Members of closed parishes mark fifth anniversary of vigils

In a service led by the laity, members of the St. James congregation were joined by worshipers from closed parishes around the state, including St. Frances X. Cabrini in Scituate, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in East Boston, St. Therese Church in Everett, and St. Jeremiah in Framingham, as well as congregants from Quincy, Weymouth, Newton, Brookline, Lynn, and other towns.

Twenty candles adorned the railings in front of the altar, each representing a church in vigil - including one in Pennsylvania and another in Ohio. About 75 people rose from their seats in the pews as parishioners from the churches walked down the aisle, where a priest once lead processions, to light the candles.

Because St. James is closed, the service was conducted according to canon law, but without a priest. The Communion is consecrated off-site by a priest from another parish, said Suzanne Hurley, 47, of Natick, a member of St. James.

“The flock is still here, but the shepherd has gone away,’’ said Jim Love, 75, of Wellesley. “We are waiting the return of the shepherd.’’

On Oct. 31, 2004, the Archdiocese of Boston announced St. James was on the list of parishes to close. Parishioners immediately began holding a vigil at the church and appealed to the Archdiocese to reconsider the decision. Currently, the appeal is being reviewed by the Apostolic Signatura, the legal body for the Vatican.

In April, parishioners asked the Vatican not to rule on the appeal, but to return it to the Archdiocese for mediation, Hurley said. “We would like to see a dialogue with the Archdiocese,’’ said Hurley.

Maryellen Rogers, organizer for the Friends of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Scituate, where parishioners have been holding a round-the-clock vigil for 1,803 days, said the closed Boston-area parishes are banding together to both save their own parishes and create a model for other parishes that have been closed across the country.

“We’re here to grow and strengthen the church as a whole,’’ she said. “It’s history we’re making.’’

Anthony and Noreen Foti represented Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., which is being considered for closure by the Diocese of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“We are here to join them and let everyone know we know what they are going through,’’ said Anthony Foti, 55. “We admire them.’’

Nancye Connor, 72, who led the service, said the parishioners’ initial anger has abated, and been replaced by a sense of community.

Archdiocese spokesman Terrence C. Donilon expressed hope that the parishioners join nearby congregations. “The Archdiocese continues to work toward a prayerful resolution to this and the remaining vigils,’’ he said.