Spfld Diocese to close 19 churches

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Springfield Diocese announced that 19 area churches will either close or merge as part of a diocese reorganization program aimed to cut costs.

For members of the 19 different churches the church building itself will be shut down, forcing them to worship somewhere else, five announcements are still up in the air.

The reorganization leaves thousands of local Catholics with heavy hearts and the reality that the church they faithfully attended for so many years may close its doors.

"I'm still going to go to church no matter what...I'm very sad and broken about all of this but what can you do, you can't do anything, I cried all day," said Sacred Heart parishioner Flora Kryzak.

Priests at the closing and restructured parishes told 22News its a day they hoped would never come.

Diocese leaders say they sympathize with the pain that comes with loosing a family of faith.

"I know the history of these places and I know the hurt is going to be forthcoming," said Bishop Timothy McDonnell.

Monsignor John Bonzani told 22News that the decision as to which local churches would close was not taken lightly.

"These communities of faith are very powerful support systems for people, they've been used at good times, baptisms, and tough times, funerals...so it's not just closing a building its dispersing a group and that's an extraordinarily difficult thing to do, and nothing we did lightly," he said.

The School of Urban Studies UMass Amherst researched the matter and provided recommendations to the diocese. The final list had been changed and molded for months by parishioner and diocese input.

"It's been very long, and at times very difficult, yet we think a very thorough affair, and a fair and equitable process. The goal is access to the sacraments for every Catholic in western Massachusetts," said Monsignor Bonzagni.