Community Corner
St. Bridget Pastor: Archdiocese Makes A 'Distressing' Change
St. Bridget Church in Framingham will have a new Mass schedule, among other changes, thanks to a decision by the Archdiocese of Boston Personnel Board.
The Archdiocese of Boston has decided that St. Bridget Parish can operate with just its pastor Monsignor Francis Strahan.
The Archdiocese Personnel Board voted to transfer Father Mark DeAngelis from St. Bridget Church to Methuen, where he will be the parochial vicar for two parishes - St. Lucy and St. Monica.
Rev. Strahan, in a letter to parishioners this weekend, described the news as "distressing."
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"I have been informed that no one will take his place here at St. Bridget Parish," wrote the Monsignor.
He told parishioners the Archdiocese personnel board made its decision based on the number of baptisms, first Communions, Confirmations, marriages and funerals at the Roman Catholic Church.
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"The fact that we have a vibrant school with all its many activities that require the participation of a pastor or associate did not enter into the decision, unfortunately," wrote Rev. Strahan.
With just one priest at the Route 9 parish, the Monsignor said "radical changes" have to be made to the parish's Mass schedule.
Beginning June 8, there will be a reduction in the number of weekend Masses.
Starting that weekend, the regular Saturday Vigil Mass will continue at 4 p.m., but on Sunday there will only be three Masses:
7:30 a.m., Family Mass at 9:30 a.m. and Choir Mass at 11:30 a.m.
"Needless to say, we will have to scrutinize other parish activities," said Rev. Strahan.
The Archdiocese of Boston is going through a restructuring and reconfiguration. One of the main reasons is a decline in the number of clergy. Since 1988, there has been a loss of 341 diocesan priests, a decline of over 37 percent. The median age of priests in the Archdiocese is 59 and the number of active priests over age 70 is 132. In the next 10 years the number of active priests will be drastically reduced by death and retirement, according to the Archdioese.
The Archdiocese has already closed parishes in Framingham, including the former St. Jeremiah.
Presently, there are four churches left Saint Bridget, Saint George, Saint Stephen and Saint Tarcisius.
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Editor's Note: I am a member of St. Bridget Parish.
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