September 12, 2004

Dear Parishioners of Mary, Star of the Sea Parish,

Please accept my condolences on the closing of your parish, Mary, Star of the Sea. Endings are always difficult but there is something particularly sad about a parish’s closing. When a parish closes, a neighborhood loses a unique sign of Christ’s presence. Parishioners no longer have a specific identity, and are disbursed to start again in another place.

The sacramental fabric of your lives was woven at Mary Star of Sea Parish. It is that holy place where you gathered, were nourished in your faith, comforted and energized by the love of God and neighbor. Next month Mary, Star of the Sea Parish will close. This is a cause for great sadness.

Your parish’s closing may bring a flood of memories: an introduction after Mass that led to a twenty year friendship; a comment from a fellow parishioner that encouraged you when you made a difficult decision; that unique sentence in a homily that enabled you to recognize God’s presence more clearly.

As mentioned in your bulletin, the Archdiocese has designated Sacred Heart Parish as your welcoming parish. I am humbled and privileged to serve you.  The parish and I have a great responsibility, which we will fulfill to the best of our ability. Our transition team has been meeting and looks forward to meeting with the members of a similar team from Mary, Star of the Sea Parish. These meetings will be an opportunity for both parishes to exchange hopes, dreams, doubts and concerns.

 In the meantime, I wish to assure you that Sacred Heart Parish is prepared to welcome:

• the parishioners of Mary, Star of the Sea Parish
• the liturgical ministers of Mary, Star of the Sea Parish: liturgy committee, ushers, choir members, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers (youth & adult)
• catechists, members of the parish pastoral and finance councils
• any ministries unique to Mary, Star of the Sea Parish, such as the Eucharistic ministers for Marina Place and the Vocation Crucifix Program
• all other groups.

Fr Barr shared with me a copy of your June 23^rd letter to Bishop Lennon, which described your concerns about moving to Sacred Heart Parish. I would like to respond to three of those concerns: the sound system, parking and debt.

• A new sound system was recently installed.  Based on survey results, there has been a significant improvement. Survey results are available at the rectory. Please call me at (617) 328-8666 and I will send the report to you. Survey results also are available on our parish website at www.sacredheartquincy.org/soundsystem.htm
• Parking will always be a concern. We have two parking lots on Hancock Street, one on either side of the school building. There also is a municipal parking lot on Vane Street and limited street parking.
• Our parish debt is due to the installation of a fuel-efficient heating and air conditioning system and due to the purchase of land for our teachers’ parking lot. We anticipate paying off our debt by March 2007. Financial Reports for 2003 are available in the rectory by contacting Arlene Dooley at (617) 328-8666 or by visiting our website at www.sacredheartquincy.org/financereport.htm.

Although Sacred Heart Parish has been designated as your welcoming parish, that designation is not a mandate.  You are free to attend and to register at the parish of your choice. Some Sacred Heart parishioners have told me they went “parish shopping" when they moved to Quincy, searching for the parish with the “right fit.” They visited a number of Catholic parishes in the area. In the end, Sacred Heart was the “right fit” for them because of the community’s inclusiveness, hospitality and opportunities for worship, education and service. I hope that Sacred Heart Parish will be the “right fit” for you.

During the course of Church history, Catholics have lived through some volatile periods, been confronted by challenges that appeared insurmountable and, yet, have survived.

I think this is one of those times for Catholic Christians in the Archdiocese of Boston. What will insure our future? I believe it will be:

• Our belief in the risen Christ,
• Our ability to reach out to each other, to listen and acknowledge the grief
• Our ability to extend hospitality to those displaced
• Our ability to include leadership from a closing parish in an open parish
• Our ability to work together

The next few months could be difficult. Please be assured of my prayers and support. If there is anything that I can do to assist you, please call me at (617) 328-8666.

Sincerely, 

(Rev.) John W. O’Brien
pastor

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