On Tuesday, July 19, some members, or employees, of St. Aloysius Catholic Parish in East Liverpool were seen carrying several boxes out of the Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville. At the time it was uncertain what they were taking. The incident was reported with pictures on the front page, above the fold, in the July 20 issue of the Morning Journal.
The Committee to Save the Immaculate Conception Church were of the belief that everything was to be put on hold with the appeal they filed with the Congregation of Clergy. They appealed the closing of the parish. That included keeping the contents of the church in the building itself. Since the church is under lock and key they have been told it was considered to be a secure building.
The Congregation of Clergy is located in the Vatican in Rome, Italy. They have the power to reverse the Bishop's unwavering decision to close the Wellville place of worship. An appeal was filed before the Bishop's Decree of Merger was issued which was dated July 2. Allegedly a second appeal was filed after the decree was issued. The Wellsville Committee believes that under the Church's Canon Law that everything should be put on hold until a decision is rendered on those appeals.
With questionable and conflicting tactics and answers on how things were being done by Diocesan officials, some members of the Wellsville Committee have been keeping a watchful eye on the Immaculate Conception. That is how the East Liverpool group was seen sneaking things out of the church.
Immaculate Conception parishioner Dolly Brophey believes she has figured out what they were taking that day. Following last Saturday's Mass she checked on the Nativity set that has been Immaculate Conception property since the early 1960s. They were not there. For nearly 50 years they have been stored in the church's sacristy.
Pictured above, the creche is believed to have been hand crafted or at least hand painted. They were imported from Italy and according to Mrs. Brophey there were only two like it in the whole world. At the time they were purchased they were insured for $8,000. Mrs. Brophey said Pastor Gerald Curran raised the money for the Nativity set by getting pledges of $100 each from several Immaculate Conception parishioners. It is unknown what they would be valued at today. The picture was sent to us by a friend.
We were taught by the nuns to forgive and forget. Sometimes it is extremely difficult to turn the other cheek....
ole nib
12 comments:
East Liverpool versus Wellsville....give me a break.
We don't feel it's anything of the sort. It's a matter of principle, intergrity and honesty. Why would they feel it necessary to remove the treasurers of the parish in such a hurry without being truthful and upfront?
nib
Please cease comments about E. Liverpool verses Wellsville. The truth be known it's really about Wellsville verses the Youngstown Diocese. The overall concensus is most Wellsville parishioners refuse to see Youngstown Diocese under Bishop Murry benefit further from our loss. Wellsville was left in the dark and treated badly. We have the right to attend Mass wherever we wish. Most will travel 5 minutes further than St. Als to attend Mass at Sacred Heart. Unfortunately for the elderly and handicaped....there will be no Mass options. I choose to worship at home watching Mass on EWTN and attend weekly prayer services on the sidewalk in front of the Blessed Mother at IC. I feel the love there. Father Peter could not even give Mass to IC during our final days. Oh and another reason I won't attend Mass at St. Al's is because the Eucharist minister called us a.. holes at our meeting. Father Peter refers to IC parishioners as trouble makers. Sorry but I JUST DON'T FEEL THE LOVE THERE for some strange reason. I feel more love on the sidewalk outside of our closed church during prayer service. Maybe it's because I stand on the sidewalk within my beloved Catholic community.
There is no reason why they had to remove the nativity set from ICC.
Not very Christian like. How do they ever expect the ICC parishioners to accept the newly merged parish when they pull things of this nature. Shame on them !
not to mention how they hurried to change the locks the day they knew allthe parishioners were in Youngstown, demonstrating at teh Diocese. Seems if they really had the courage of their convictions, there would be no need to do these things so clandestinely.
This is not Wellsville IMMC vs. St. Al;s but IMCC vs. the Diocese.
Peace Be With You
and also with you...
nib
Why should the nativity set be left in an empty church. With the vandalism that's happening in our awhy take the chance that it may get damaged.
There is a lot of hurt, disappointment & anger for some over the ICC closing. Sensitivity to that is important, & should be a two way street when it comes to making comments slamming your own religion (a few have been made). As for what was taken, If the diocese owns the church on paper then they own it's contents too? If it's true nothing should have been taken during an appeal then if the outcome of this favors ICC being open the items come back correct? I've always been told it's healthy to forgive, so I try but never forget. Time is your friend.
What vandalism ? Just more excuses as to why it was removed. Are they going to be taking other things out too ? Very mean-spirited on their part.
have never seen a police report regarding vandalism to ANY church in Wellsville, let alone IMMC.
It has stood empty all week long for how long BEFORE this merger and never was vandalized or had anything stolen, why would it happen now?
Methinks they doth protest too much.
I never said the vandalism was in any church. I am talking about random vandalism. Everyday I read in the paper about some type of vandalism being reported. Not just in Wellsville but, in other parts of the community as well.
Post a Comment