Parishioners of St. Brigid's Church in Lowertown are examining whether they should introduce some earthly tactics, in the form of protests and legal action, in their battle to get Archbishop Marcel Gervais to overturn his decision to sell the 116-year-old Roman Catholic church.

A number of professionals, including some lawyers, have already offered their services

to the congregation, Marilyn Donoghue, chairwoman of the church's parish pastoral council, said.

"It is an option," Mrs. Donoghue said yesterday as she sat in the church basement, a few dozen Filipino prayer group members holding hands and singing behind her.

However, she downplayed the suggestion and said a number of other options, including protests and vigils in front of the archdiocese's offices, as well as help from political leaders, are still available, all of which will be discussed by council members on Wednesday.

"We're not running off to hire a lawyer," Mrs. Donoghue said. "We have to point out to the archbishop that there is a need for a serious rethink."

Two weeks ago, Archbishop Gervais announced he was planning to close the Murray Street church, which is recognized and protected as a heritage site by the province and city, over the next year and sell it because he could not justify spending money to repair the building's roof.

About $140,000 is needed to repair the church's roof, which Mrs. Donoghue said needs to be done before the winter. Renovations to the rest of the church, which are estimated to cost between $1.8 million and $2.4 million, can be spread out over the long term.

The decision was an about-turn for the archbishop, who in June 2005 had told the congregation the church would stay open after parishioners paid off $126,000 in back taxes to the archdiocese and had raised enough money to cover their $200,000 annual operating costs.

St. Brigid's parishioner and corporate lawyer Patrick Murray said the congregation will have to weigh all its options, but he said he has offered to investigate ways to save the church within the legal system.

"If there is a way, we are going to pursue it," Mr. Murray said yesterday. "There may be precedents out there that will help us, but there are probably many that will go against us. I think we're taking a look outside the box."

Rather than questioning what moral obligations the archdiocese may have to keep the church open, Mr. Murray said he will be looking at whether closing St. Brigid's will contradict some of the conditions set down by the city and province when they declared the church a heritage site.

For many of the church's Filipino members, Archbishop Gervais's announcement was deeply disheartening, considering they had only recently been displaced from Our Lady of Perpetual Health Church when it was closed in September.

In a letter sent to the parish yesterday, the archbishop affirmed his commitment to selling the church and amalgamating the majority of its parishioners into the nearby Notre-Dame Cathedral -- St. Brigid's "parish of origin" -- over the next year.

While many of the congregation will be moved to the cathedral, Archbishop Gervais said St. Brigid's current priest, Rev. Pedro Arana, will be moved to Assumption Parish in Vanier and Filipino members will be able to continue worshipping there.

Art Cuenco, vice-chairman of the church's parish pastoral council and the Philippine pastoral council, said many of the congregation's Filipino members were offended by Archbishop Gervais's decision and apparent disregard for their place in the St. Brigid's community.

He suspected parishioners may be forced to appeal to Catholic officials above Archbishop Gervais, including all the way to the Vatican.

"We are disappointed in the leaders," Mr. Cuenco said. "I think we will have to go above the archbishop. He doesn't seem to listen."