It’s been nearly a year since the Catholic Church temporarily closed the doors to St. Hyacinth’s and removed some of the pews.
The move angered many parishioners, who felt the diocese was slowly closing the historic church down without consulting those who had worshipped there all their lives.
The Westbrook Catholic Community has come a long way since then, and it has a long way to go. And, although the decision by parishioners to close St. Mary’s and St. Edmund’s and worship at St. Hyacinth’s won’t please everyone, more people will accept it because parishioners themselves made it, and it was nearly unanimous.
Last fall, the decision to close St. Hyacinth’s temporarily came from a transition team led by the former priest, Rev. Joseph Manship. While Manship made it clear that parishioners would be heard, he also made it clear that their voices might not affect the ultimate decision.
“It’s not a democracy; it’s a faith community,” Manship said at the time.
That decision to close St. Hyacinth’s led to a meeting at St. Hyacinth’s at which some expressed bitterness at the way the decision had been handled. Some parishioners cried; others expressed anger at the decision to remove pews from the church.
At that meeting, Windham Town Manager Tony Plante, a member of the transition team, was one of those who tried to calm other members of the church. “I hope we can continue in a compassionate, Christian manner,” he said.
Manship was correct when he said a church is not a democracy, especially when it comes to the Catholic Church, which has always had a strong hierarchy, which descends directly from God, according to the faith. However, the church ought to leave this decision to parishioners.
The decision will have little effect on the church as a whole or its teachings. Those who will be affected most are those who have spent their lives worshipping in Westbrook churches.
For them, the change will be permanent and personal. As we report in a front page story this week, one of them, Aime Thibeault, stood outside the church last week as workers replaced pews taken out last year.
After being a member at St. Hyacinth’s since 1925, Thibeault began attending church at St. Patrick’s in Portland, rather than St. Mary’s in Westbrook, when his longtime church closed its doors last year. Thibeault had spent much of his life at St. Hyacinth’s. He had attended school, married his wife and watched his daughter’s wedding there.
Last week, he said he was ready to return. “I’m very proud of my church. I’m glad to go back,” he said.
For those who will be leaving, rather than returning, when masses resume at St. Hyacinth’s, this transition will be difficult. Nothing can alleviate that pain completely. But being a part of the decision will help.
Sue Bernard, communications director for the Portland Catholic Diocese, said this week she expected Bishop Richard Joseph Malone to uphold the recommendation of parishioners.
We hope he will. It will go a long toward making St. Anthony’s – the new name for the Westbrook Catholic Community – a truly united parish.
Brendan Moran, editor
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