File photo Corpus Christi closing mass. A loyal BayToday today reader informs us that YES Employment will be moving from their temp location on Stockdale Ave.
File photo Corpus Christi closing mass.A loyal BayToday today reader informs us that YES Employment will be moving from their temp location on Stockdale Ave. to a new temp location at Corpus Christi in April, as their new digs on Main Street won't be ready when the lease runs out on the Stockdale location.
Former parishes of St. Rita and Corpus Christi
News Release
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On Wednesday March 9, members of the former parishes of St. Rita and Corpus Christi in North Bay Ontario sent letters to His Eminence Mauro Cardinal Piacenza, Pro-Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy requesting that he declares invalid and revoke decrees to relegate their church buildings to secular use and sold which were issued by Bishop Jean-Louis Plouffe of the Diocese of Sault Ste.
Marie on December 31, 2010 and came into effect on January 3, 2011
They had hoped to avoid taking this step but after two meetings with Church officials, including Bishop Plouffe, in the last 2 months they concluded that further dialogue would not lead to resolution of this matter. Not satisfied that their rights as Catholic Faithful were being upheld, they issued letters (dated 22 February 2011) to Bishop
Plouffe formally asking him to revoke his decision and to suspend the effects of the decrees.
Subsequently, Bishop Plouffe responded on 27 February stating: "The decree reducing the church building to secular or profane use was issued in a valid manner and it is not my intention to revoke it or modify it." He goes on to say "that even though I am rejecting your request for reconsideration, your eventual recourse to the Holy See
does not suspend the effects of the decree ... Of course, you have every right to continue the process of recourse. However, as noted above, it is not my intention to suspend or revoke the effects of the decree of suppression and reduction to secular use."
Accordingly, the petitioner groups from both parishes have undertaken the process of recourse to the Holy See.
A third appeal launched by former members of Paroisse Ss. Anges received the same response but in their case the petitioners have decided to not continue their appeal to the Congregation for the Clergy for personal reasons only.
Here are some highlights of the letters sent to Cardinal Piacenza:
1) Each group contends that the Bishop has not met the criteria as outlined in church law which would legitimately allow him to let the churches be used for secular purposes and sold.
2) Because of this, the representatives of Corpus Christi state in their appeal that sale of Corpus Christi is an illicit act - according to the laws of the church - and the transaction must be reversed.
3) Thus, it is clear to both groups that any attempt by Bishop Plouffe to sell the Church of St. Rita will also be an invalid act. Since this is the case, it only stands to reason that St. Rita's Church must therefore be immediately re-opened to the Faithful for the worship of God and the consolation of God's people.
a. Such a move will be consistent with recent decisions rendered by the Congregation for the Clergy in Vatican City in a number of similar cases which state that the churches of the suppressed parishes in question are to remain in use for divine worship.
b. The authors of the appeal for Corpus Christi - and the
original petitioners from Ss. Anges - support the re-opening of St. Rita's Church as part of the means to vindicate their rights as members of the Catholic Faithful of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie.
4) The representatives of St. Rita's go further and request that all the religious articles that have been removed from the church be restored, as well as all other assets, including the financial assets of St. Rita's parish, must be returned for the care and maintenance
of the Church of St. Rita.
"We want to emphasize our appeal of these decrees should not in any way be interpreted as denigrating the legitimate authority of Bishop Plouffe as Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie nor should our actions be interpreted as a sign of disunity with him," says Phillip
Penna, former chairperson of the Corpus Christi parish pastoral council. "We are merely seeking the assistance of our superiors in the Vatican to help end this controversy between ourselves and Bishop Plouffe. In good faith, he maintains that he has met the requirements of Church law. In good faith, we maintain that he has not. Since we were unable to come to a common understanding on the matter, we feel we have no choice but to exercise our rights as outlined in the Code of Canon Law and seek the assistance from the Congregation for the Clergy to bring clarity for all those affected by these decrees."
They have opened a bank account so that people can make financial contributions to help pay for the services of a Canon lawyer. As well, they will be organizing a public rally and prayer service for Sunday March 20 at 1:30 p.m.. which they intend to hold outside of the Church of St. Rita.
Those interested in supporting these efforts can find all relevant information and Copies of the letters of appeal have been posted at the website
http://home.cogeco.ca/~ppenna/For further information, please contact Phillip Penna at 705.474.1769
mail to:
[email protected]>
[email protected] or
Benito Zimbalatti 705.840.5157
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