I tried to be nice. I followed the protocol and rallied the people. I went out of my comfort zone speaking often to the media and led the charge to save Holy Rosary Church. I have given my time, money and great effort in fighting the corruption that wishes to see my church demolished. Many others have shouted out in opposition of her closure and in support of the effort to save her. They have given their hard earned dollars and have cried to the heavens in one clear voice that there must be another way.
It’s absolutely possible that between the Save Tacoma’s Landmark Church group and COVID pandemic that we may yet save the church building. I doubt that the Archdiocese has the $1.5M they say it will take to knock her to rubble.
I do know for a fact that I surely will not stop this madness alone, it is an ongoing herculean effort that never had to be this way.
In one fell swoop, the Archdiocese of Seattle is erasing 130 years of families, friends and community. They take no responsibility for preserving even the digital history of the people like myself who grew up there, went to school, got married and said goodbye to family members in that grand place with nary a shrug.
Archbishop Etienne, the Archbishop of Seattle, has suppressed Holy Rosary parish, which for the layman means that mass will no longer be offered there, no one will be answering the phone, there will be no more administration, the facebook, website and on site records will cease to exist. The campus is now completely empty.
I don’t know why I’m surprised, the document that decreed the 100 year old church was to be closed and RAZED was delivered over a year ago now. It came via lower level Archdiocese staffers, with no support or even acknowledgment for a shocked and suddenly grieving people. While that appeal is still pending and the fate of the building remains in limbo, the people are now literally lost, told to find a new parish. They did not get so much as a “Go In Peace” for their pain.
The Archdiocese of Seattle is not a master of administering to their flock. A fact that I find absolutely unacceptable, since it should be their primary mission.
Alas, it seems their primary mission is pandering to the almighty dollar. Some would say that it always has been.
The Holy Rosary parishioners and in particular the Parish Council put a lot of work into the final mass, and paid strict attention to following the rules of the safety during the pandemic. The mass was held outside (bring your own chair), with family “squares” that the registered party was assigned to sit in. There were aisles six feet apart between each square. It was done reverently and safely despite the smoky skies.
Archbishop Etienne was kind enough to come to celebrate that final mass for a tearful and angry people. Through the history he recited there was no emotion. During the Homily he called the Holy Rosary campus “real estate”, when “faith community” would have been more welcomed and appropriate for his audience. It was like calling a dead family member a corpse while attempting consolation.
Perhaps it isn’t what he meant to say, it could have even been a Freudian slip, as we all are aware of the kind of money a campus such as Holy Rosary could bring to the Archdiocese in a sale to an overzealous developer.
This monetary gain will come at an incredible cost. A cost that perhaps cannot be quantified. It comes at the cost of the faith of many devout area Catholics. It comes at the risk of future low donations to the Archdiocese, or none at all, as has been promised by many well off Tacoma Catholics. It comes at the cost of members of the congregation forced to pick up the roots of many generations, with the heavy knowledge that their family history and the history of the City of Tacoma has been reduced to “real estate”.
During the mass, one of the readings spoke of the monetary value of salvation, and Archbishop Etienne dared to ask the suffering people in attendance what salvation would cost in today’s dollars. It was all I could do to not shout out the sum of $18M dollars, the same figure quoted to renovate the church to like new condition.
There is no dollar figure that will save the faith of the disheartened.
The gospel itself was about forgiveness, particularly forgiveness of debt. While it was the scheduled gospel for all Catholic masses that day, I found it terribly ironic that the readings were about money. Money and greed have closed the doors on my childhood.
As far as forgiveness…. There is no forgiveness in my heart to offer for the grievous error of even threatening to take away that beacon of life and hope that stands over Interstate 5 each day. That 210 foot steeple stands strong amidst the swirling smoke of the wildfires that have become our days and nights this last week. She has stood tall and defiant for 100 years and has been especially buoying for people this year during the pandemic, the hatred and strife in the political realm and the violence and unrest in our streets.
I am bitter, I am angry and I will not stand down.
Save Tacoma’s Landmark Church has raised the attention of the people, we have raised a significant amount of money, pledges of supplies and work, we have been civil and cooperative. We are going to save the historic architectural monument that is Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church and she will rise again and continue to be a beacon standing over Tacoma. You mark my words.
Perhaps the Pierce County Deanery will see it in their hearts to allow us to help them restore her glory while utilizing the campus for a new combined parish.
Perhaps the Archdiocese will see clear to allow the FSSP to take over and use the grand space for the sweeping growth that the traditional latin mass seen happening.
Perhaps it will become a sacred space offering tours, weddings, and veneration.
I will never give up, I will never give in and if the day comes that the wrecking ball is sent in, you will see me strapped to those great big doors, and I am not the only one.
I will see you on the battlefield. This is not over by a long shot. We can do this. Feel free to share this far and wide.