Bishop Plouffe announces church closures

Bishop Jean- Louis Plouffe Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie
News Release

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Following the parish reorganization process launched last November to revitalize and renew parish life, and after much consultation, prayer and reflection, Bishop Jean-Louis Plouffe of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie wishes to announce the following:

In the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Blessed Sacrament will close by December 31, 2010 or before. The church building and rectory will be put up for sale. Catholics living in the geographical area of Blessed Sacrament will now be served by Precious Blood Cathedral for the east side of Carmen’s Way and St. Gregory’s Parish for the west side of Carmen’s Way.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel will close by December 31, 2010 or before, with consideration being given to the 100th anniversary celebration of the parish on the weekend of October 16 and 17, 2010.

St. Joseph the Worker and St. Andrew Bobola parishes will cease to exist and a new parish will be founded with a new patron saint chosen by the parishioners. This parish will serve all Catholics living within the geographical area served by St. Joseph the Worker and all Catholics of Polish descent living in the City of Sault Ste. Marie. The church building and rectory of St. Joseph the Worker will
be put up for sale. The new community will celebrate the birth of their new parish this Christmas 2010 in the existing Church of St. Andrew Bobola.

The ongoing contribution of the Croatian Franciscans of Chicago, who have assumed pastoral ministry at Our Lady of the Highways since its foundation, will allow the parish to remain open at this time.

In Sturgeon Falls, the parishes of La Résurrection and Sacré-Coeur will cease to exist and a new parish will be founded with a new patron saint chosen by the parishioners. The church building and rectory of La Résurrection will be put up for sale. The new community will celebrate the birth of their new parish this Christmas 2010 in the existing Church of Sacré-Coeur.

In North Bay, the parishes of Ss. Anges and St-Vincent-de-Paul will cease to exist and a new parish will be founded with a new patron saint chosen by the parishioners. The church building of Ss. Anges will be put up for sale. The new community will celebrate the birth of their new parish this Christmas 2010 in the existing Church of St-Vincent-de-Paul.

Results of the parish reorganization process involving the English parishes of the Sudbury and North Bay regions and French parishes of the Sudbury/Algoma region being reviewed will be announced in the near future to allow for further consultation.

Bishop Plouffe states: “These decisions were not easy and I realize that some will be hurt and disappointed. I am convinced that this reorganization will allow us to better respond to the pastoral needs of today. We will succeed if each of us remains open to the Holy Spirit who, alone can build a true Church community and make it a source of life and a new beginning for all.”

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