Published: July 02, 2008 09:37 pm      

TOWN OF TONAWANDA: Final respects for church

Parishioners hold “funeral” for church

Dozens of mourners gathered Wednesday evening to pay their final respects to a 43-year-old member of the community that left too soon — St. Edmund Roman Catholic Church.

The parish on Ellicott Creek Road merged with St. Christopher’s RC Church on Niagara Falls Boulevard 10 months ago as part of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo’s restructuring plan “Journey in Faith and Grace.”

Both facilities remained open, but now St. Edmund’s will close and Mass will be celebrated at St. Christopher’s. The St. Edmund’s facility will still house outreach programs and a new youth ministry.

Following a brief service, St. Edmund’s parishioners loaded a crucifix and three statues into a powder blue limosine, which led the procession to St. Christopher’s, where the items were unloaded to become a part of the new parish community.

Church-goers across Erie and Niagara counties have over the past three years been faced with the difficult task of having to bid farewell to their churches as the Diocese undergoes its restructuring plan.

Saying goodbye to the church she’s worshipped at for 43 years was a difficult thing for Mary Giovenco.

“We knew it had to happen, but when you’re faced with it, that’s different,” she said, fighting back tears. “I lost my husband six months ago and now I’m losing my church.”

While some have moved on and accepted the reality of the closure, others have not, said Rosalie Cappellazzo, another longtime St. Edmund’s parishioner. “It’s like a death. People are bitter, they’re angry, and some can’t move on,” she said. “We don’t want to leave here, none of us do.”

St. Edmund’s was open the entire 24 hours preceeding Wednesday’s final service, allowing parishioners a chance to say a final prayer or sing one last psalm before the church, which was founded in 1965, closes for good. Visitors were asked to pray for a different group for each hour of the parish day of prayer.

The Rev. Charles Slisz said that, overall, most parishioners have accepted the fact that St. Edmund’s is closed.

“It will certainly take a little bit of time for people to get used to,” he said, adding that the two parish communities will form a stronger bond as they grow spiritually.

John Steuer said he feels good about what’s taking place, and that several years from now people won’t feel as somber as they do now. “It’s a bit of a loss, but not a catastrophic one,” Steuer said.

“If the arc’s going to Niagara Falls Boulevard, that’s fine with me. I’m not going to stay here if God’s not.”