SUMMARY OF LETTER AND PETITION TO BISHOP LENNON
Many parishioners are not in agreement with the proposed renovations at St. Christopher Church in Rocky River. The following is a summary of a letter of 10 points sent to Bishop Lennon on behalf of the 200 plus people who signed a petition for the bishop to make a serious review of these proposals:
1. The church has already been renovated in 1986 according to what was considered appropriate to celebrate the liturgy after Vatican II. Why is there a need for endless renovations?
2. Our tabernacle reserves the Blessed Sacrament in the most "noble, prominent, readily visible, beautifully decorated place and suitable for prayer", as directed in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. Moving it elsewhere would make it less prominent, less readily visible, less beautifully decorated and less suitable for prayer. It would be unseen in a the corner or out of sight and forgotten in the prayer room.
3. There is no clamor from the parish community to make these renovations or to remove the tabernacle from where it is now. We can find no one who finds its placement not suitable for prayer as the Belltower Beacon article indicates. Even if that were true, a few parishioners displeasure with its placement does not justify dismantling it to another place.
4. If there is confusion as to why the tabernacle is in the sanctuary then it is the pastor's responsibility to clear up the confusion and properly catechize his parishioners--not dismantle the tabernacle and move it. The tabernacle houses the Most Blessed Sacrament--the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We believe this mystery as Catholics. We are not confused!
5. There is absolutely NO document that has any canonical authority(that is, coming from Rome or the Vatican or the Pope) that mandates any of these changes. The quotes used in the Belltower Beacon article from the G.I.R.M., which does have canonical approval, are FRAGMENTARY and taken out of context.
6. Removing the side altars of Mary and Joseph and placing the statues in a "Holy Family" side niche obscures and lessons the visible signs of piety that the faithful practice. The statues of St. Christopher and The Sacred Heart have not been addressed. Where are they going? In the basement?
7. Placing an immersible bapstismal font in the middle of the main aisle is impractical and unneeded. This is a Romanesque, Processional Church. It becomes an OBSTACLE as the priest PROCESSES into the church. It's also a hazard to small children and the handicapped. and may also be a fire hazard, making it difficult for people to get out of the church if such a tragedy occurred.
8. Tying in this renovation project with the capital campaign to retire a 1.2 million dollar debt and gym expansion forces parishioners to contribute to a renovation project even if they want to contribute to the first two concerns and not the renovation. This is totally unfair.
9. Built of Living Stones, the document from which most of these changes are based, again has no canonical authority. It does state in paragraph 75 however that " it will be important for all those involved to know what specific directives or guidelines the diocesan bishop has issued." The parish knows of no such guidelines or even if they exist!
10. There is no unanimous agreement from the "Art and Architecture committee" on these changes yet it is implied that these are their unanimous recommendations.
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Many parishioners are not in agreement with the proposed renovations at St. Christopher Church in Rocky River. The following is a summary of a letter of 10 points sent to Bishop Lennon on behalf of the 200 plus people who signed a petition for the bishop to make a serious review of these proposals:
1. The church has already been renovated in 1986 according to what was considered appropriate to celebrate the liturgy after Vatican II. Why is there a need for endless renovations?
2. Our tabernacle reserves the Blessed Sacrament in the most "noble, prominent, readily visible, beautifully decorated place and suitable for prayer", as directed in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. Moving it elsewhere would make it less prominent, less readily visible, less beautifully decorated and less suitable for prayer. It would be unseen in a the corner or out of sight and forgotten in the prayer room.
3. There is no clamor from the parish community to make these renovations or to remove the tabernacle from where it is now. We can find no one who finds its placement not suitable for prayer as the Belltower Beacon article indicates. Even if that were true, a few parishioners displeasure with its placement does not justify dismantling it to another place.
4. If there is confusion as to why the tabernacle is in the sanctuary then it is the pastor's responsibility to clear up the confusion and properly catechize his parishioners--not dismantle the tabernacle and move it. The tabernacle houses the Most Blessed Sacrament--the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We believe this mystery as Catholics. We are not confused!
5. There is absolutely NO document that has any canonical authority(that is, coming from Rome or the Vatican or the Pope) that mandates any of these changes. The quotes used in the Belltower Beacon article from the G.I.R.M., which does have canonical approval, are FRAGMENTARY and taken out of context.
6. Removing the side altars of Mary and Joseph and placing the statues in a "Holy Family" side niche obscures and lessons the visible signs of piety that the faithful practice. The statues of St. Christopher and The Sacred Heart have not been addressed. Where are they going? In the basement?
7. Placing an immersible bapstismal font in the middle of the main aisle is impractical and unneeded. This is a Romanesque, Processional Church. It becomes an OBSTACLE as the priest PROCESSES into the church. It's also a hazard to small children and the handicapped. and may also be a fire hazard, making it difficult for people to get out of the church if such a tragedy occurred.
8. Tying in this renovation project with the capital campaign to retire a 1.2 million dollar debt and gym expansion forces parishioners to contribute to a renovation project even if they want to contribute to the first two concerns and not the renovation. This is totally unfair.
9. Built of Living Stones, the document from which most of these changes are based, again has no canonical authority. It does state in paragraph 75 however that " it will be important for all those involved to know what specific directives or guidelines the diocesan bishop has issued." The parish knows of no such guidelines or even if they exist!
10. There is no unanimous agreement from the "Art and Architecture committee" on these changes yet it is implied that these are their unanimous recommendations.
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IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE POINTS
YOU CAN DO THE FOLLOWING:
pray.....pray.....pray
then.....
1. Write a one page letter to Bishop Lennon: 1027 Superior Ave., Cleveland, Ohio, 44114, stating your objections for whatever reason--the unnecesary expense, the moving of the tabernacle, the moving of the statues and mosaics, etc.
2. Attend the "Town Hall Meeting" on Sunday evening, 7:oo PM, August 27th and Monday evening, August 28th. You will have to endure a "Presentation" from the "Art and Architecture "Committee convincing you that these changes are mandated and need to proceed. (You can read the entire quote from the G.I.R.M in paragraph 314 and see that it is perfectly acceptable to have the tabernacle in the sanctuary; the Belltower Beacon article conveniently quotes only a fragment of that paragraph). Even Built of Living Stones says that the sanctuary is an acceptable placement of the tabernacle in paragraph 79! You must VOICE YOUR OPINION AT THE MEETING!
3. Write a letter to the pastor stating your objections to these changes. MAKE YOUR OBJECTIONS KNOWN!
IF NOTHING IS DONE WE WILL HAVE A GUTTED CHURCH WITH THE TABERNACLE IN THE CORNER OR OUTSIDE THE CHURCH ALTOGETHER, WITH NO MARY OR JOSEPH ALTARS!
posted by Save Saint Christopher Church! | 1:29 PM
3 Comments:
Thank you for your clarity in addressing the proposed church renovations. I am concerned the renovation effort fails to reflect the core of the parish. Further, I fear that our pastor continues to place an emphasis on finances over Catholic spiritual leadership. This is our faith - not a "franchise" business.
My long-tenured experience in Catholic parish life is that the proper emphasis on Catholic leadership results in the support necessary to sustain and grow the parish. Given the Diocesan record in obfuscation around the truth, i.e. pedophilia and now, the Joe Smith, CFO indictments, Fr. John can demonstrate proper Catholic character via effectively listening and leading with the humility that seems to be so lacking in today's Church.
I would rather see a frescoed or mosaic depiction in the upper part of the apse in the sanctuary, if the parish is itching to spend money.
Maybe the changes would be consistnet with the change in our music program.
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