St. Michael’s Church and Parish in Atlantic City is 112 years old. It’s also a historic landmark that’s in danger of closing on Sept. 27, 2015.
Supporters warn that closing St. Michael’s Parish will eliminate the heart, soul and character of the Ducktown District of Atlantic City. It’s feared that corporate retail developers will take over this historic area.
Closing St. Michael’s Church in Atlantic City will further deteriorate a community that needs spiritual and moral leadership more than ever….
Beautiful Italian Renaissance sculptures, frescos, paintings and sacred objects can be found inside St Mike’s. An amazing $8 million was collected & donated in 2000-2001 to completely restore St. Michael’s Church and the adjacent Dante Hall.
https://youtu.be/qU6fNQY0OCY
St. Michael’s Church and Parish in Atlantic City.
For more info or to pledge money, contact Robert Venafro > ducktown1946@yahoo.com or call 865-694-9252
Visit “Savestmikes” Facebook page Sign online petition here.
Below are excerpts from a candid and helpful dialogue that representatives of Save St. Mikes had on August 17 with Fr. Jon Thomas who is now responsible for St. Michael’s Church. In the interview we discussed the reasons for the closing of St. Michaels, our intent to keep it open, and how Save St. Mikes can cooperate with Fr. Jon to make an open and vibrant St. Michael’s Church an asset to the New Parish.
It is clear from this dialogue that parishioners and supporters of St. Michael’s Church need to immediately make a special effort to attend all the remaining 11:00 am Sunday Masses, make a pledge at savestmikes on facebook, speak to the Pastor, and write to the Bishop.
Save St. Mikes: Save St. Mikes is dedicated to keeping St. Michael’s Church open permanently for Mass on Sundays, Holy Days, and Feast Days. We also are partnering with St. Monica’s to do the same for their Church.
Fr. Jon: I understand that this is the goal of Save St. Mike’s.
Save St. Mikes: You reassured us that at this time the Bishop is not planning to sell St. Michael’s Church and that if a decision to sell is made the parishioners will be notified in advance so as to allow for an appeal.
Fr. Jon: This is correct. My own understanding is that the future use of the property is largely up to the parish and its pastor, who must consult with the pastoral and finance councils. However, if the parish is in financial trouble and/or cannot maintain St. Michael Church in good condition, then the diocese will insist that the parish list the church for sale. In order to sell the church, I must petition the bishop to reduce the church to “profane” status. This act of the bishop is appeal-able, just like his act to consolidate parishes. You might research the case in the Midwest recently where a bishop did not follow procedure in closing and selling churches and lost of a number of appeals. Since then, most dioceses – including this one – have followed Church law very carefully.
Save St. Mikes: You mentioned that St. Michael’s Church is being closed because of the decreasing number of parishioners, the reduced financial support, and the lack of priests. The current plan is to close St. Michael’s Church for the Sunday celebration of Mass on Sept. 27.
Fr. Jon: I refer you to the bishop’s decree for the exact wording of the reasons.
Save St. Mikes You mentioned that with an increase in Mass attendance you would recommend to the Bishop that Sunday Mass at St. Michael’s Church be extended beyond Sept. 27.
Fr. Jon: I said a significant increase in attendance and the collection by September 27 would lead me to inform the diocese of the development at St. Michael’s and ask for their direction. As a benchmark, last Sunday, 144 people attended Mass and the collection was $944. The church supposedly seats 280 people.
Save St. Mikes We were pleased to hear that the dollars generated by St. Michael’s Church covers the cost of its operations.
Fr. Jon: I think I said that we wouldn’t know for sure until after the first year of operation whether the annual lease payments from Stockton, Catholic Charities, and Sprint cover the annual property costs. I could look at last year’s utility costs, snow plowing, etc. and determine how much of our maintenance men’s salary to charge to St. Michael’s to get a ballpark figure for now – but that is a lot of work and I’ve got too much on my plate already. I did say it was the diocese’s supposition that the lease payments basically offset maintenance costs and, for this reason, we should be slow to sell St. Michael’s. But the diocese could be wrong. ;)
Save St. Mikes: We will work to get more visitors and former and present parishioners to attend Mass. Will you allow us to conduct tours of the Church as a way to increase attendance?
Fr. Jon: Yes, you’re welcome to conduct tours. We can arrange the details.
Save St. Mikes• We talked about getting more parishioners involved in Church activities through existing Church groups, using Quaremba Hall for more community events, and recruiting more volunteers to improve the 2016 “Wedding of The Sea” event.
Fr. Jon: Yes, Save St. Mike’s is welcome to organize community events. I think any funds raised from events hosted on St. Michael’s property would have to be deposited in parish accounts. They could be designated as restricted gifts, i.e. only to be applied to the costs of maintaining St. Michael’s campus. You could talk to a lawyer about this and I could talk to our diocesan attorney to insure that our concerns are both addressed – you, that you’re raising money to support St. Michael’s specifically and me, that money raised through on-campus events are in the custody of the parish, even if with restrictions.
Save St. Mikes: extended an offer to identify and pay for Priests to say Mass at St. Michael’s Church if it remains open permanently.
Fr. Jon: Yes, I do remember you saying this.
Save St. Mikes: is now collecting financial pledges for St. Michael’s Church that would be activated if the Diocese allows it to remain open permanently.
Fr. Jon: Yes, I do remember you saying this.
Save St. Mikes: We also discussed the possibility of mission status for St. Michael’s and St. Monica’s Churches.
Fr. Jon: Yes, I do remember you saying this.