Thursday, June 30, 2011

Youngstown Diocese Makes It Tough To Be Catholic In Wellsville



Someone remarked that they were surprised we haven't mentioned anything about the possible closing of Wellsville's Immaculate Conception Church. Frankly we have been closely following this for nearly two months now. We had a post dated March 4, 2010, which was shortly after learning of Bishop Murry's message stating he intended to merge the Immaculate Conception parish with East Liverpool's St. Als & St. Anns into one parish. At that time he asked that any concerned parishioners send letters to the Diocese expressing their recommendations or objections. At that time, we have been told, the Immaculate Conception Parish was financially solvent, paying the bills and saving funds for the inevitable rainy day. In addition, a fund raising effort was going on to replace the church's air conditioning system and was built up to an additional $13,000. It was kept separately. A former bank employee said the Wellsville parish had well over $100,000 in cash and certificates of deposit on the books.

Two or three years ago a priest by the name of Father Peter Haladej, pictured above with Bishop Murry following, was reassigned from the St. Rose Parish in Girard, given the title of Administrator and sent down our way to minister the good folks of East Liverpool and Wellsville. A Slovakian native, he had previously interned in East Liverpool/Wellsville. At the age of 26 he was ordained a priest, in 2002, in his hometown diocese in Kosice, Slovakia. Here we thought he was Serbian. After coming back stateside he was assigned to St. Rose. According to a Diocese of Youngstown announcement he was suppose to return to his hometown after five years. Obviously that didn't happen.

Upon taking the post covering St. Aloysius and Immaculate Conception we were told Fr. Peter found the rectory at St. Al's in a deplorable and unlivable condition. The parish paid for an apartment in the Youngstown area for a couple of months while expensive remodeling was done to Fr. Peter's new home in East Liverpool. That remodeling job was allegedly over $100,000 in cost.

In that same amount of time Immaculate Conception went from being solvent to operating at a deficit. That alone raised a lot of questions from the Wellsville parishioners. When the above picture was taken, on the occasion of Bishop George Murry's visit May 28, it was announced at the Saturday Mass that Immaculate Conception would be closed “as soon as the parking problem at St. Als was resolved”. That was expected to happen by the end of summer.

After Mass the Bishop stayed and talked one-on-one to many of the concerned Immaculate Conception parishioners. We've talked to several of those people and listened to their comments at the weekly meetings about what the Bishop had to say. Eyebrows were raised when the Bishop allegedly told some individuals he receive no letters from Wellsville objecting the closure of Immaculate Conception. Even more concern was expressed when the Bishop was said the required decrees per Canon Law were not needed. We're no expert on Canon Law but have been told that two decrees are needed, to be issued by the Bishop, to close a parish church – a Decree of Suppression and a Decree of Relegation to Profane Use. Both have to be in writing and signed by the Bishop. Canon Law are rules that dictate how things are done in the Catholic religion, sort of like a constitution. Murry supposedly told one parishioner that he only needed to issue a Decree of Merger. As of this past Monday there has not been any decrees of any sort received. Officials in Youngstown told someone that they are ready to be signed but they were waiting for Fr. Peter to get back from Florida.

All in all it seemed to boil down to a common theme that “the left hand did not know what the right hand was doing”. What the Bishop was telling the Wellsville parishioners was far different from what the elusive Fr. Peter had been telling us. There was a grave feeling of deceit amongst the members of Immaculate Conception. As a result it solidified the resolve of the Wellsville members to strongly oppose the closing of their church. A week ago it was agreed to pay a go between to represent the Immaculate Conception parishioners and if necessary to retain Canon lawyers to appeal the Bishops decision, all the way to the Vatican if necessary. At Monday's meeting it was announced that an appeal will be made to the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome, Italy. That committee has the power to reverse the Bishop's decision to close the parish. Also, since there were so many uncertainties about finances, a request for an Investigative Forensic Audit will be submitted. We've been told that once requested an audit can not be denied.

In the meantime it came out that a Peter Haladej purchased a nearly 2,200 square foot house for $264,200 in Fort Myers, Florida, on December 21, 2010. The house is in a gated, new development at 10133 Silver Court. Public records for the deed do not show a lien on the house that sits on a 7,000 square foot plus lot. It is a three bedroom, three bath house. No liens on the property would indicate that the mortgage was paid in full. That house is pictured above. The picture was sent to us by a Wellsville native that now lives in Ft. Myers. We're not saying the Peter Haladej that bought this house is the same as Fr. Peter, but when you do a Google search on the name only two people come up. Only one has lived in Girard, Youngstown, East Liverpool and Ft. Myers.

We once had a kindly priest tell us there is no such thing as coincidence. God has a reason for everything that happens. The tough part is to sometimes to figure out what that reason is. We were born and raised in the Catholic faith, terrorized into unquestioning faith by some of the nuns that taught us in the primary grades and believe in the tenets of the church's doctrine. We were taught that all priests take a vow of poverty, chastity and humility. In our way of thinking we believe that the hierarchy of the Youngstown Diocese should be working with the parishioners for a solution to the problem. We don't think any religion thinks they can arrogantly shove a decision down the throats of their members, believing their faith demands they swallow it.

Consolidating parishes has been going on nationwide for years now. With congregation numbers falling off and vocations declining it's bound to happen. The members of the Immaculate Conception fully realize that and are willing to compromise with the Bishop's decision. They are willing to sacrifice their rich history that dates back to 1834. All they ask is that the church building itself be used as a worship site for the merged parish with only one Mass a week offered here, especially for the more senior members.

We hope a way will be found...

ole nib

20 comments:

Citizen said...

Great story Nib, very informative, and to the point!!

Anonymous said...

Great article Nib ! Why to tell it like it is. If finances are one of the reasons IC is closing, I find it very interesting that the finance counsel is made-up of six St.Al's parishoners and only ONE from IC. Hmmm....So bascially St.Al's was determining how are money was being spent. I will be anxious to see the results of the audit.

Anonymous said...

The Diocese thought by closing ICC that we would all run to St.Al's with collection envelopes in hand. Well, I got news for them, not many of us will be going there for sure. With the church it is all about MONEY.

LC said...

Mike, this is one fantastic article you have written. You have done some great investigative work. Very informative. I just hope everyone can see what is happening here in Wellsville and the St. Aloysius parish will see that their beloved father is not what they think he is. A priest should be the most honest, caring, humble and loving person in the church. I am totally disapointed!

LC said...

That picture of Father Peter looks like the halo above his head is broken into tiny pieces...hmmmmm

Anonymous said...

"THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE." THANK YOU FOR LETTING THE TRUTH SHINE THROUGH WITH YOUR ARTICLE OLE NIB. FR. SHORI AND I SPOKE ON THE PHONE RECENTLY AND HE TOLD ME THAT NO OTHER PARISHES PUT UP A FIGHT WITH THE RECONFIGURATION. MY REPLY WAS THAT PERHAPS THE FIGHT IS DUE TO IMC PARISHIONERS NOT BEING INFORMED AND REPEATEDLY BEING LIED TO BY THE DIOCESE. I TOLD HIM HE UNDERESTIMATED THE SPIRIT OF THE WELLSVILLE PEOPLE. ALL I CAN SAY NOW IS ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLIDERS. ONWARD TO VICTORY!

Anonymous said...

CONCERNED CITIZENS WHO WISH TO SAVE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE NEXT MEETING. JULY 5, TUESDAY AT SONS OF ITALY 7:00 PM.
DON'T FORGET TO SIGN THE PETITION IN SUPPORT OF KEEPING IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OPEN.

************* said...

That "halo" is actually the chandelier that hangs above the altar. It was donated by the Gallia sisters many moons ago. We recall when it first appeared. Fr. Rushton was very tickled with it. He beamed & told us it was from an "anonymous" donar. There are so many items in the parish that are part of the ICC family at one time or another.

nib

reader said...

All this information except the RUMOR about father Peters home has been reported in the local paper already.

************* said...

Your point is?

nib

Citizen said...

I'm in my mid 40's Nib, and I can remember standing on those steps with Fr. Cavanaugh, (not sure of sp)..It was my first Communion, I served as an alter boy for a decade in the 70's, and it saddens me to think of the possible loss of history that may transpire. I am more concerned that Fr. Peter wasn't even born yet, and I must reiterate, I'm one of the youngins. I can only hold onto the stories of those other members of IMC, who are much, much older than I. I can't fathom how they must feel. Let's hope this gets fixed, for all our sakes.

Anonymous said...

Oh, did I mention that the transition team from ICC are all employed by St. Al's in some capacity ! Principal,teacher, secretaries ect., ect. What a set-up. Where were our lifelong parishioners ? Father Peter probably does not have a clue as to who they might be.

Anonymous said...

THE MOTTO OF THE YOUNGSTOWN DIOCESE: PAY, PRAY, OBEY !

Anonymous said...

Dear Reader,
This is NOT a rumor, it is proven by the documents from Lee County.
You must be from St.Al's Parish.

Anonymous said...

So at one point, Fr. Haladej had both a Lexus and a BMW. Now we learn he has a house with no lien in Florida. Some years ago, an appeal was made to people in the Diocese to give money so his mother could be brought to the USA for medical care. What gives here?
Did he win a lottery so he could get the cars and property after his mother received her care here?

Anonymous said...

The St. Al/IC bulletin mast head lists no "rectory". On all the outside doors of the former St. Al's rectory are signs stating "private residence" then gives the church office address on Monroe St. in East Liverpool. So why isn't this "private residence" on the tax rolls?

Anonymous said...

Very informative!!!
If you look at the way Saint Rose Parish was left by "Father" Peter
I.C. and St. Al's better watch their finances and keep your faithful close together before an unrepairable wedge is put between you all!!!!
Beware of NEW festivals and fundraisers. Trips,cars,&vacations as we all know are very expensive!
I hope you are able to save your parish and you don't question your faith. REMEMBER:
RELIGION IS MAN MADE,
SPIRITUALITY IS NOT!

************* said...

We had heard that the folks at St. Rose weren't sorry to see Peter leave. Did he leave it destitute with questionable financial dealings? We are curious...

nib

Anonymous said...

Im sorry that your parish has closed, but its time to move on! I'm sure it was hard to go though but the diocese need to start closing some parish. And I know the blog author is going to read this and not post it because he/she does not believe in what Im saying but life is to shout to keep complaining MOVE ON! Other parishes and catholics all over the diocese are going though the same thing that you are, some have already movies one and the new formed parishes are doing GREAT!

************* said...

Father - your grasp of the English language still needs some work. Life is too short not too "shout", etc.

Other parishes are reminding us of sheep being lead to slaughter. If one can't shout and stand up for what one believes in what is the point?

nib