Boisdale parishioners might end up hearing mass in the cemetery shed

Recently, St. Andrew’s Church in Boisdale was put on the “chopping block” — to be transformed, by next fall, to a seasonal summer chapel. I still can’t get my head around the idea of outsiders coming in and closing our community church.

In the early 1800s, Boisdale was (and remains) a tiny hamlet along the Bras d’Or Lake’s St. Andrew’s Channel. The practice was for communities of the faithful to get together and entice visiting French and Irish priests to sail to their areas for services. Their boats would be hauled up and flipped on their sides to give shelter from the winds as religious celebrations took place.

Later, as discussed in Prof. R.A. MacLean’s book “Piety & Politics,” local populations boomed, producing many religious leaders of both genders. Churches were built and parishes flourished throughout eastern Nova Scotia. A diocesan seat was set up first in Arichat and later in Antigonish. Much of the parish control was given over or assumed by the diocese. Today, with clerical numbers diminishing, one might wonder if a re- examination of power and control in church matters is needed.

In the late 1920s, our secondgeneration church burned down. Our pastor at the time, Rev. Michael Gillis, proposed that the 700 souls of the parish embark on a huge undertaking. They built a medium stone church at the height of the Depression. Hence, one can understand our reluctance to accept the diocesan pastoral planning committee’s recommendation. Whose church is it anyway? Was it not built in large part by Boisdalers?

I’m told that the control model used by the church has been an episcopal one. It implied control from Antigonish and ultimately Rome. However, now that many churches are facing possible closure, is it not conceivable that we might revert back to the missionary model that was prominent in the early 1800s?

Just because there is a shortage of priests, does that mean that there is a shortage of energy among parishioners who could chip in and assume more responsibilities?

Recently, parishioners in Boisdale found themselves in limbo. Our regular parish priest became unavailable to us for a time. We responded by building a strong, cohesive parish council based on democratic principles. The group wrestled with finances, maintenance, record keeping and other matters. It also spent a lot of attention revitalizing the cemetery.

If such a small parish as ours could accomplish this in such a short time, what resources could be realized from much larger parishes?

Despite the shortage of priests in recent times, we seem to be experiencing a surge in baby boomers either returning or moving to our areas, along with their pensions and energy. Can these resources be tapped in order to save our churches? True, there is a drop in attendance, especially among the youth. However, might a change in direction create a stepping stone for youth to return to the church, not only as parishioners, but even in leadership roles as well?

It seems that we need to look at two main areas.

First, we need to find ways to inspire parishioners in the diocese to take up the mantle and assist in church leadership and responsibilities. Revitalized parish councils might help with those efforts.

Second, we need to find ways to develop a missionary approach to the priest shortage problem. Perhaps there could be a college or professional bank of clerics who could be invited by parish councils to lead ministries. Priests, collectively, could be looked upon as a mobile professional group like doctors.

If that was the case, might clerics be expected to spend more time developing church leadership in its ministries as opposed to trying to balance cheque books and take care of other matters that might be assumed by parish councils?

A question of the quality of liturgy has been raised. The argument has been made that it might be better to promote liturgy where large groups can gather. The Last Supper would seem to be contrary to this argument.

Efficiencies have to be studied, but when worship means leaving our communities, does not parish allegiance diminish and its meaning for participants suffer?

Ultimately, whether or not St. Andrew’s Church survives should depend on the parishioners. It was 160 years ago that a handful of our forebears mortgaged their properties to finance our first St. Andrew’s Church. Recent improvements in the cemetery suggest that we can survive as an entity.

Now, if we can only keep the padlocks off our church doors. If not, perhaps our future cemetery co-op could use its maintenance shed as a staging area for religious celebration.