Ralph Celentano stands beside the stained glass window Sunday following the final mass at St. Rita's Church on Douglas Street. His grandparents who were members of St. Rita's donated the glass many years ago.
Ralph Celentano stands beside the stained glass window Sunday following the final mass at St. Rita's Church on Douglas Street. His grandparents who were members of St. Rita's donated the glass many years ago.
“It’s a very sad occasion,” that is how Reverend Terry O'Connor along with the rest of the congregation who attended St. Rita’s for the final mass described the event on Sunday.
Last November the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie under Bishop Jean-Louis Plouffe went through a parish reorganization process where churches across the region examined their present and future viability and as a result of the studies it was announced that St. Rita and Corpus Christi would close by December 31, 2010.
At St. Rita’s on Douglas Street, as well as the Corpus Christi, the decision was not met with a warm embrace and many opted to forgo the final mass but for many who did attend they say it offered them a warm arm of support.
“My parents were married here; I was baptised, first communion, first confession, confirmation, and I was married here so my boys were baptised here and I’ve been a member of St. Rita’s CWL (Catholic Women’s League) for 37 years,” explains Brenda Passmore, 68, who has attended St. Rita’s all her life.
In fact she was the church secretary for 18 years before retiring and says despite her rich history with the church she understands things change.
“I’ve gotten past it (the closing) while a lot of them haven’t. Up in the choir we had a few ladies that had a hard time.”
“I’ve gone beyond it and I’ve just said it’s a done deal nothing is going to change it but it was nice that they had a closing. I even brought my husband with me and he doesn’t go to church.”
Barbara Castrilli, who is the current church secretary, is quick to point out that the final mass celebration was in no way a celebration of the closing, but rather like at a funeral an opportunity to seek comfort.
“I have been here for 47 years, I got married at St. Rita’s I’ve only been the secretary for 4 years now and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
“It’s really sad it’s a sad time for all of us, but I think that we have to realise that the church isn’t full anymore, that the young people aren’t coming -- they come for Christmas, Easter, whatever then the church is full but the rest of the year it is not full. And I think it is a hard decision for anybody to make to close a church … it’s a very hard decision.”
“And a lot of people have said to me they’re not coming to church anymore, they’re (were) not coming to the final mass, and I said to them we have to be there for each other, we have to support each other, we’ve been together, for some people more than 60 years you know some have been here for the 97 years, and it’s a time to help each other deal with the sorrow that we are feeling with the emotions that are there.”
“I think that it’s sad that they didn’t think that way because for me I’m glad I’m here, I’m glad that I see all the people that are here that are supporting each other and I think the people aren’t here are missing out on a lot.”
She says further down the road many who didn’t attend the final mass will regret it as final event was an important opportunity for the church family to come together one last time and be together as the congregation will be split up.
“Some (people) are not going to go to church which is a sad, sad thing for them because you need God in your life … you really do because without God there is nothing, there is absolutely nothing,” she states.
“Whether they came or not the church is closing unfortunately, that is the way it is, but I think the ‘we’ who did come are happy that we did as sad as it is.”
“I feel bad for those who couldn’t find it in their hearts to be with us and to be thankful for what we had … not for what is happening -- we’re not thankful for what is happening to us, we’re thankful for what we had here and for the people and camaraderie and for all the things that we’ve gone through good or bad. And I think that is why we needed to be here.”
“The tears are not very far away,” said Reverend Terry O'Connor.
O’Connor also has a rich history with Saint Rita’s and says it was a difficult time preparing for the day especially as he hasn’t been assigned to another parish, but says he just tried to offer solace for everyone in the congregation.
“It tried to just go on with life and it’s hard.”
“I was baptised in this church, I studied my catechism in this church, I’ve been assigned to the parish for 10 years.”
“They’re great people here.”
The next week will see members of the congregation packing up artefacts, cleaning and returning items to families and delivering other items to various parishes in the community.
