Prayer Service at St. Rita’s Church tonight

Former parishioners of St. Rita’s
News Release

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On Thursday February 2, 2012 former parishioners of St. Rita’s will be gathering at 7:00 p.m. to pray devotional prayers to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

“We have been gathering here once a month for the past several months to pray,” says Benito Zimbalatti, one of four former parishioners who have appealed the decision to close the church to the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome. “We have been very happy to have friends from the former parishes of Corpus Christi and Ss. Anges join us.”

Recently, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie announced that it has received a response from the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome concerning the appeal against the closure and sale of the former churches of Corpus Christi and St. Rita in North Bay. According to the diocese's press release, the Congregation has not accepted the appeal.

The applicants have the right to appeal these decisions to the highest court of the Roman Catholic Church, the Apostolic Signatura.

“We have not yet seen the decree from the Congregation for the Clergy,” said Zimbalatti. “So we see no reason for us to stop praying. As believers, it is what we are called to do. And since this is a church, we are going to keep praying here.”

"All are welcome to attend,” he continued. “With a special welcome to all former members of St. Rita’s, Corpus Christi and Ss. Anges parishes, as well as all our other supporters from throughout the city.”

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