St. Colman appeals merger with St. Stephen
by Frank Barnett

(Plain Press, April 2009) If a Giant Eagle closes one of its stores, shoppers easily go to another store. But it’s not quite that simple with churches.

“It’s not the idea of winning or losing. It’s not about anger. It’s about telling the bishop the right thing to do.”

NEWS ANALYSIS

Indeed, Rev. Robert Begin (Father Bob) of St. Colman Catholic Church, was not showing anger on March 15. But Bishop Richard Lennon’s decision to close St. Colman and merge it with nearby St. Stephen didn’t seem to make sense to him. This wasn’t sour grapes, Fr. Begin simply was adamant that St Stephen’s didn’t have the room St. Colman’s would need to continue their outreach programs assisting the poor and needy and the homeless. He encouraged the congregation and friends to show their support as soon as possible and let Lennon know the need for sparing St. Colman. There was a 10-day deadline (until March 27th) to appeal the decision. Last year, the Catholic Diocese had broken all the churches into cluster teams to discuss the problem. Begin said the majority within their cluster of 5 parishes --St. Colman, St. Stephen, St. Procop, La Sagrada Familia and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, always favored St. Colman as the best facility, though also did not support any of them merging.

St. Stephen’s is on a pleasant narrow street a few blocks east of St. Colman’s. Like all churches, you are awed and humbled by beautiful architecture. But St. Stephen’s has the added element of huge dramatic wooden sculptures overlooking the pulpit.

 Just one would be impressive enough, but the awe increases with each one and the endless details. Before the Bishop’s surprise decision to save St. Stephen’s over St. Colman’s, since the opposite was expected, the sculptures seemed the perfect metaphor. Every slice of the 19th century German carvers’ knives bespeaks a love for craftsmanship and in turn a spiritual expression. These sculptures, as well as all the people who have ever attended services since St. Stephen opened in 1881, infuse the chapel with a palpable spirit. But forget the sad metaphor. Lennon’s unexpected decision March 14 was not going to threaten that spirit after all.

Maryanne Sutherland has attended St. Stephen’s all her life, and her parents were married there after meeting in the church some 80 years ago. Her siblings grew up there, as did her own children. But apparently even churches are not immune from the ravages of the economy as well as suburban flight. “There’s a shortage of priests and money, and low membership.” Before the surprise decision, she was trying to be reasonable and understand the diocese’s dilemma, just hoping it would come out in their favor.

Pastors throughout the 8-county diocese were reading the Bishop’s letter to their congregations at Saturday afternoon services. When St. Stephen’s Father S. Michael Franz got to the line stating the decision to merge the two churches at St. Stephen’s, a cheer erupted probably seldom if ever heard in the sedate church service.

Father Franz quickly added, while there was much joy, they should not forget the parishes not so fortunate. But Father Begin had already composed a letter to the congregation announcing his opposition and plan to appeal if enough people agreed, which they overwhelmingly did.

Clearly, the last has not been heard on this merger.

Editor’s Note: View Rev. Bob Begin’s letter on the Plain Press website at www.plainpress.org, or visit the St. Colman website for additional information at www.stcolmanparish.org.

(see related photo here)

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