Viola Smith, a parishioner of St. Brigid's church since her baptism 93 years ago, sat in a front pew yesterday at the final
mass and deconsecration of the 118-year-old Lowertown parish.
"I'm very saddened," said Miss Smith, a retired foreign service officer. "I was thinking of the people who worked so hard
in the 1930s and 1940s to keep it going when the boys were overseas."
Her niece, Carol Smith, wiped away tears during the Catholic service. "It's very emotional. It's been part of our lives
for so long."
About 450 people lined the pews. They prayed, sang hymns, took communion and even heckled when church administrator Msgr.
Kevin Beach read a decree saying that "St. Brigid's parish ceases to exist."
Hissing and a cry of "Nonsense!" greeted his statement that "since substantial sums of money have already been spent on
the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral and of St. Patrick's Basilica, it is not advisable ... to spend substantial sums of
money on the restoration of St. Brigid's church."
Parishioners were told they now belong either to Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica or Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish.
"We gather today to give thanks to God for the 118 years that St. Brigid's Parish has served the people of Lowertown, New
Edinburgh, Manor Park, Lindenlea and Rockcliffe Park," Archbishop Terrence Prendergast said.
"While there is sadness in the closing of this parish, we can be grateful for all that it has meant. This is a time of
grief for what is lost and it is a time of remembering, and a time to give thanksgiving for what will always remain with us,"
he said.
"Although this is our last celebration in this church building, we recognize that we are part of a community that transcends
building walls or parish boundaries. ... What we believe cannot be limited by bricks and mortar."
Archbishop Prendergast presided over the final mass, assisted by six priests in white robes, including former pastors of
St. Brigid's.
A 20-person choir, accompanied by organ, trumpets, violin and tambourines, provided beautiful music in a fine interior
decorated with frescoes, woodwork, statues and stained glass windows.
The Irish Harp Choir took part, and Irish ambassador Declan Kelly
attended.
"It's a people church," said Judy Hardwick-Kelly, a 45-year-old teacher. "It's very homey. We're not into the glitz. It
doesn't matter who you are. You don't have to put on the finery to come."
Parishioners fought to keep the church open after former archbishop Marcel Gervais decided in 2006 to close and sell it.
The archdiocese had said it couldn't justify spending $140,000 on roof repairs
Renovations to the rest of the church, located at the corner of St. Patrick and Cumberland streets, have been estimated
to cost between $1.8 million and $2.4 million.
Some believe the real agenda is to move much-needed parishioners to Notre Dame.
Earlier this year, parishioners filed an unsuccessful application for a judicial review of the decision, and last week
sent a letter to the Vatican in hopes of an 11th-hour reprieve.
"It's a sad day for our community," Pat Gillin, whose family has worshipped at St. Brigid's for 30 years, told the congregation.
"We are grieving our loss. We wonder how this all came about when you see so many people."
There was applause when Mr. Gillin said he would not stay for the deconsecration ceremony, which took place at the end
of the service.
During the ritual, the clergy walked to various areas of the church, such as the confessional and the baptismal font, and
offered prayers of thanks.
"This is the worst day of my life," said Steven Rose, a 42-year-old business development consultant.
"I found God here. My children are fifth-generation parishioners. We had fun here. I felt safe here. I'm so sad the archdiocese
didn't have the vision to maintain a place like this."
However, Mr. Rose said he was pleased the church would be sold to the Irish Society of the National Capital Region, which
plans to turn it into an Irish-Canadian cultural centre. Churchgoers had feared the building would be turned into condominiums.
The $450,000 sale is to be finalized this week.
"It's a beautiful fit," said funeral home owner Brian McGarry, chairman of the St. Brigid's heritage coalition.
"There are so many inner-city churches at risk. We feel this is a creative example of how to maintain heritage."
Mostly built by Irish Catholics, the church opened Aug. 3, 1889, when English-speaking parishioners of Notre Dame Cathedral
wanted a separate parish in Lowertown.
It was named after Ireland's female patron saint. In 1981, the City of Ottawa gave it heritage status.
© The Ottawa Citizen 2007
