Local
Additional decrees issued for parishes

By Father Robert M. O'Grady
Posted: 11/5/2004

Three additional decrees were released this week regarding parishes to be suppressed as part of the reconfigu-ration process for the entire archdiocese.

The parishes involved are in Belmont, Boston and Lowell.

Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Belmont will close of Nov. 18 and its territory will be part of St. Luke Parish in Belmont. Both parishes serve territory in Belmont and Watertown. The records of Our Lady will be maintained at St. Luke, while the goods and obligations of Our Lady will be those of the archdiocese.

In Boston’s Back Bay, St. Ann University Parish has closed. The decree makes specific mention of the poor condition of the physical plant as a contributing factor, at the same time the proximity of other parishes is also noted. The canonical registers will be kept at neighboring St. Cecilia Parish with the goods and obligations becoming those of the archdiocese.

In the Merrimack Valley, the separate process that was underway in Lawrence and Lowell continues to be implemented with the announcement of the suppression of Sacred Heart Parish in Lowell. The territory of that suppressed parish will be the territory of St. Marie Parish, Lowell and the canonical registers will be kept at St. Marie. As with other suppressions, the goods and obligations of St. Marie become those of the archdiocese.