The Youngstown Diocese has announced the formal closure of St. Mary Church here – one of two church buildings for Conneaut Corpus Christi Parish.
“The decision formalizes previous parish planning which has emphasized excellent stewardship and flourishing parish programs, and is consistent with the parish’s current Mass schedule,” according to a diocesan press release.
Since 2020, St. Frances Cabrini Church has served as Corpus Christi’s primary worship site.
On Jan. 6, Bishop David Bonnar received a petition from Father Raymond Thomas, Corpus Christi’s pastor, and Nicholas Perkoski, pastoral associate – in concert with the parish’s pastoral and finance councils – that St. Mary Church be formally closed, the press release notes.
In accord with Church law, the petition was considered by the diocesan presbyteral council on Jan. 10. Bishop Bonnar then approved the presbyteral council’s recommendation and issued a formal decree, according to the press release.
The decision was announced Feb. 5, the press release notes, in a letter from Bishop Bonnar to Corpus Christi parishioners, read at the parish’s Mass.
The decision to close St. Mary Church follows a discernment process by the parish’s pastoral and finance councils over several years, which prioritized parish ministries and programs, according to the press release.
Father Thomas, Perkoski and council members noted that deferred maintenance costs for St. Mary Church were not financially feasible, the press release points out, and that the cost of supporting two church buildings would negatively affect the parish’s ability to continue to grow parish ministries.
They also noted that while parish financial giving has stabilized since the pandemic, increased financial costs should be limited to one church building.
Additionally, Mass attendance has not returned to pre-pandemic numbers and there has been a decline in the general population as well as in parish membership, according to the press release.
As part of the regionalization plan for Catholic parishes in Ashtabula County, Corpus Christi Parish now has one parish Mass – celebrated at St. Frances Cabrini.
This alignment, the press release noted, reflects similar changes throughout the county to most effectively make use of the limited number of priests, respond to Mass attendance numbers, and schedule liturgies.
Bishop Bonnar will celebrate a closing Mass 11 a.m. April 16 at St. Mary, which will be the parish’s Mass for the weekend. Following Mass, Bishop Bonnar will lead a Eucharistic Holy Hour at St. Frances Cabrini at 1 p.m., which was already scheduled as part of the diocesan Eucharistic Revival.
In his letter to parishioners, Bishop Bonnar wrote: “It is always sad when a church building closes because it holds so many memories. One of my responsibilities as bishop is to ensure that our history is preserved and artifacts are treated with reverence and respect.
“Accordingly, I have directed our diocesan Office of Patrimony to catalog and preserve sacred objects from St. Mary Church and work with Father Thomas and your pastoral leadership to determine an appropriate use,” the bishop’s letter explains.
The diocesan archives is led by Joan Lawson, chancellor and diocesan archivist, and the diocesan Office of Patrimony is directed by Father David Misbrener.
Bishop Bonnar added: “While our church buildings are precious to us, the First Letter of St. Peter reminds us that we are all ‘living stones.’”
St. Mary Parish and St. Frances Cabrini Parish were merged in 2008 into one parish. It was renamed Corpus Christi Parish in 2013.
For the official decree go to
www.doy.org/official
For the official decree go to
