Archdiocese takes steps to close Holy Trinity
Archdiocese of Boston performing right on previous form.
"In an at times contentious meeting attended by more than 100 parishioners Sunday afternoon in the lower chapel of the church, the Rev. Mark O’Connell, representing Cardinal Sean O’Malley, presented plans to move the Latin Mass to Mary Immaculate of Lourdes in Newton. He said that the Archdiocese needed time to do
“more work on what a German community would look like” (INCREDIBLE STATEMENT-
before moving that community out of the church and setting a closing date. He also answered questions from parishioners about why the church had to close in the first place and talked about the financial challenges the church has faced.
Many parishioners from the Latin and German Mass traditions are unhappy with the plan to move the Latin Mass to Mary Immaculate. At several points during the meeting, O’Connell’s remarks were received with mumbled disbelief, snorts of derision and at least one cry of “He’s full of XXXX.” One older woman, wearing a black lace head covering, stood up during the meeting and said, “I think this has been a total waste of time because we are being hoodwinked completely.”"
"In an at times contentious meeting attended by more than 100 parishioners Sunday afternoon in the lower chapel of the church, the Rev. Mark O’Connell, representing Cardinal Sean O’Malley, presented plans to move the Latin Mass to Mary Immaculate of Lourdes in Newton. He said that the Archdiocese needed time to do
“more work on what a German community would look like” (INCREDIBLE STATEMENT-
before moving that community out of the church and setting a closing date. He also answered questions from parishioners about why the church had to close in the first place and talked about the financial challenges the church has faced.
Many parishioners from the Latin and German Mass traditions are unhappy with the plan to move the Latin Mass to Mary Immaculate. At several points during the meeting, O’Connell’s remarks were received with mumbled disbelief, snorts of derision and at least one cry of “He’s full of XXXX.” One older woman, wearing a black lace head covering, stood up during the meeting and said, “I think this has been a total waste of time because we are being hoodwinked completely.”"
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Comments
I do not think either the spokesman for the Archdiocesan Office of Canonical Affairs nor the Cardinal have a grasp of the true task at hand nor have diocesan resources been committed. I am not convinced that their decision has had any link to a professional Architectural/Engineering review. If it has, it has not been shared or communicated to myself or the Latin Mass community. Unfortunately, this church is not directly served by public transit, the closest light rail station, Eliot Station being nearly one mile away. There are currently a good percentage of Holy Trinity parishioners dependent on public transport, including many elderly. The burden (cost and man power) for some para-transit would fall squarely on the new pastor (Fr. Charles Higgins) of Mary Immaculate of Lourdes (MIL). To date zero planning whether it be the purchase or lease of vans has occurred.
For your information, the present church building of MIL was dedicated by Cardinal O’Connell on 24 November 1910. It was (is) an imposing edifice situated on a hillside in Newton Upper Falls. It was rendered in an Italian Romanesque brick style featuring a 135 foot campanile. Originally the roof was in a red terracotta tile and has unfortunately succumbed (long ago) to the utility of asphalt. The front elevation can be best described as a portico reminiscent of a Roman Temple with a vertical proportion expressed by columns of the Corinthian order supporting a pediment that has sculptural relief of figures that represent the apparitions of Our Lady to Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes, France in 1854. The focal point of the interior remains the High Altar constructed of white Italian marble. Originally it was set behind an altar rail of red Italian marble with bronze “corkscrew” uprights and gates. The apse was lavishly painted with gilded stenciling serving as a backdrop to the reredos, above which a half dome contained three paintings of the Blessed Virgin: The Annunciation on the left, The Assumption in the center, and The Coronation on the right.
Unfortunately under the pastorate of Fr. Michael F. Doocey (1970-1993), following the Second Vatican Council and ensuing iconoclasm, the interior of MIL was generally wreckovated. The once beautiful sanctuary and nave has been generally white washed. This includes a set of polychromed Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) rendered white. The altar rail was destroyed save about eight feet at the locations of the former Side Altars of St.Joseph and Our Lady. Even these segments were relocated about six feet into the Nave. The marble flooring of the Sanctuary has been obscured by ubiquitous (Archdiocesan) red wall to wall carpet. A new and immovable freestanding Altar was formed about six feet forward of the bottom step of the old High Altar salvaged from the two existing rectangular Side Altars oriented back to back to roughly form a square proportion. The Holy Tabernacle of the old High Altar was systematically plugged and removed to the location of the old St. Joseph Side Altar where a “new” shelf was constructed and enhanced with a marble relief of “The Last Supper” also removed from the lower section (antependium) of the old High Altar. The remaining void from the old High Altar was covered by blank slab of roughly matching marble.
At least six rows of the original front pews, including the front “blind” pew panel are missing or destroyed. This provides space for God knows what…Liturgical dancing??? The same applies to rear five or six rows I suspect were removed for “gathering space”. Great, let’s encourage yapping in church.
My complaint? We (the Latin Mass community) will need to reverse and absorb the cost of the destruction wrought over the last 35 years to even approximate the Liturgical archtectonics of the sanctuary and nave that remain extant at Holy Trinity (HT). At a very minimum we need a temporary altar rail in the devastated Sanctuary of MIL. I am very concerned by the existing sight lines and blind spots encumbered by the permanent (immovable) placement of the existing freestanding altar, particularly with the large Liturgical entourage typical of High and Solemn High Masses. It is Fr. Higgins intention to use the old High Altar. He has taken the first step in restoring placement of the Tabernacle in the old High Altar. Unfortunately, he is currently disinclined to move the freestanding Altar since the parish will remain bi-ritual. I suggest he either work on the design of a movable but dignified freestanding Altar or celebrate all Masses here on in ad orientum. At this point, true restoration of just the church sanctuary for a dignified celebration of the Classical Roman Rite could cost several hundred thousand dollars. This does not even begin to address the balance of deferred maintenance throughout the balance of physical plant that includes significant deterioration to roofing, stone and brick masonry, exterior woodwork and ornamental ironwork. The existing pipe organ, inoperative for years with water damage and cracked bellows could easily cost tens of thousands of dollars to restore.
His Eminence (or Fr. Mark O’Connell) fully expects us to invest our Time, Talent and Tithe (as we did at HT) with absolutely no juridical guarantee (structure) to either the permanent attachment of the Latin Mass congregations or the Indult to MIL. IMHO, if we don’t press this issue we could find ourselves in the same dilemma we find ourselves today…parishioners of convenience, which I liken to a common law marriage. As it stands, we are relying on the abilities of a dear priest. If removed from the equation, we may find ourselves roaming the diocese without a permanent home. This move will be VERY costly to our community and is fraught with risk.
For more info on MIL:
http://members.aol.com/maryimmoflourdes/hist/history.htm
In nomine sancto ejus,
Rob Quagan
Architect