SAVE ST BRIGID’S BULLETIN #11
July
10th , 2006
EMERGENCY MEETING
The meeting
opened with a prayer for our meeting, its success and the Archbishop.
Chairs
remarks
The
Chair thanked the parishioners for coming on such short notice. The meeting was
called, as we are now in the position when we must move forward quickly, it is the middle of summer; and we have very little
time left. Messrs. Cuenco, Gillin, and Valiquette and Donoghue met with Msgr.
Beach on July 7th, and after 1½ hours of placing our case before the Vicar General, he responded that he would
brief the Archbishop, but the decision will not be changed. We put forward a
business plan that sought to maintain the status quo i.e. Father Arana would stay as would the Filipinos, until such time
as the building was sold, which could be upwards of a year. We explained that Father was considering retirement in approx.1½
years. We also asked for right of first refusal on the sale of the property. We cleared up the misrepresentation of the facts, i.e we are a viable community, and
the building is not crumbling. The Vicar General acknowledged both. He also said it was not because of a shortage of priests. He
gave three reasons: 1. The Basilica is changing to a bilingual church. They need parishioners and dollars. 2. The closure of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was difficult but the Archdiocese has too many buildings and
there is no need for St. Brigid’s, and 3. The addition of another restoration
(St. Patrick’s is $3.5 to 4.0 M) to inner city churches. The overall
expenditures of upwards of $17M are too high. When pointed out it was not their
money, but parishioners who give, it made no difference. They wanted visibility
of their plan and it must occur in August. When asked to extend the placement of the priests, the Vicar General stated that
a Canonical Decree will be issued on the departure of both, and it will amalgamate St. Brigid’s with the Cathedral.
The Archbishop’s attitude and insensitivity and his denial of any personal contact with St. Brigid’s or its parishioners
are disturbing and shocking. Reluctantly we have no alternative but to take legal
action. (The Vicar General’s and Archbishop responses are included in the
bulletin)
Legal
Counsel
Mr. Jason Dutrizac representing Gibson MacLaren, explained that the Application
to the Courts was about to be filed. Precedence had been established in the Cornwall case recently concluded. The application would be thorough,
as there is lots of law to cover, and the final issue was to clarify the canon law from civil law. It should be set for this
weekend. The name of Frank Morrissey was given from St. Paul’s University.
Dolores
Cruz expressed in passionate terms that we were going to fight this all the way. We
are a caring community, loving and warm, but we are losing the battle. We must
take it to the street and the public. Father is obliged to obey, but the Filipinos
do not have to leave. They could stand with the rest of us. The Archbishop is breaking up the community and we will not
let him do it. We do not fit in with the Basilica.
Communications
The
press release will be issued at the same time or following the filing in the courts.
It must be carefully worded, tell our story, precise with substance., with key words and phases, introducing the human
interest the family, and the caring community. Once released it is no longer
ours to control. It will be issued possibly in a press conference with newspapers,
radio, and television in a broad range of media for maximum exposure. We can
no longer suffer in silence. The Catholic New Times will be doing an article
shortly.
Many
comments followed: Can we have a ‘Praise Festival Mass’, outside
on the church steps?.
Should
we picket and carry placards? Can we have a Chalk event, and paint up the street
with our comments and suggestions?
Alternative
Options
We
need to seek alternative options. It was suggested we consider renting space
in Lowertown and hire a priest for our masses. The church and its parishioners
will be a huge community loss and the important element is to stay together as a community.
All agreed and some options will be looked into.
THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD WEDNESDAY JULY 19TH AT 7:30 IN THE HALL
