Post by Katheryn Mae on Feb 25, 2009 20:37:19 GMT -5
An open letter to my friend, please comment and give suggestions/comments. It's also posted on my LiveJournal if you read it there.
Dear Mariah,
I understand where you're coming from about going to St. Andrew's when there's no building left. But the truth is, there is a building, and it's right there. It's just kept away from us - an empty, broken shell that can't be repaired. Well, maybe it can if we try hard enough but that's not the point.
Yes, we've had our last mass and our protests - and our vigils. But we're not just worried about St. Andrew's any more, it's all the churches in Syracuse, even across New York. And, maybe, since you didn't go to St. Andrew's your whole life like I have, it seems easy to let realization sink in and then, after a while, move on. One day, though, you'll face it too, and right now, I honestly don't feel very supportive when the day comes when St. Lucy's closes. Yes - St. Lucy's will close, maybe not now, maybe not in five years - maybe in ten years from now. But it will close.
We, and I speak for all of the Action Committee on this one, know St. Andrew's is unlikely to open, but that doesn't mean we're going to "just go to St. Lucy's or somewhere else." Of course we can go to St. Lucy's or any other church any time we want, people at St. Mary's could do the same, but that would just be fueling the fire of the Diocese's Reconstruction plan. The Action Committee of St. Andrew’s believe that this “plan” will slowly close each church in Syracuse until one large one remains. Eventually, some of us believe that there will be more people outside of the Cathedral than inside of it.
I agree, change is good, but some change is not good. Closing St. Andrew’s was change - honestly, that was good?! I don’t think so. And neither, may I add, is closing each and every church that is financially solvent and assists the community around them. Some churches should be closed, if they can’t pay their bills or have few people in the pews there. But one, with filled pews and enough money to support themselves and communities in other places around the world, should not be closed.
And to be frankly honest, if we stop protesting, I won’t be attending St. Lucy’s, no matter who is there.
~Reena (Katheryn Rose)