Norwich Catholics work to keep both churches open

NORWICH – Nearly seven months after it was announced that one of the two Catholic churches in Norwich would close, parishioners and representatives of St. Bartholomew’s and St. Paul’s are mapping out their futures together, with no plans for either parish to shut its doors.

What began as the quest to save St. Bart’s has now become the quest to restore faith and bring both churches closer together, as several weeks ago it was announced, unofficially, that both churches will remain open. Parishioners and officials from both churches now say molding – and mending – the Catholic landscape in Norwich is the task at hand.

That task will begin at a parish council meeting to be held tonight. A planning committee will present a final draft outlining how the two churches will operate in the future. “From the first draft to the final draft – we’ve expanded a lot of things,” said Parish Council President and planning committee member Ron Storrin. “I think people will come away with a better feeling.”

Storrin said the draft is based on recommendations compiled over the previous months from parishioners at both churches. He said most of the reccomendations had a similar theme, mostly regarding the necessity of keeping both churches open. If the council accepts the proposal, it will be sent to the Diocese of Syracuse in late November for review.

Initial directives from the Bishop James Moynihan back in March alluded to St. Bartholomew’s as the church slated to close, due to local economic factors, a shortage of priests in the diocese, and a shortage of priests in the Catholic Church in general. In the days after the announcement, parishioners formed the “Committee to Save St. Bartholomew’s” and held several town meetings to organize their efforts. Following months of grassroots struggles highlighting the logistical and spiritual importance of St. Bart’s, several weeks ago parishioners were given the welcomed announcement that their church would remain open.