Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield MA announced that Our Lady of the Rosary will be shutting its doors after 9:00 mass on January 28, 2018.
A church, school, rectory and sisters of Nazareth living quarters built by Polish immigrants in 1917. 100 years ago, these institutions have withstood storms, fires and changing populations until Dec. 30, 2017. The hurricanes of 1938, 1955 and the fire of the whole church in 1964.
The numbers of parishioners have declined but the funds are still there for the oil, air conditioning fund, The Rev John Skowronski funds as well as building, improvement and other funds for the future of the parish. Not to mention the referral to the monthly magazine the Catholic Mirror. The subscription list is provided by the pastor of your parish. Who will refer these lost parishioners?
My family has been members since 1917. My grandfather was in the Men’s Solidarity Society and my grandmother in the Holy Rosary Solidarity. My mother spent all our childhood from 1956 involved in the PTA and other parish social units.
Myself, my brother and sister were schooled and received the sacraments from the school and church. My grandparents and parents had last rites from the priests and pastors through the years as well as funeral and cemetery services at the end by the church of Our Lady of the Rosary.
I graduated in 1966 with many others that still stay in touch through social media and at church functions as shown in the 100th anniversary mass and celebration a few months ago.
In the article the parish council asked about outstanding fund and a few great sizable donations by deceased members.
Can the city of Springfield new Community Preservation Committee help in remaking the school and buildings into senior living for people of Polish descent? Maybe discussion should be opened to the city council and the CPC to save the majority of 100 years of Springfield History. At least it will not just sit on a corner like Our Lady of Hope.
Michael Gossman
Springfield
