A Church Divided

This page is dedicated to maintaining current news and events regarding the announced plans by the Cleveland Diocese to close 52 area churches, as a result of clustering mergers, consolidations, and direct closure methods.

Tune in to WCPN 90.3 FM for weekly updates on church closing -- Every Sunday from 6-7pm the WCPN Kapossy Family Hungarian Program will update on the continuing effort to appeal the Diocese closure decisions.

Visit our Forum Section - Church Divided Category for BREAKING NEWS and Opinions on this topic.

Organizations dedicated in opposition to the diocese decision for church closings:

ENDANGERED CATHOLICS

A group of concerned catholics from 13 Greater Cleveland churches slated to close by next year.

TEMPLOMORZO

A group of St Emeric parishioners dedicated to preservation of Hungarian language mass and the parish of St. Emeric of Hungary

For a very insightful perspective from historical church closing events that unfolded in Boston in the last decade, please view the videos on Peter Borre's visit to Cleveland, relating his experiences over 6 years of church closure resistance.
(Note: to view the videos in full screen mode, select the segment, and click on the picture -- You will see the YouTube version)

Parishioners involved in church closings, Endangered Catholics and Community leaders are encouraged to submit information for posting on these pages, so that all parishioners can maintain awareness of these happenings.   Please post directly on the Forum pages, (registration required) or send e-mail to Freemagyar@aol.com

WEEKLY PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS are being held every Wednesday, organized by Endangered Catholics, from 4PM -- 6PM, at 9th st / Superior, in front of St John's Cathedral and Diocesan office. Please bring any interested people to assist.

BLOGs

The following are links to blogs of interest to Hungarian-Americans. Please report broken links via the "Contact Us" tab.

LOCAL / Regional COMMUNITY
Hungarian Heritage Museum
Csardas Dance Company
Hungarian American Scouts
Hungarian Association - Magyar Társaság
HUNGARIAN CULTURAL GARDEN of Cleveland..MAGYAR KULTUR KERT
CHDP Economic Development Program
Hungarian Cultural Center Of Northeastern Ohio
Hungarian Genealogical Society
Hungarian Americans of Cleveland
The Gulyas Pot - website
1956 Hungarian Revolution Site

Documents

Some documents have been provided by interested parishioners which shed light on the financial aspects of closing of St Emeric parish. These include building property ownership, and potential valuation, along with a map of the parcels in question.

Some people have speculated about the possibility of a buyout, considering the current depressed market in real estate, and the less than favorable area for development. These papers shed some light on such possibilities.

PARISHES TO BE CLOSED OR MERGED IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND

As the result of a nearly two year consultative process Bishop Richard Lennon has issued notice to these parishes that they must close or merge as directed by June 30, 2010.
(PLEASE SEND ANY UPDATES --- Freemagyar@aol.com )

Bold Print indicates: Parish involved in merger or special circumstance

CUYAHOGA COUNTY

City ofCleveland

Ascension 14040 Puritas --- [Merger w/ Annunciation and St. Patrick - new parish site to be determined]

Annunciation 4697 W. l30th St. --- [Merger with Ascension and St. Patrick, new parish site to be determined]

Blessed Sacrament 3381 Fulton Rd.

Community ofSt. Malachi W.25th and Detroit Ave. (Merge with St. Malachi parish on the same site)

Conversion of St. Paul 1369 E. 40th St. [The monastery of the Poor Clares will continue at the former site, as will the Friary ofthe Capuchin Friars]

Corpus Christi 4850 Pearl Rd. (Merge wi Our Lady of Good Counsel at the OLGC site)

Epiphany 11901 Oakfield Ave.

Our Lady of Good Counsel 4423 Pearl Rd. (Merge wlCorpus Christi parish at the OLGC site)

Our Lady of Mercy 2425 W. 11th St.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help 18022 Neff Rd. [Merger wiSt. George Lithuanian at OLPH site]

Sacred Heart of Jesus 6916 Krakow Ave.

St. Adalbert 2347 East 83rd St.

St. Barbara 1505 Denison Ave.

St. Casimir 8223 Sowinski Ave.

St. Cecilia E. 152nd and Kinsman Ave.

St. Colman 2027 W. 65th St. [Merge wi St. Stephen at St. Stephen site for new Parish]

St. Emeric 1890 W. 22nd St.

St. Francis 7206 Myron Ave [Elementary School remains open at site]

St. George 6527 Superior Ave. [Merge w/Our Lady of Perpetual Help at the OLPH site]

St. Hyacinth 6114 Francis Ave.

St. Ignatius of Antioch 10205 Lorain Rd. [Elementary School remains open at site]

St. Lawrence 3532 East 81 st St.

St. Malachi W. 25th and Detroit Ave. [Merge w/Community of St. Malachi reopens at this site as new parish]

St. Patrick 4427 Rocky River Dr. [Merge with Ascension and Annunciation- site to be determined)

St. Peter 1533 East 17th St.

St. Procop 3181 W. 4lst St.

St. Rose of Lima 11401 Detroit Ave. [Merge wi SS. Cyril and Methodius in Lakewood at Lakewood site]

St. Stephen 1930 W.54th St. [Merge wiSt. Colman-reopens at this site as new parish]

St. Wendel in 2281 Columbus Rd.

SS. Philip and James 3727 Bosworth Ave.

City of Brook Park

Assumption of Mary 5555 Smith Rd. [Merge wiSt. Peter the Apostle-worship site to be determined]

St. Peter the Apostle 6455 Engle Rd [Merge wiAssumption of Mary---worship site to be determined]

City of Bedford

St. Mary 300 Union St. [Merge wi Holy Trinity and St. Pius X at St.Pius site]

St. Pius X 400 Center Rd. [Merge wlHoly Trinity and St. Mary-reopens at this site as new parish]

City of Bedford Heights

Holy Trinity 24821 Columbus Rd. [Merge wi St. Mary and St. Pius X at St. Pius X site]

City of Cleveland Heights

St. Ann 2175 Coventry Rd. [Merge wi St. Louis, St. Philomena and Christ the King---Reopens at this site as new parish]

St. Louis 2463 North Taylor Rd. [Merge wi St. Ann, Christ the King, and St. Philomena at St. Ann site)

City of East Cleveland

Christ the King 1862 Noble Rd. [Merge wI St. Louis, St. Philomena and St. Ann at St. Ann site)

St. Philomena 13824 Euclid Ave. [Merge wI St. Ann, St. Louis and Christ the King--Building will be 2nd worship site for new parish)

City of Euclid

Holy Cross E. 200tb and Lake Shore [Merge wI St. Christine -reopens at this site as new parish]

St. Christine 840 E. 222nd St. [Merge with Holy Cross parish]

St. Felicitas 140 Richmond Rd. [Merge wI St. Paul-reopens at this site as new parish]

St. Paul 1231 Chardon Rd. [Merge wI St. Felicitas]

St. Robert 23802 Lakeshore Blvd. [Merge with St. William parish]

St. William 367 E. 260tb St. [Merge wI St .Robert---reopens at this site as new parish]

City ofSouth Euclid

St. Gregory 1545 S. Green Rd. [Merge wi St. Margaret Mary-worship site to be Determined]

St. Margaret Mary 4217 Bluestone Rd. [Merge with St. Gregory the Great"-Worship site to be determine]

City of Lakewood

SS. Cyril & Methodius Madison and Lakewood [Merge wi St. Rose-reopens at this site as new parish]

St. Hedwig 12905 Madison Ave.

St. James 17514 Detroit Ave.

Village of Grange

St. Margaret of Hungary 4680 Lander Rd.

LORAIN COUNTY

City ofElyria

Holy Cross 1417 West Ave.

Sacred Heart of Jesus 162 Irondale St.

City of Lorain

Holy Trinity 2428 Elyria Ave. [Merge wi St. Mary-worship site to be determined]

St. John the Baptist Grove Ave. and Homewood Dr. [Merge wiSt. Vitus and SS. Cyrii & Methodius-new parish at St. John site]

St. Joseph Reid Ave. and 15th S1.

St. Ladislaus 1412 East 29th St.

S1. Mary 8th S1. and Reid Ave. [Merge wlHoly Trinity-worship site to be determined]

S1. Stanislaus Elyria Ave. and East 28th S1.

St. Vitus 1793 E. 32nd S1. [Merge wiSt. John the Baptist and SS. Cyril & Methodius-new parish at St. John site]

SS. Cyril & Methodius 1705 E. 31st St. [Merge w/ St. Vitus and St. John the Baptist-new parish at St. John site]

SUMMIT COUNTY

City ofAkron

Annunciation 55 Broad St. [Merge wiSt. John the Baptist-worship site at Annunciation]

Christ the King 1584 Creighton Ave. [Merge wiSt. Martha-worship site at St.

Martha--North Akron Catholic School remains open at Christ the King site]

Sacred Heart of Jesus 734 Grant S1.

St. Bernard Broadway and E. State Sts. [Merge wi St. Mary-worship site at St. Bernard]

St. Hedwig 213 East Glenwood Ave.

St. John the Baptist 1044 Brown St. [Merge w/Annunciation-worship site at Annunciation]

St. Martha 300 E. Tallmadge Ave. [Merge wlChrist the King-worship site at St.Martha]

St. Mary 750 South Main St. [Merge wiSt. Bernard-worship site at St. Bernard]

City of Barberton

SS. Cyril & Methodius 183 15th St. NW

29 Parishes will close
18 mergers will involve 42 parishes
52 fewer parishes