St. Therese Church on Broadway will be totally closed and shuttered and put up for sale according to the Vatican, which released news last week that a number of Massachusetts churchs where vigils have been held had finally been given a decision on their appeals.
The appeal to keep St. Therese open has run out.
It did not succeed.
What began in 2004, when the Boston Archdiocese closed it in 2004, has ended 7 years later.
There has been no heat or running water in the church since the boiler broke in 1984 and would have cost $50,000 to fix.
“It is sad news indeed that the battle has been lost,” said John Ricci, who in the early years of the vigil, had been one of the closed church’s most vocal advocates.
“All of us involved with the church always held out hope but now that hope is gone,” he added.
The various church buildings on the property have a total of about $2 million in valuation.
The Archdiocese has been paying taxes on a home situated on the property campus for the past five years.
Plans are incomplete right now.
It is assumed the church and its properties will be placed for sale in the coming months by the Archidocese.
View Comments (2)
RE: St. Therese's church .....
Even though we knew this would probably take place, it is so sad and upsetting. We fought the good fight; and I'm so proud that we of St. Therese's vigil were a part of Catholic History in the Boston area. Our vigil was conducted with dignity and proper respect for God's house. I believe all the vigils have had a positive impact on the Archdiocese's re-thinking of their 'suppression' of other churches they had on their list. It is time for the people in the pews (the real church) to be heard by the hierarchy. We may not always be right, but we are definitely a lot smarter and more knowledgeable of our church hierarchy and its workings than we were in 2004. Take nothing for granted and question, question, question and demand answers, no Catholic church is safe from 'suppression'. Lillian Goreham
A beautiful church and so sorry for your loss. You all stood up for what you believed and set a
noble example to the community. Now you will take with you knowlege and understanding about
the system and how it works that you formerly did not have to your new church homes. Try not
to be bitter, but do allow a time to mourn. Reflect upon the good that has come from this experience in
that God has developed character traits that may have gone unrecognized or used.
Pax