6/1/04

Dear Archbishop Sean O’Malley,

It is with profound sadness that I learned that you are forcing the closure of Sacred Heart parish in Lexington. I am not a parishioner per se at Sacred Heart – I am luckily part of this loving community through the music liturgy as one the leaders of song. I’ve had the honor over the years to sing in many of the churches in the diocese; experiencing many music programs and many liturgical differences between churches. At Sacred Heart liturgy is alive – on all levels. I just cannot see you closing this community where people so fully and openly participate. Why didn’t anyone visit the parish to see this vibrancy?

On a personal level, this decision has completely shaken me. My husband and I, after many years of being non-participatory Catholics, had made the decision to enroll our son at Sacred Heart in September. My husband finally found a place to feel comfortable in worship. True, Fr. Colletti has much to do with making one feel welcome. The faithful community, however, has just as much to contribute. Whenever I had a job singing in a larger church, my husband would comment how no one spoke to each other during the sign of peace and how fast everyone would leave at the end of the service. It’s just such a different story at Sacred Heart. Which is why I must again ask, why didn’t anyone visit this parish during the process of reconfiguration? Surely, if they did, any opinion to close would have been reversed.

I pray that you will reconsider the closing of one of your most vibrant and supportive communities. Save this flourishing church from closure.

Thank you.

Acton, MA 01720