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Do IT this week: Layering
Christ the King to close Saturday after Mass, merge with St. Martha
By Colette M. Jenkins
Beacon Journal religion writer
Published on Friday, Nov 27, 2009
Michael Stott has tried not to think about the inevitable.
But in recent weeks, that has been increasingly difficult.
''Every time I'm standing in the church, all these memories flood my mind. It's hard to think about the closing of a place where you've been all your life,'' said Stott, 51. ''I've been trying not to think about it, but as the closing day gets closer, I keep thinking about all the time I've spent here. I think about the days I was in school, my confirmation, all the family celebrations. It's the place where I got married. It's the place where I did my dad's eulogy.''
That place — Christ the King Parish — is scheduled to close after the 5:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday. Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Bishop Richard G. Lennon will preside. After the Mass, a reception will be held in the school gym.
The church, which is tucked away on the quiet residential cul-de-sac of Creighton Avenue, will merge with St. Martha Parish to form Blessed Trinity Parish at the St. Martha site, 300 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron. A closing Mass for St. Martha is at 1 p.m. Sunday. Blessed Trinity will celebrate its opening Mass at 11 a.m. Dec. 6.
The merger is part of a diocese-wide restructuring plan to address declining enrollment, financial hardships, population shifts and a worsening clergy shortage.
''The story here at Christ the King is the same as it is for other parishes throughout the diocese and in other regions of the country — different cultural forces have brought us to where we are today,'' said the Rev. Frank Basa, who has served as pastor of Christ the King for 22 years. ''It becomes a question of stewardship. Do we continue to pump money into old buildings where fewer and fewer people are coming? We have to make the best use of our resources.''
Attendance drops
In the Cleveland diocese, the number of registered Catholics who regularly attend Mass has dropped from 54 percent in 1970 to 28 percent last year.
The reconfiguration plan calls for 50 parishes to close by June 30, 2010. At that time, there will be one parish for every 2,600 Catholics in Akron; one parish for every 2,200 Catholics in Cleveland; one parish for every 2,900 Catholics in Lorain and one parish for every 4,600 Catholics in the rest of the diocese. The diocese includes Ashland, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit and Wayne counties.
Diocesan records show that Christ the King, located at 1584 Creighton Ave., currently serves 193 households.
Greta Krukemeyer, a parishioner for nearly 50 years, said that she remembers when the parish was full of life. As the children became adults and moved away, and those remaining continued to age, she said it has become increasingly difficult to remain visible in the community.
''Regardless of our size, we have always been a close family here at Christ the King. I'm going to miss the warmth and love that I've always felt here,'' Krukemeyer said. ''It's sad that the parish is closing but it's not the end because the church is not one building. God has a plan and I believe everything will be fine.''
Croatian Catholics
Christ the King was established in 1935 by Croatian Catholics as a mission of Cleveland's St. Paul Croatian Church. Its first home was the former Hungarian Lutheran Church on Grant Street. Renovations to the church and hall were completed in 1939 to accommodate the growing number of Croatian Catholics in the area.
In 1943, the Daughters of the Divine Charity came to the parish to staff the school. One of those nuns was Sr. M. Bernadette Evanchec, who currently serves as pastoral minister.
''Quarters, dimes and nickels built this church. A lot of people put a lot of hard work into this parish,'' Evanchec said. ''I've been with this community for a long time and I'm heartbroken that it is closing. But I know God's will must be done. I am sure that the new parish will be a place where we can all come together and share our gifts and talents.''
Evanchec was there when the parish property on Grant Street was taken for the construction of Interstate 76. That forced a move resulting in the purchase of 10.5 acres on Creighton Avenue in North Akron, where the existing church was dedicated on Nov. 8, 1959.
With the move came parish territorial boundaries. In addition, the Croatian people living within the boundaries of the old parish were included as members, making it a National Territorial parish. Over the years, the property has undergone changes, including the installation of new stained-glass windows for the 50th anniversary.
Ground was broken for a new parish center in 1987. The center includes the school, gymnasium and kitchen. Parishioners retired the church mortgage in 1994.
Less than a decade later, in 2003, Christ the King School merged with St. Martha's amid declining enrollment and increasing expenses, forming North Akron Catholic School. The school, at the Christ the King property, will be operated by the Blessed Trinity parish.
New pastor
Basa said any decisions about what happens to the property at Christ the King will be made under the leadership of Blessed Trinity's new pastor, the Rev. Joe Warner. Warner, 50, will be installed during the opening Mass. He comes to the North Hill parish from St. Hilary Parish in Fairlawn, where he served as parochial vicar. Basa will replace Warner at St. Hilary.
''Christ the King has been my home for the past 22 years, so I feel the same pain of letting go and moving on that the parishioners are experiencing. I've been with the people here in the joyous times and in the most difficult times,'' said Basa, 65. ''We must accept that this is God's direction. We are being challenged to do the best we can and we will find our way together.''
Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com.
Michael Stott has tried not to think about the inevitable.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Canton, OH
Posted 08:48 AM, 11/27/2009
Sad, sad day. . .The Catholic Church is in disarray. . .
Akron, OH
Posted 11:52 AM, 11/27/2009
Unmarried priesthood goes against the original church and puts man-made teachings first.
Big mistake.
"Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat."
3 He (Jesus) answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
. . So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.
7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
8 "'This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" Matthew 15
Mogadore, OH
Posted 12:08 PM, 11/27/2009
@Slovensko,
It is sad, but does not mean the Church is in disarray. It would be in disarray if they they did nothing to respond to declining and aging population within the cities coupled with declining church attendance. For the same reason that Akron does not need as many public school buildings, there is no need for so many church buildings.
@BelieveGod,
I agree, if they allowed married priests, there would not be such a shortage.
Posted 04:17 PM, 11/27/2009
MARRIED PRIESTS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED, FEMALE PRIESTS, YES.
1. A married man has a family to take care of, that should be his 1st priority. To leave a wife and kids and visit the sick, give communion, perform a wedding or funeral, confession, lead a church.. That is asking way to much for a parent.
2. What if "so called married priest" goes for a divorice? How does that show an example to the people of love and communication.
Even though I only give two reasons for not being allowed to marry, they are VALID.
A priest today has worked with many families, he knows through personal interactions with couples how a family functions. It is his responsibility to help the family. Though he doesn't have children, he consuls, listens, and should understand the needs of all.
Why not have a female as a priest? I am fine with that idea, of course, unmarried. Are not females good enough? Someday one might run the country.
So, I challenge you to explain how a married man would make a better priest and be able to take care of a family. If you do not have a family, I am sorry. My spouse and children are gifts from God, and they are my top priority. Amen
Orrville, Oh
Posted 04:47 PM, 11/27/2009
Demanding Fathers disqualified for affirmative action with white skin, Union workers, consumers, taxpayers, and America’s grandchildren’s children feel the pain of paying for parishioners tax refund; is defiant of demands of Natural Law: what Mother Nature, God, or Whatever Power decreed to be the reality of the real world, God, democracy, capitalism, the US Constitution, and free, fair, and affordable commerce.
Demanding every corporation, farmer, business, outsourcer sweatshop, and nonprofit, tax-exempt, organization and Church; markets the cost; in the wholesale and retail price of his or her product and service; Of parishioners funding Church; and every workers, consumers, and taxpayers living (including pension and health care); enabling parents to love, nurse, nurture, discipline, protect, and provide for every child (job) they conceive; and fund schools, infrastructure, national security, government services, and etc.; with money derived from wages or independent business profit.
Mogadore, OH
Posted 06:30 PM, 11/27/2009
@r3rjr,
I agree women should be allowed to be priests. As for married men, you make some valid points. However, I'm sure there are some men and families(not all)that would be able to handle the special circumstances required. So why prevent them from doing so?
Norton, Oh
Posted 07:09 PM, 11/27/2009
Lets examine the REAL reason for all the Catholic Church closings... The church is "broke" after paying out millions to settle child molestation cases. You can say its the aging members, or the dwindling congregation, but the bottom line, well, IS the bottom line. MONEY
Being a married pastor of a Protestant church does not adversely affect THEIR jobs... If the Catholic Church allowed priests to marry in the first place, maybe all those innocent children would still be innocent, and the church would still have money.
I feel sorrow for the parishoners who are losing their places of worship. But, look at the REAL cause...
Akron, Oh
Posted 01:46 AM, 11/28/2009
Priests, early in the Catholic history, were allowed to marry. What, ain't bingo bringing in the big bucks anymore?
_________, OH
Posted 08:47 AM, 11/28/2009
Yes let's re-examine this issue. There's nothing like beating a dead horse. The Catholic church has paid thru the nose. What else would you like to see happen, perhaps weekly random beatings of randoms priests would that satisfy your search for justice? As someone must continue to pay for these injustices. So really re-examining this issue will only bring about more pain for victims but why not let them suffer so you can feel your glib saitsfaction.
BTW I come from a catholic family of 8. In my church growing up we had families of 12,7,5,9 etc. These are kids mind you not counting parents,(and yes I mean a mom and dad... how novel). I bet you can think of a bunch of people you know with families this size these days can't you? You know not of what you speak!
Posted 02:56 PM, 11/28/2009
Close em all.
