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
CHURCH: Sacred Heart celebrates its final mass
- Local News
-
-
Hospice residence construction continues
The construction of the new Martin-Linsin Hospice Residence, which is now well under way just behind the Hospice of Orleans office building on Route 31 in Albion, will allow Hospice to provide care and assistance for those patients and their families.
-
Library construction, fundraising hit milestones
The project to build a new library in Albion is seeing a lot of green — both in the foam insulation that is being added at the South Main Street construction site and in Swan Library’s fundraising effort.
-
Albion plans for summer
Village officials heard details about this summer’s Albion Strawberry Festival and another big event that could bring visitors back to the village later in the summer — if concerns about street usage are cleared up — during Wednesday’s board meeting.
-
Theater impact grant formally announced
The National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, has awarded the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor a 2012 Impact Grant to support the launch of the Theatre on Main Street project in Albion in collaboration with the Albion Main Street Alliance and the Western Erie Canal Alliance.
-
Inter-county collaboration
The Orleans County Legislature finalized a formal alliance with their Niagara County counterparts Wed-nesday, a move leaders from both counties said will lead to reduced costs and increased services.
-
County management salary increases discussed
County Legislators will vote later this month on a local law that affects the 2012 salaries and benefits of nine county officials, with a net impact of adding $4,723 in payments.
-
Drug court graduates four
Four participants in the Orleans County Drug Court received cheers Monday for completing the intensive, three-stage program.
-
Albion CSD budget coming to view
The Albion Central School District’s 2012-13 budget is coming into clearer view, and school officials say the picture is better than at this point last year.
-
Medina student is Sabres Jr. Reporter
The Buffalo Sabres have faced many difficult questions during what has so far been a disappointing season, but it was all smiles when Oak Orchard Elementary School student Melanie Hibbard came to First Niagara Center to watch practice and interview players for a feature that will air later this month.
-
Group aims to honor Laughlin
The Medina Mustangs could play their next football game on a field named for longtime coach John “Pinky” Loughlin if the Medina School Board approves a proposal made Tuesday by the Parents Athletic Club.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Coroner: Houston Autopsy Results Weeks Away
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
