The planned closure of St. Hyacinth Church in Bay City has been put on hold after a valid appeal prompted Bishop Robert Gruss to suspend the decision. Initially set to close permanently after May 28, the church will now remain open for the time being, with scheduled Saturday and Sunday Masses continuing as planned, as reported by WNEM.
Announcements made at Our Lady of Czestochowa last weekend highlighted the bishop's decision, which puts a hold on the closure to permit a proper canonical process, which includes an essential consultation to occur, the directive comes after discussions pointed to dwindling parishioner numbers and a significant debt over $1 million, challenges articulated by parish pastor Fr. Nicolas Coffaro when the closure was announced. These financial strains have largely arisen from efforts to maintain two aging church properties, according to MLive.
Rather than proceeding with a final Mass, Bishop Gruss and Fr. Coffaro will hold a meeting with the church's registered parishioners on May 27 at 7 p.m. This gathering is intended to provide an opportunity for community members to ask questions and for Bishop Gruss to address concerns directly.
This gathering, reserved only for the recorded members of the parish where registered parishioners will sign in before attending, is part of an effort to ensure transparency and provide a means by which congregants can voice their queries and apprehensions directly to the church leadership as described on the Diocese's official site.
No specific timeframe has been established for the duration of the suspension. Church officials have indicated that the consultation process will continue until all aspects of the situation are reviewed before making a final decision regarding the future of St. Hyacinth Church.
-5.webp?w=160&h=400&fit=crop&crop=edges)
