Pray that God’s will be done
December 17, 2024
At a pre-planned evening Boy Scout meeting at Sacred Heart of Mary School Hall, an archdiocesan representative appeared about thirty minutes into the themed gathering-- a Nativity construction project accompanied by Bible readings. He arrived suddenly, demanding that the leader and her troupe vacate the premises. When asked for an explanation of his presence, this representative indicated that he had been contacted by a Knight of Columbus member who lives on Duluth Avenue. This Knight, likely an SHM parishioner, has apparently accepted to task of informing on any parishioners “trespassing” upon their own property. Both a Quit Claim Deed and the Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation, identify the “Congregation of Sacred Heart of Mary” as owners of the property. Maryland law recognizes the parishioners, not the Archdiocese, as owners. The Archdiocese is not listed as owning any property on Youngstown or Duluth Avenues. https://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/RealProperty/Pages/default.aspx
To her credit, the troupe leader conducted the meeting in its entirety.
Pray that God’s will be done
December 16, 2024
An appreciation dinner is provided for donors to the Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries at St. Mary’s Seminary. An attendee and major donor from Sacred Heart of Mary spoke to Archbishop Lori at this event and asked His Excellency if it is possible that SHM could re-open. He abruptly answered “no” and ended the conversation.
Pray that God’s will be done
December 10, 2024
No response to the appeal (11/21/24) has been received.
Pray that God’s will be done
December 9, 2024
No response to the appeal (11/21/24) has been received.
Pray that God’s will be done
December 8, 2024
The “Last Mass” of Sacred Heart of Mary proceeds as scheduled. In his homily, Father Jim describes numerous improvements that have occurred over the last fourteen months only to be informed that we have to close. The Blessed Sacrament is removed from the tabernacle.
Fact: The Decree states that the church, as a subsidiary of Our Lady of Hope retains “permission to reserve the Blessed Sacrament there.” So why was The Blessed Sacrament removed?
Also in his homily, Father Jim mentions a “history of debt” and that we “owe the Archdiocese a lot of money.”
Fact: Most of that “debt” is Archdiocesan tax. SHM’s “debt” mushroomed by over 50% due to a recent single entry by the Archdiocese’s Controller. The (non-tax) entry, is one of many troubling findings discovered buried in the parish’s financial documents. The entry was made on September 12, 2022—the same month Seek the City’s consolidation program commenced. Was debt added to parishes’ Balance Sheets just prior to placing them on a short list for closure?
From www.seekthecity.org:
“Parishes are separate entities from the Archdiocese; therefore, all assets or debts that belong to a parish, stay with that parish, including following that parish when merged into a newly formed parish. All newly formed parishes will also remain entities separate from the Archdiocese.”
Reality: A parish is a separate entity only insofar as it can pay Archdiocesan tax; if it can’t, the tax will drive it into closure. The proceeds of its sale will then satisfy the amount of debt calculated and claimed by the Archdiocese.
Pray that God’s will be done
December 6, 2024
Continued silence. No outreach from the Archdiocese of Baltimore to suspend Decree of closure prior to “Last Mass” scheduled on Sunday, December 8, 2024.
Pray that God’s will be done
December 5, 2024
No response to the appeal (11/21/24) has been received.
Pray that God’s will be done
December 4, 2024
No response to the appeal (11/21/24) has been received.
Pray that God’s will be done
December 3, 2025
No response to the appeal (11/21/24) has been received.
Pray that God’s will be done
December 2, 2024
An email from Archdiocese of Baltimore to Sacred Heart of Mary requests that this site, www.shmcc.org be removed. Modifications were done, but the site will continue.
Pray that God’s will be done
December 1, 2024
SHM business manager receives answer to email question about how SHM’s finances will be handled. Answer from OLH manager advises that SHM’s finances will continue separately until the “disposition of the appeal.” There remains no guidance from anyone as to the provision of Mass and the sacraments until the “disposition of the appeal.” Father Jim has indicated independently that his “faculties” to continue celebrating Mass at SHM [of his own volition] have been removed, i.e., he is only permitted to say Mass as scheduled through December 8, 2024 and no more. He is no longer a parish administrator and has been asked only to say Mass at St. Rita after this date. Ordinarily (but not always), a suspension of a Decree is issued after an appeal has been filed. No notice of such suspension has been granted by Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Pray that God’s will be done
November 30, 2024
The inaugural Mass for the planned consolidated parishes of Sacred Heart of Mary, St. Luke, St. Rita and Our Lady of Hope is held at Our Lady of Hope. Father Kevin announces that a Vatican appeal has been filed to spare Sacred Heart of Mary.
Pray that God’s will be done
November 30, 2024
The Catholic Review hard copy, December, 2024 published a chart of parishes and their pledges to the 2024 Annual Appeal. Sacred Heart of Mary pledged $26,375, making it the second highest contributor of the 32 churches that are slated for closure/reduced status. Also, SHM is one of only four parishes in that grouping that surpassed its goal.
SHM’s pledge also exceeds that of 17 parishes that survived the Seek the City to Come’s closure plan.
Pray that God’s will be done
November 29, 2024
An article entitled “Final Polka Mass offered at Sacred Heart of Mary on 50th Anniversary of Thanksgiving Tradition” is published on the Catholic Review online. https://catholicreview.org/final-polka-mass-offered-at-sacred-heart-of-mary-on-50th-anniversary-of-the-tradition/
There are errors and omissions in the article:
(1) It notes that the first Polka Mass “overflowed the sanctuary’s capacity of 800 worshipers.”
Fact: the sanctuary of SHM is only 464, a figure noted in “Seek the City to Come” charts. Several paragraphs later, the number of attendees is identified as 244. So the church was 53% full, not 31% full as implied.
(2) The theme vis-à-vis SHM centered on “finality” yet the existence of the flyer indicating the appeal was ignored.
(3) Only one parishioner was quoted, lamenting that, “young people don’t go to church any more [sic].” Hopeful parishioners were not represented in the article at all.
Pray that God’s will be done
November 28, 2024
SHM celebrates its annual Thanksgiving Day Polka Mass. Flyers are provided to the attendees informing them that an appeal was launched on November 21, 2024.
Polka Mass Notice
Flyer provided to parishioners at the Thanksgiving Polka Mass on November 28, 2024
Pray that God’s will be done
November 24, 2024
Sacred Heart of Mary/St. Rita Pastorate Bulletin is not offered. Only a bulletin in the proposed consolidated parish is available.
Pray that God’s will be done
November 22, 2024
The Chancellor indicated that the Appeal would be forwarded to Bishop Lewandowski.
Pray that God’s will be done
November 21, 2024
A formal 69-page, Appeal was sent both to the Vatican and the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Pray that God’s will be done
November 19, 2024
Canonical counsel for the appellant sent a preview of highlights of the case for revocation of the Decree to the Chancellor of the Archdiocese. No resolution occurred.
Pray that God’s will be done
November 14, 2024
Deadline issued to turn over SHM’s sacramental records, financial records, passwords, etc. is received, weeks ahead of Decreed termination date of December 1, 2024. Request to honor the later date was partially heeded but the sacramental records have already been removed.