Local Danvers Beauty Needs Our Help! Part 3 By Jim Morrocco

Dear Readers,

The Mackey Funeral Home, right off our downtown, on lovely Conant Street in beautiful Danvers fortunately is still standing… but not for long. The destructive hand of Father Michael Doyle, latest pastor of beautiful and once-thriving Saint Mary’s of the Annunciation Church, and backed by our infamous Archdiocese of Boston, has pulled the demolition permit to bring down this much loved funeral home and valued piece of our own Danvers history. This wonderful old home and local beauty who pleads for our help continues to be raped, pillaged and soon to be plundered by this man and his cohorts all to gain 36 measly parking spaces that this church has successfully done without since its doors opened in 1937. The shame this man is putting on this parish, neighborhood and town will continue long after his assignment here ends, and his smug and arrogant smirk long disappears out of sight. God help whomever he victimizes next.

I found on line this point about ordained priests from the popular, well-regarded Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, website. The Catholic Church teaches that when a man participates in priesthood, he participates in the priesthood of Christ Himself. All men who have become priests, through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, participate in Christ’s priesthood; they act in persona Christi Capitis, in the person of Christ, the Head of His Body, the Church. Let us consider this Pastor Doyle’s performance, as a priest acting ”in the person of Christ”, with regard to his actions in this tragic controversy... as expected by god and everyone?

If Jesus walked among us today, based on what we have been taught as Catholics about all the good he did for the common man and woman in his time, do you think for a moment that he would be as arrogant, manipulative and egotistical as to disrespect and disregard so many good and decent men and women in this parish, neighborhood and town, as Pastor Michael Doyle has done time and again during this dispute? In his day, Christ did what was right; because it was right… no other reason. His excellent example is one that good and decent people since his time strive to do and teach their children.

In my opinion, it would be difficult to identify any religious leader in the history of much loved and respected St. Mary’s parish who will have caused more pain to its parishioners, neighborhood and townspeople than this egotistical, arrogant and reckless man, who hides behind the collar and cloth that should represent all that is good in Christ’s example. But then you be the judge of his shameful treatment of people in this dispute.

Here is part 3 of the on-going article series to help save it from the destructive hands of this current owner.

By now you may have read my first two articles, Parts 1 and 2. But in case you haven’t, the next paragraph is a quick recap before we review an absolutely crucial point that has the power to change the look and feel of Conant Street forever… from bad (an unnecessary parking lot) to worse!

If this historic beauty comes down at the hands of its guardian/owner, who has made it clear that it could care less that it serves as an important asset to the neighborhood and town, then the future use of this lot may be more harmful to the neighborhood than many may realize. Read on and react!

Recap or move on to the next paragraph below: Did you know that the Mackey Funeral Home is also known as the Albion Franklin Welch home? It is the original home of the well-known Welch family prominent in Danvers at the time it was built in 1894, and for decades after. This wonderfully erected building is historically and architecturally significant and a valued asset to the town of Danvers. After decades of private home ownership, it eventually sold to become the well-known funeral home. Remarkably, this magnificent example of period craftsmanship had retained most of its original period features by positive actions of previous owners… until this self-indulgent, current owner/guardian, Pastor Doyle, saw fit to begin destroying it against the wishes of good, honest parishioners and townspeople, for a 36 car parking lot, AT A COST OF ABOUT ONE MILLION DOLLARS! This is the beautiful building on Conant Street that many decent, concerned and hardworking people are trying to save to preserve the integrity of the neighborhood and the historic pride of this valued town asset.

This next point is absolutely imperative that it be understood NOW.

Did you also know that this building sits on a lot that is zoned for commercial business? This is an incredibly important point that you need to get quickly. So what you may ask? The answer should open a few eyes and mouths, because it raises vital concerns that may affect many.

You must know that the Boston Archdiocese has made decisions in the past to close Catholic churches throughout towns and cities. Whether they have been sold for profit or loss, and whether you agree or disagree, the point is it happens, and the Archdiocese doesn’t bat an eye. Legally, of course, with the sale of church properties, new owners are reusing them for whatever purposes they wish. And can resell any part of them to anyone else, at any time, for whatever reason.

Has it occurred to you that if our Boston Archdiocese should ever decide in the future to close St. Mary’s of the Annunciation Church, for whatever reason, and sell it for a profit (or loss) to a new buyer for another purpose, then that new buyer may also own the land that this beautiful Mackey Funeral Home sits on. If that should ever take place; do you realize that the new buyer may not need or want to keep this commercial lot? Right now this historic building is capable of being used as a revenue stream for smart-thinking people and buyers. Since 1894, it has beautified the area and may help protect it still! Without it, new owners may see the waste of yet another unnecessary parking lot and sell it to anyone who wants to put up a commercial business on that land. Again, if you’re wondering what the significance of this is, it’s pretty clear… and scary.

I repeat. That lot, protected right now by that beautiful antique home, is zoned for commercial use! That should worry every parishioner, resident and property owner all around that wonderful neighborhood who is concerned about maintaining the quality of the whole neighborhood. And those who own property in and around it should be concerned about the possibility of losing property value, if any business you deem undesirable should ever buy that land and occupy that lot so close to your personal investments.

Do not be misguided, misled or manipulated by Pastor Doyle or anyone in a church leadership position (or not) who may think this cannot happen to St. Mary’s. It is not exempt from the chopping block of our dear Archdiocese. As beautiful and much loved as the church and parish is, and it truly is a beautiful church and parish, our infamous Archdiocese has made it clear that it will shut down any church it wants at any time, regardless of how loyal, dedicated and financially supportive its parishioners, neighbors or townspeople have been or feel about it. It has proved this time and again. Is that not correct?

The clock is ticking! How would you like that lot to be sold and used for another gas station, or a fast food place, or a storage building… or become another dirty parking lot surrounded by chain link fences to house old, used or broken down trucks or buses… or become a junk yard for old, dirty salvage parts… just to name a few. The list of businesses taking residence close to your home or office is just a start of what should concern you. And then there’s the health issue of what animals it may attract near your home or business that may affect you, your customers or children who live or walk or play nearby. You might want to think about all of that... NOW!

What can be done about it?

The simple, immediate and logical compromise is to save the Albion Franklin Welch - Mackey Funeral Home building on its original foundation on that commercial lot and still provide added church parking! She needs you now. We all need you now. We needed you months ago. This may be your last chance to wake up and realize the loss this Pastor is causing. Once she is gone, she will be gone forever. There is no bringing her back to fill and help protect that vacant lot that is commercially zoned. Again, should that lot go up for sale at some future time, any business that you may think is undesirable may move in, That should be a huge worry.

Yes, it is true that no one can know for sure what the future may hold for St. Mary’s parish. Maybe nothing will happen to it. But you CAN be sure the Archdiocese of Boston will continue to have its own agenda and act in its own best interest. It will send pastors to parishes where they may have little to no vested interest in the town, neighborhood or area. It will continue to send pastors on assignments with the power to “conduct business” no matter how it may hurt the parish, its parishioners, neighborhood or town… pastors who will wear the cloth and collar to preach the word of Christ, yet may misuse that power to misguide, mislead and manipulate people with destructive and disgraceful actions… and they’ll get away with it, as they have in the past.

Accountability seems not to be a word used effectively in the dictionary of the Boston Archdiocese. It’s happened before in its scandalous past. And it’s happening now. You know it is. Not only will we suffer, but so will all good and honorable pastors doing what is right. How sad, very sad for them! St. Mary’s current pastor, by his destructive actions in this painful issue, and notably rude disregard for the wishes of so many people, to save this exemplary asset, is yet another shameful example of Catholic dishonor and distrust.

He must be stopped now! Think-React... Fast.

This article to be continued... Jim Morrocco