nurses Launches Newsletter
BRTA Announces New Pilot Pittsfield Paratransit Evening Service
MassDOT: South County Construction Operations
Holiday Hours: Christmas & New Year's
 
Appeals Process
Parishes have some options to protest their closings.

Appeal to the bishop within 10 days of a decree of suppres-
sion or merger. He's got 30 days to get back to you - or not. 

 

 

 

If the answer is still no, the parish then has 10 days to appeal to the Congregation of Clergy in Rome. They could take years to respond and usually back the bishop.

All is not lost. The next step is to appeal to the Apostolic Signatory, the Vatican's "supreme court." It is headed by St. Louis' former Archbishop Raymond Burke, who leans conservative.
If the first appeal for a hearing fails, the last step is a plea to the full bench of the signatory. The process can cost thousands.
Stories

Bishop Hopes Closings Reinvigorate Parishes

Bosley Wants More Dialogue on Church Closings

Parishioners Seek Solution to Save St. Stan's

Parishioners Set Vigil to Save St. Stan's

St. Stan's Closes With
Tears and Defiance


St. Stan's Hopes for Strength in Numbers

St. Stan's Pins Prayers on Mediation Request

 

 

 

 



Categories:
Boston (3)
coverage (4)
diocese (9)
event (5)
parish (5)
related stories (2)
Rome (6)
update (12)
Archives:
Tags:
Closing Council Of Churches Appeals Christmas Marians Trabold Tomkowitz Deicision New Orleans Republican Apostolic Signatura Vigil Decision Opening Divine Mercy Appeal Anniversary Borre Reopening Time Thanksgiving Hajdas Congregation Of Clergy Ruling Decision Decree
Popular Entries:
Vigil's Anniversary Topic of Republican Column
Diocese Says Vatican Upholds Closure of St. Stan's
Vigils End in New Orleans
St. Stan Vigilers Hope Prayers Answered
Time Magazine Records Parishioners' Fight
St. Stan's Vigil to Mark Two Years
Pontiff Rejects Boston Parish Appeals
St. Stan's Announces Church Is Saved
Diocese Releases Statement on St. Stan's Ruling
St. Stanislaus Church To Reopen
Recent Entries:
St. Stanislaus Reopens For Palm Sunday Mass
St. Stanislaus Church To Reopen
Diocese Says Vatican Upholds Closure of St. Stan's
Diocese, Vigilers Appeal Ruling on St. Stan's
Diocese Releases Statement on St. Stan's Ruling
First Western Hemisphere Divine Mercy Images Still at St. Stan's
St. Stan Vigilers Hope Prayers Answered
St. Stan's Announces Church Is Saved
Pontiff Rejects Boston Parish Appeals
St. Stan's Vigil to Mark Two Years