United by hope

St. Joseph's Catholic churches in Salem and Lynn share more than daily devotions to the patron saint of workers. The old urban parishes are home to growing numbers of Hispanics, many of them immigrants from the Dominican Republic and Central America.

Hundreds of Spanish speakers fill the pews at the churches for a vibrant celebration of faith and culture during weekend Masses said in their native language. Many also turn to the churches for guidance on nonspiritual matters, such as housing, health care, and work.

"There's no question, that each parish is known for its work in Hispanic ministry," said Monsignor Paul V. Garrity, regional vicar for Salem and Lynn. Hispanics "are a growing and significant part of the Catholic population in both Salem and Lynn."

Despite their ministry to new immigrants, the churches, both of which are known as St. Joe's, were recently added to a list of parishes being considered for closing by the Archdiocese of Boston. A final list of parishes is due on May 25, the archdiocese said.

The two were included in a list of 37 additional parishes recommended for closing. Other late additions were Holy Incarnation in Melrose, Nativity in Merrimac, St. John the Baptist in Salem, and St. Thomas the Apostle on the Salem-Peabody line, the archdiocese said.

None of the parishes were targeted by cluster committees set up to recommend at least two parishes for possible closure. Recommendations for possible closures also were made by regional vicars and bishops and a central committee. Church officials haven't said how many parishes will close, but the list of candidates is at about 140, the archdiocese said.

The addition of the two St. Joe's surprised many, because Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley has often cited the need for the parishes to minister to immigrants. In a December speech to priests outlining the need to close parishes, O'Malley said "special regard" should be given to churches serving immigrants and churches that include schools.

The Rev. James Gaudreault, pastor of St. Joseph's in Lynn, did not return repeated calls from the Globe. St. Joseph's, founded in 1874 for Irish and French Catholics, was not recommended for closure by the Lynn cluster. St. Michael, a Polish-Catholic Church, and Holy Family, an Italian national parish, were recommended.

St. Joseph's is a territorial parish, serving a densely populated neighborhood along Union Street. "We didn't recommend St. Joseph's or any of our other [three] territorial parishes," said Garrity, who led the Lynn cluster. "We felt that the future of the church in Lynn would best be served by our four [largest] parishes."

The Salem cluster originally put its St. Joe's on the list, behind St. James Catholic Church on Federal Street. But before a final vote was taken, the Rev. Lawrence Rondeau, 21-year pastor of St. Joe's, made an emotional plea for his church. He cited the parish school, the only Catholic elementary school left in a city that once had five parish schools, and a food pantry that feeds 3,000 people each month,

Rondeau also cited the church's Hispanic ministry, which started 25 years ago when the first wave of Dominican immigrants settled in the Point, where St. Joe's has stood on the north corner for 131 years. Hispanics now make up about half of the 900 families that worship at St. Joseph's, he said.

In a close vote, 17-16, the Salem cluster honored Rondeau's request. He suspects his church could have been added during a later stage by someone who felt St. Joseph's has fulfilled its mission. As a French national parish, St. Joseph's first obligation was to minister in French to French-Canadian immigrants, who dominated the Point for decades. But the parish stopped offering Mass in French 10 years ago, he said.

"I think that could be one reason someone made us their recommendation," said Rondeau, himself a French speaker. "And it's true that we have fulfilled our [obligation] to French immigrants. . . . But now we have a new population to serve. Our Spanish parishioners don't want to go anywhere else."

The enthusiasm of Hispanic parishioners supports Rondeau's assertion. On average, a 4 p.m. Spanish Mass on Sunday draws 500 people. First Holy Communion day, celebrated last Sunday, drew hundreds of beaming parents, grandparents, and young communicants.

"I was nervous, but I liked it," said Justin Dominguez, 8, who led the procession of 32 children alongside Josenny Duran, 7.

"The music was my favorite part," Josenny said of the Latin beat of hymns favored by St. Joe's Spanish music ministry. "It made things special."

Kiara Ravelo, 11, said celebrating Mass in Spanish made the sacrament more meaningful. "Praying in Spanish is the only way I feel better," said Kiara, who planned to go straight home from church to call her grandmother in the Dominican Republic to share the news of her big day. "I like to come here. . . . Now when I come I can go to Communion."

Kathy McCabe can be reached by e-mail at kmccabe@globe.com.