The founding fathers of Medina’s Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church formed a close-knit community parish steeped in Polish tradition and custom that has remained strong for the past 98 years.
A chapter of that story came to a close as its parishioners gathered to celebrate the final Sunday worship before the diocese’s Journey in Faith and Grace merger next week. Sacred Heart will join with St. Mary’s Church in Medina and St. Stephen’s Church in Middleport to create Holy Trinity — a name selected by a majority vote a few months back for its notable symbolism.
While Sunday Mass will continue at St. Stephen’s and St. Mary’s, Sacred Heart will become an oratory for the sacramental purposes of baptisms and weddings until its 100th anniversary in 2010. It will be up to Holy Trinity to decide how the church building and rectory will be used thereafter.
Clear blue skies shone high above Sacred Heart as parishioners arrived Sunday for 11 a.m. Mass, filling every pew to capacity.
The Rev. Joseph Fifagrowicz, the pastor of Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s in Lyndonville for over a decade, likened the change to Vatican II in the 1960s.
It was a sad and frustrating time for Catholics and priests as they exchanged old traditions for new, he said. Priests were required to lead Mass in English instead of Latin and to face the congregation. Parishioners were asked to set aside their rosaries and prayer books to focus on the liturgical message and to become active in church ministries.
Drastic changes of this nature were, for many, “very frustrating, very disturbing, very upsetting,” Fifagrowicz said — much like the church closings today.
But they paved the way for better things.
“If we’re honest, today we’re a better church,” he said. “We’re a church more in tune with the times.”
An allegory helped to illustrate his point: A man passed a car dealership selling a brand new 2008 Lexus for only $300. The car was in perfect condition, had never touched the road and purred like a kitten. Only, there was a catch.
The car would only take the man where he ought to go, not where he wanted to go.
The journey to form Holy Trinity should be approached with the same wisdom, Fifagrowicz said. As difficult as it is for the parishioners of Sacred Heart to say goodbye, they must have faith that it will lead to something greater, he said.
“The Catholics we produced here ... were the best examples of our faith,” said Chris Keller, president of the Parish Council. “We really want to keep that going. ... They can close the building, but they can’t take the spirit of the thing away.”
Readings were provided by Pat Ossont, Sally Grimm, Holly Walker, Emily Vreeland and Aaron Toussaint. Lyndonville students Anthony Moule, 5, and McKayla Moule, 7, dressed in their Sunday best to hand out copies of the church bulletin with their mom, Tina Moule, close by.
John “Wolfe” Walker, a fourth grade graduate in the Royalton-Hartland School District, was presented with the ParVuli Dei award for exceptional Cub Scout community service.
Mass concluded with Polish hymns befitting the occasion and a parish picnic on the front lawn.
The merger will take place 10 a.m. Sunday at St. Mary’s. With them, parishioners at Sacred Heart will bring their vigorous participation in the church’s ministries. Sister Presentia Stawicki hopes Holy Trinity will bring a “brighter and better tomorrow” as parishioners inspire each other in new ways.
One Polish tradition Parish Council member Ginny Klonowski hopes to see continue is The Franciscan Associates, she said. Next week’s Mass will also see some items from Sacred Heart’s sanctuary as a constant reminder of the past.
“The parish isn’t ended, it’s just changed,” she said.
Contact reporter Nicole Colemanat 798-1400, ext. 8227.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
July 7, 2008
CHURCH: Sacred Heart celebrates its final mass
- Local News
-
- Test story
-
Market on Main will offer fresh produce, baked goods
Medina’s Main Street has more than its fair share of spots to pick up prepared food, but starting this summer there will be a place to buy artisanal bread and locally-grown produce.Dave and Bonnie Reigle have operated a produce stand on their Ridge Road farm for 17 years. They plan to open Reigle’s Market on Main in the former Whole Nine Yards and be open year-round as a bakery and produce store.
-
Lyndonville BoE approves budget propositions
The Lyndonville Board of Education approved the four propositions district residents will vote on May 15, including the school’s $12,964,687 budget.The 2012-13 budget decreases spending by 1.28 percent, but the property tax levy will rise by 1.95 percent to $4,620,374. The estimated property tax rate is $18.40, an increase of 1.38 percent and a bump of a quarter for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
-
Medina BoE OK's budgets for May 15 vote
Medina Central School District residents will have the option this May to vote for a budget that does not raise the property tax levy next year, but does increase the district’s budget by 1.74 percent.
-
Ridgeway sets public hearings
The Ridgeway Town Board will hold two public hearings at its next meeting on May 21.
-
Hoag will host STEM summer camp
The Hoag Library in Albion isn’t set to open until the weekend after Independence Day, but preparations are well underway for a two-week summer camp for a select group of Albion students.
-
Growing like a weed
The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Home and Garden Show had a new home this year, and a record crowd came out to Knowlesville for helpful advice, information about local businesses and organizations, and a wide range of activities, promotions and giveaways.
-
Village budget talks continue
Medina’s 2012-13 budget is coming together at a series of meetings between department heads and village board members that largely focus on projected spending plans and areas where cuts can be made and additional revenue can be found.The board met Monday with Police Chief Jose Avila, who said his department budget will be less than the current year despite increasing salaries and associated benefits.
-
Hoag Library era nears in Albion
The transition of Albion's long-time library to a modern South Main Street facility is quickly approaching, which had the Swan Library Board of Trustees discussing the closing of the current library in early June, a month of movement and plans to resume service at the new Hoag Library on the day after the facility's July 7 grand opening at their Wednesday meeting.
-
Pillars hosting Titanic evening
The extravagant experience that the high-class passengers enjoyed on the first and final voyage of the RMS Titanic will be replicated in a dinner at The Pillars Estate’s new ballroom this weekend.The Pillars echoes the luxury liner’s grand staircase and chandelier, with historic touches throughout the restored County House Road mansion’s ballroom.
- More Local News Headlines
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
