At somber centennial, hope lingers
It's not the way they imagined celebrating the centennial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church. But parishioners, who have kept vigil against its closure since last October, will mark the anniversary of the church with a religious service and breakfast this morning.
''It's 100 years for the Madonna," said parishioner Carol Ciruolo, whose two sons were baptized under the gaze of the Mount Carmel Madonna. ''At least now we've done it for her and the hope that the church will be open again."
Organizers held out hope last week that an ordained priest would step forward to celebrate Mass at the gathering, which also marks six months since they began their vigil to protest the archdiocese's plans to close the church.
Archdiocesan officials denied a request from the vigil committee to provide a priest to say Mass that day. Vigil leaders said they considered inviting a married priest but decided against it. If an ordained priest does not come forward, a longtime parishioner trained as an eucharistic minister will lead the 10 a.m. church service.
''It's a last-minute thing," said Gina Scalcione. ''We decided we don't know what will happen in the future so why not do it now?"
''It's only the beginning. We could always have a bigger celebration later," she said, alluding to hopes the Vatican might overturn the closure.
Kelly Lynch of Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications, a public relations firm hired by the church, confirmed that the archdiocese had turned down Mount Carmel's request for a Mass. She repeated the archdiocese's hope that the vigil will end peacefully.
Mount Carmel was built by Italian immigrants who streamed into East Boston a century ago. But the neighborhood's Italian predominance has been gradually replaced by newcomers, mostly immigrants from Latin America.
Vigil holders said they feel discriminated against and denied an opportunity to rebuild their Italian-American church into a diverse parish welcoming to immigrants and upscale professionals, who are transforming the Jeffries Point section of East Boston.
The group had expected word on the appeal from the Vatican in May. It is unclear whether the decision will be delayed by the death of Pope John Paul II. An inquiry into the parish's financial records is also ongoing. Last month the archdiocese launched a probe of the parish's finances after vigil holders raised questions about what had happened to at least $200,000 in parish funds. Scalcione said parishioners expect to meet with archdiocesan officials next month to discuss whether the matter should be referred to the state Attorney General's Office for investigation.
Lisa Capogreco, another parishioner who helped organize today's events, said parishioners have been physically and emotionally taxed by six months of around-the-clock vigilance, but remain committed to reopening the church.
''It's still a church to us," Capogreco said. ''We keep praying and hoping that this decision will be reversed."
As for Ciruolo, she said the daily struggle has brought her strength.
''It seems like something that I have to do," she said. ''It's a calling for me that I have to follow. I see a beautiful light ahead of us, and I'm not giving up."
