Vatican rejects appeal to keep Mass. parishes open

BOSTON -- The Vatican has rejected a final appeal to keep 10 local parishes open.

The rejection came from the highest authority for parishioner appeals at the Vatican.

The move comes despite parishioners at three of the ten churches staging round-the-clock sit-ins for more than five years.

The archdiocese announced the closings back in 2004, citing falling attendance, a priest shortage and financial problems.

Until an official notice in writing from the Vatican is received, the archdiocese says they do not wish to comment on the decision.

According to the Council of Parishes, the churches that will close are:

-- St. Francis Cabrini, Scituate

-- St. James the Great, Wellesley

-- St. Jeremiah, Framingham

-- St. Jeanne d'Arc, Lowell

-- Infant Jesus/St Lawrence, Brookline

-- Star of the Sea, Quincy

-- Our Lady of Lourdes, Revere

-- St. Michael the Archangel, Lynn

-- Sacred Heart, Natick

-- St. Anselm, Sudbury

St. Francis Cabrini in Scituate, St. James the Great in Wellesley and St. Jeremiah in Framingham have been holding the round-the-clock vigils since 2005.

"I think you have to look at the vigils as really living proof that the parishioners have said, listen, no more abuse. We've drawn a line in the sand and said this ends here. We're not going to stand for physical, spiritual or financial abuse on any level," said John Rodgers, a spokesperson for St. Francis Cabrini.

"I own my faith the archdiocese didn't give it to me, they can't take it...If you go to any vigil communities you'll see their faith is stronger than it has ever been," said Suzanne Hurley, spokesperson for St. James in Wellesley.

Parishioners at St. Francis Cabrini vowed Monday to keep their fight going despite the Vatican's decision. They added that there was no problem with attendance. Some feel their churches were singled out unfairly.

"You have young families returning to the church more so than other churches. We had growth! Others in town didn't, but we were closed. They weren't," said Kathleen Daly, a parishioner.

St. Francis Cabrini parishioners own around 30 acres of property in the area. They have said they will give the archdiocese 25 acres in order to keep the church and its parking lot open. Parishioners are even looking into further appeals and possibly paying the archdiocese to keep the church from closing.

"I was mad as you know what the way they closed this church. The deception that was used, the lies. It's just not right," said Barbara Nappa, another parishioner.

Parishioners declared that while they may be upset with the hierarchy, this incident has not shaken their faith.

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