Saint Barbara

left: page 4, right: page 1

left: page 2, right: page 3

To-day the parish met outside, on the front steps and the sidewalk of Denison, in the rain.

Saint Catharine (Catherine)

This plaque was visible Friday 23 September 2011 to the public, it was attached to a wall remnant adjacent to the bell tower.
This plaque was taken out of the rubble, Sunday, it had been on the nave wall opposite the other one.

A group of accidental and spontaneously meeting concerned Catholics, some parishioners and graduates from Saint Catherine's in Cleveland, and some from other parishes rediscovered and saved these commemorative plaques, which were a roster of "Our Boys and Girls" who "Serve their Country" during the Second World War. These two plaques were left to be destroyed in the process of demolition and removal of Saint Catharine's church building, on East 93rd Street, one block north of Union Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. The diocese cared absolutely nothing for them until Monday, 26 September 2011. At that point, the issue became a public embarrassment, and that could not be permitted.

Saint George

Boycott the Basket

Solidarity Masses

Father Robert Begin celebrated the 1st Mass of Eucharistic Solidarity for the Displaced Parishioners of the Cleveland Diocese on the 8th of August 2010 at Saint Colman. The 2nd Mass of Eucharistic Solidarity for the Displaced Parishioners was held on the 14th of December at Saint Augustine, Cleveland and was celebrated by Father Joseph McNulty. Fr. McNulty acknowledged those separated from their parishes as a community, and welcomed them to Saint Augustine's.

St. Augustine is a most charitable parish, it serves and welcomes, the poor, blind, deaf, and mad. They had a curate, for some time, that spoke on peace too much for the bishop's liking. He is now in Detroit with other Jesuits. Afterwards, Sr. Corita Ambro gave a poignant talk about her ministry at St. Augustine's. Several people teared up. Cameramen from three television stations made interviews with some of the faithful, none aired. Only one cameraman stayed for the end of the Mass, and presumably has Sister's talk on tape.

Saint Stanislaus, Lorain

Now, Lorain is a perfect place for Stanislaus. In Lorain, Ohio thousands came from eastern Europe to work the steel mill and factories. Each nation, and their rites and denominations built a church for their community; the latin rite catholics, the byzantines, the eastern orthodox, and protestants. By accident of history, a Stanislaus (Leszczynski) was king of Poland, twice. His daughter was wife to Louis XV of France. Upon his second removal from the throne, his father in law made him the last duke of (the original) Lorraine.

Above is a funeral card for the suppressed parish of Saint Stanislaus of Lorain.

Holy Trinity, Bedford Hts

Holy Trinity, Lorain

Certainly, the parishioners who loved and celebrated their century anniversary never thought the honored celebrant would soon come back to eliminate them. A few years before they had their church building consecrated to endure forever. People who pray and believe, "As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be", were blindsided by their demise.

Catholic May Day

Saint Mary, Bedford

Broadway Methodist

It was not just churches closed by Richard Lennon in the area. Churches exercising different polity did not react as corporate America does to send in a shark to slash for cash. Some congregations voted to close because of actual conditions. No false rationale had to be invented. No finding plausible reasons to employ.

The North Coast District United Methodists had three close after Christmas 2010. One in Euclid, Master's Church; one in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Memorial, the oldest in the county; and this one on Broadway, which used to have some services in czech. There had been anti-Habsburg, anti clerical czech immigrants in Cleveland. Some converted. The Methodist North Coast District still has some functions at the address, and maintains their office there.
Some twenty five feet across, a copy of Da Vinci's Last Supper is on the wall above the altar of this church. Mrs. Oliver Stafford saw it displayed in the Louvre. She, and her husband, were major benefactors and very active members of their church. She bought it. 18 December 1924 it was first seen by the public in Cleveland.

Saint Wendelin

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Cleveland

Saint Lawrence

Saint Mary, Akron O.

"Refrigerator" magnet

Saint James

bookmark and note card

Saint Peter

Newly commissioned icon from Bulgaria of St. Peter.
Mass programme at Mass of Reunion, and stone chips from large holy water font.

Saint Rose of Lima

Saint Procop

Saint Casimir

Mid-day Sunday, 8 November 2009. Eucharistic procession at the end of the Mass, prior to the Mass of Eviction. Smoke of incense visible in top picture.
Half of 1st page of an 8 page 8 ½′′ x 14′′ prayer and hymn booklet prepared for the 3rd street vigil.
Divine Mercy armband and Saint Casimir t-shirt.

Two prayer cards for a year of parish exile.

Beyond standard media and official sources

Not all items were created from the parishes proper. One cover story in an alternative weekly did justice. Since then there appeared a fine story on the St. Casimir vigils, and this letter to the paper by a St. Cecilia parishioner.
Two parishioner groups have formed in opposition to the closures and are asking questions of propriety that go unanswered. First there came Endangered Catholics, and then Code Purple. The latter is also questioning the mismanagement and sexual scandals the diocese has covered up. In this they are allied with Bishop Accountability.

Je me souviens

In the French language: (se) souvenir means to remember. Je me souviens is the motto of Quebec, it means "I remember". The english canadienes ask, often mockingly, "remember what?". The French is so simple, and so full. I (we) remember all that has passed, the glories, the hardships, the beauty, those who have gone before us, some that we knew. We have not forgotten, we cannot forget, we will not forget.

Marty Haugen (composer of much current liturgical music) wrote, We Remember. The last words of the refrain (we remember, we celebrate, we believe) are sung as a moving, musical phrase.

In the last five years church closings have hit northeast Ohio. Holy Ghost Byzantine was one, both Broadway and Brooklyn Methodist were others; but by far the most drastic hits were on the Roman-rite parishes. Now, often what people have left are: souvenirs and memories.

Parishes Closed
10 28 06 Assumption of Mary Grafton
11 12 06 St. Jude Warrensville Hts.
09 02 07 Holy Trinity Barberton
10 28 07 St. Wenceslas Maple Hts.
12 30 07 St. Henry
12 30 07 St. Catherine
05 27 08 St. Philip Neri
06 02 08 St. Andrew Svorad
10 25 08 St. George Clinton
04 26 09 Holy Cross Elyria

05 24 09 Epiphany
06 14 09 SS. Cyril & Methodius Barberton
06 21 09 Christ the King East Cleveland
06 28 09 Sacred Heart of Jesus Elyria
08 30 09 St. Procop
09 19 09 St. Hyacinth
09 26 09 St. Hedwig Akron
09 27 09 St. Stanislaus Lorain
09 27 09 St. Ladislaus Lorain
10 04 09 St. Francis

10 04 09 SS. Cyril & Methodius Lorain
10 18 09 St. George
10 31 09 St. John the Baptist Akron
11 01 09 St. Margaret of Hungary Orange
11 07 09 Community of Saint Malachi
11 08 09 St. Casimir
11 14 09 Holy Trinity Bedford Hts.
11 15 09 St. Mary Bedford
11 21 09 St. Paul Euclid
11 28 09 Christ the King Akron

12 13 09 Holy Trinity Lorain
12 20 09 St. Vitus Lorain
12 27 09 St. Robert Bellarmine Euclid
01 09 10 St. Louis Cleveland Heights
01 17 10 St. Hedwig Lakewood
01 24 10 Sacred Heart of Jesus Akron
02 13 10 St. Christine Euclid
03 07 10 St. Joseph Lorain
03 14 10 St. Rose of Lima
04 10 10 Blessed Sacrament

04 11 10 St. Peter
04 17 10 Corpus Christi
04 25 10 St. Cecilia
05 02 10 Sacred Heart of Jesus
05 03 10 SS. Philip & James
05 09 10 St. Barbara
05 09 10 Our Lady of Mercy
05 16 10 Assumption of Mary Brook Park
05 23 10 St. Wendelin
05 30 10 Annunciation

05 30 10 St. Patrick West Park
06 06 10 St. Adalbert-Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
06 12 10 St. Margaret Mary South Euclid
06 20 10 St. Lawrence
06 20 10 Our Lady of Mount Carmel—East
06 26 10 St. James Lakewood
06 27 10 St. Mary Akron
06 30 10 St. Emeric
_________________________
11 01 09 Holy Ghost Byzantine
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12 26 10 Broadway Methodist