[Archive June 25, 2006]
St. Michael The Archangel Parish, a Polish parish of the Archdiocese of Boston, celebrated her Centennial earlier this year. At 2pm on Sunday June 25th it was suppressed as a parish as part of an Archdiocesan-wide “reconfiguration plan.” Here’s my post. One pass. No edits.
It is difficult to express in words the alternative society that St. Michael’s had nurtured for generations. Simply pointing to “Polish traditions and customs” does not go to the heart of this alternative society. The Eastern Spirituality although attenuated somewhat was still evident “to the end.” As a parish we are not perfect —because we are made up of men and women — and as every family we have our tensions and disagreements and so forth. However, the saying “blood is thicker than water”, not in ethnic terms, but in terms of our parish certainly can be readily applied. Charity, ora et labora, piety, family were built up and sustained.
The most important thing to learn as Catholics, in my estimation, is that the Triune God is a God of unity, peace, serenity and love. Today, which was for some a “devastating day”, was for others, a day of peace and serenity. I certainly don’t want to build us up by putting any other down — this is not my intention. However, I was once again so thankful for the grace and gift to be a Catholic.
As Catholics, we are not Episcopalians whereby the “bishops” run the church. We are not Presbyterians whereby “presbyters” run the church. We are not non-denominational whereby a local pastor “calls the shots” so to speak. As Catholics we are united to the local Bishop who is in communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Successor of Saint Peter. We have a clear line of authority which is liberating. Yes liberating, not oppressive! As Catholics we don’t answer to Scripture, we answer to the hierarchical authority that Our Lord willed for his Church.
(Authentic Catholic teachings, practices, and discipline are certainly in accord with God’s revealed Word both oral and written. Those who claim to answer to “scripture alone” … well we see the disunity that sadly results.)
The Catholic Church is much greater than an individual parish. Yes, the pain of a parish suppression is real indeed. If we were non-denominational or otherwise we would either go it alone during difficult times (lack of generous response to God’s callings, for example) or seek an affiliation with another community. Instead, we have other wonderful Catholic parishes to welcome our “new diaspora” and in some way “ease the pain” of a true loss.
Pastors have tried to anticipate this pain and ease it with foresight by reminding us that a “the church is not a building”, “the Church is a community of faith” or “the church is in your heart.” These sentiments are certainly well intended and are true if properly understood. However, as Catholics, we understand that “matter matters”. Our Lord used matter to heal (mud to heal the blind) and water for baptism, and bread and wine for the Holy Eucharist and so forth. With this in mind, it is not “superstition” or “lack of faith” that many would “cling” to a parish church. The local parish is a sacramental sign of Christ and of His Kingdom in this world. It is very edifying to see how deeply ingrained this sacramental dimension is in the life of Catholics through their “attachment” to a particular parish community.
Read local reporting: Tears, vigil mark last day for St. Michael's Church
Photo: St. Michael’s Class of 1944
Tags: Saint Michael, Lynn Massachusetts, Catholic, Polonia
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