Parishioners near Montreal to decide on church closures
Catholic diocese opts to let congregations address their fate
The packed holiday masses that took place as scheduled in the St-Antoine and Ste-Paule churches north of Montreal seemed extra special this year, given that a few months ago it looked like they might not happen at all.
That’s because the churches were two of more than 30 that were on a list to be considered for closure as part of the Diocese of St-Jerome’s tentative plan to radically slash its 54 churches by more than half.
But amid the uproar that followed in the early months of 2018, the diocese reversed course and is now trying a different experiment: letting the congregations decide their own futures. Bishop Raymond Poisson, brought in from the neighbouring Joliette diocese this summer to help manage the file, said the fact remains that there are too many church buildings and not enough worshippers.
However, he admitted the original committee’s plan to unilaterally close and sell off churches — with no input from members — was a mistake.
“These buildings are filled with emotions,” he said.
Poisson said no churches will be closed without the community’s consent.
Instead, the diocese is asking each parish to provide building inspections and repair estimates for each church, as well as a report on attendance and finances.
These reports, he said, will be shared with the community, who will collectively decide whether to close and merge with another church or develop a plan to stay open.
Poisson said rumours of impending closures saw congregations and local communities forming citizens’ groups and brainstorming to find solutions.
Gauthier Elleme, the priest at St-Antoine and Ste-Paule’s churches, believes the threat of closures was a wake-up call. “The parishioners were shocked, because they saw the churches were closing, but at the same time they saw there was a problem,” says Elleme, who helps co-ordinate activities in four parishes.
In response to the bishop’s challenge, Elleme said the churches are looking at ways to raise revenue, including renting out rooms and forming more partnerships with community organizations.