Church reacts to Monsignor's comments

INDIAN ORCHARD, Mass. (WWLP) - On Sunday night a last minute press conference was called specifically to address some of the issues brought to light during a '22News In Focus' with Monsignor John Bonzagni.

The show aired Sunday afternoon detailing the reasons for putting certain churches on the list of closures.

In all, 14 churches will completely close by the end of the year as part of a reorganization effort by the Springfield Catholic Diocese.

Parishioners at the Immaculate Conception Church in Indian Orchard met up Sunday night to discuss the latest updates on news of the closing.

A protest was held Sunday morning in front of St. Michael's Parish in Springfield, where hundreds of parishioners from Immaculate Conception Church came to rally. Parishioners also held a candlelight vigil on Saturday night at the Indian Orchard Church.

Some church members were not pleased by some of the comments made by Monsignor Bonzagni in the show.

During the interview Monsignor said one of the reasons Immaculate Conception Church was picked to close was because of the demographics.

Monsignor Bonzagni said the Indian Orchard area only needed a mission rather then a parish. "When we were discussing the city of Springfield we kept going around and around and it all came back to what do you do with Indian Orchard, do we need a mission there, a parish there or do we need nothing there. We decided that we do need something there and after a lot of conversation all we really need is a mission...so that meant that we would keep St. Jude and Immaculate Conception would close," he said.

Parishioners from Immaculate Conception will merge with Christ the King Church in Ludlow when their church is closed, but some members told 22News there is not enough space for the size of their congregation at Christ the King.

One of the things the church committee is trying to do is change the zoning laws in this area so if their church does have to close it will not turn into a commercial property.