St. Anne’s parishioners protest church closing
By: Amanda Pitts
alpitts@abc6.com
@APittsABC6
FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — St. Anne’s parishioners lined South Main Street in Fall River Sunday, holding a peaceful protest to save their beloved church.
“It was built for centuries, not for one century,” said parishioner Robert Gauvin.
After 112 years, the St. Anne’s Parish and Shrine will hold its final mass on November 25th. The Diocese of Fall River broke the news two weeks ago, citing repairs totaling $13.5 million.
“The Catholic community, the Vatican, they have tons of money. If they wanted to just reach out and help us they could do it at any time,” said protest organizer Richard Affonso.
In addition to repairs is attendance. The diocese said demographics are changing, and numbers at St. Anne’s are low. Church members blame church leadership for not doing more.
“For 50 years, they really haven’t put any substantial amount of money into this church and it’s really really a shame and they should be ashamed of themselves,” said Gauvin.
One protestor drove nearly 300 miles to show his support. Bryan Boyle, who now lives in Pennsylvania, grew up in Fall River. He has a long family legacy at St. Anne’s. His great-grandparents helped build it.
He said he was heartbroken when he heard the news.
“What would the city skyline be like without that? It’s very glib to say it’s just a building. It’s not just a building. These people aren’t here because it’s just a building.”
A GoFundMe was created to try and save the church. So far, nearly $5,000 has been raised of its $1 million goal.
Parishioners’ plan to appeal the closing, buying them time to continue fundraising. They hope to redo the church in small chunks over a longer period of time.
Their goal, if masses end at St. Anne’s, is to at least keep the Shrine open as a safe haven for Fall River residents.
“I know the changes and the challenges that are here, so why tear apart something that can be an anchor for the rest of the people in the city?”
(c) WLNE-TV 2018
