RELIGION: Merger Mass will be celebrated Saturday

Local News

June 19, 2008

Staff Reports The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Thu Jun 19, 2008, 02:22 AM EDT

Parishioners of St. Mary’s of Gasport, merging with St. John the Baptist on Chestnut Street, will be greeted by some familiar faces when they attend the first Mass of the merged churches at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist have been moved to the walls at the Chestnut Street Church.

“They were taken down on Sunday,” said Debbie Brown, the president of St. John’s Pastoral Council and head of the Liturgy Committee. “The statues will be a permanent reminder. St. Mary’s parishioners will be greeted with a joint Mass and made to feel welcome. We are celebrating the first day or the merger.”

Debbie Brown was a parishioner at the Gasport church for 20 years and is a member of the Diocesan Commission. Her husband, Kevin, is the president of St. Mary’s Pastoral Council and head of the Liturgy Committee in Gasport.

St. Mary’s will officially merge into Lockport’s biggest Catholic Church on the date, June 21, decreed by Bishop Edward Kmiec of the Diocese of Buffalo. The buildings and property in Gasport will no longer be used.

Debbie Brown noted there was some negative response to the merger in Gasport. “People didn’t understand what was happening,” she said. “My heart aches, too. I will miss it, but there were very good reasons. It’s a good thing. We are one.”

The statues are in place. Other holy items from Gasport will be brought to the altar at the processional service at 5 p.m. Saturday. Those include holy oils, a processional cross and sacramental books.

All are welcome to a reception after Mass and the Rev. James A. Waite, pastor of St. John’s, hopes the event will be like a wedding celebration.

The Rev. Joseph P. Badding of St. Mary’s and St. Stephen’s of Middleport will take part in the services at St. John’s. St. Stephen’s is merging with St. Mary’s of Medina to form a single parish, using both sites. Sacred Heart of Jesus of Medina is closing.

St. Patrick’s parish in Barker and St. Joseph’s parish in Lyndonville will link for a year and then merge to form a single parish with a new name using both sites.

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