St. Mary of the Assumption Church
Northampton, Massachusetts
St. Mary of the Assumption Church
Northampton, Massachusetts
SAVE ST. MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION CHURCH
This church has received local, regional and national recognition for its historic beauty, cultural center and place of worship in Northampton. It is scheduled to close as of January 3, 2010. You can help keep it open by signing our petition, sending letters and/or calling Bishop McDonnell. Your immediate attention is required!
Click on the following link to open a copy of our petition which you can print out and have friends and fellow parishioners sign. Please drop off all signed petitions at the Rectory office by 11:00 am on November 16th. These petitions will then be delivered to Bishop McDonnell later that day.
Below is a copy of the petition for those unable to open the above link.
TO: Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell
Bishop of the Springfield Roman Catholic Diocese
76 Elliot Street
P.O. Box 1730
Springfield, MA 01102-1730
WE, the undersigned parishioners and friends of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Northampton, Massachusetts, having been previously notified by Bishop Timothy McDonnell, that our church was the only church of the downtown Northampton churches which would remain open following the reconfiguration of these Northampton churches, need to inform you of our disbelief in the disheartening news which we received on November 7, 2009, that our church will be closed as of January 3, 2010. For the following reasons, we request you to reconsider your decision and permit St. Mary to remain open as the main Catholic Church in Northampton.
1. St. Mary is recognized for its historical uniqueness in the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Bureau of the Interior in Washington, D.C., and in addition it is situated in the Elm Street Historic District of Northampton, a historic district which runs for over one mile from St. Mary to Woodlawn Avenue. As such, it receives local, regional and national recognition for is historic beauty and place in the community.
2. St. Mary has been honored and given a Preservation Award by the Northampton Historical Society in 1990 following the extensive renovation and restoration of the Church which was completed in 1988. In addition St. Mary received an award from Stavros Center for Independent Living for its handicap accessibility.
3. St. Mary received the recommendation of the diocesan engineer as the most suitable building to be the main church in Northampton.
4. St. Mary has the richest history of the existing churches in Northampton, and is widely recognized for its prominence in the city, outstanding acoustics and beautiful stained glass windows designed and executed by Franz Mayer of Munich.
5. The parish has been in existence since 1841 and the church building since 1881. It is not only a place of worship, but a cultural center and venue for music and the arts.
6. St. Mary provides ministry to the Catholic students at Smith College due to its proximity to the college.
7. St. Mary's Church Hall is often sought after for use by Interfaith groups for programs on peace and justice. For the past year, the Interfaith Homeless Commission has provided $400.00 each month for the soup kitchen held each Tuesday and Thursday in the Church hall.
Based on the foregoing, we request that you reconsider your decision to close St. Mary and upon reconsideration reverse your determination and allow St. Mary to remain open as the center for the future growth of Roman Catholicism in Northampton. Thank you for your consideration.
Dated: November 16, 2009 Parishioners/Friends of St. Mary of the Assumption Church
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