ABERDEEN - 11 June 2007 - 296 words
Polish newcomers help save Scottish church from closure
A church in Aberdeen that had been facing closure, will now remain open thanks to appeals from the community and an influx of new parishioners from Poland.
Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen announced
yesterday that after a thorough consultation, he has decided to
keep the church of Sacred Heart, Torry, Aberdeen open. The presbytery
house will be sold to provide funding for works needing to be
done in the church and to improve parish facilities.
In a letter written to parishioners and friends of Sacred Heart,
Torry, the Bishop of Aberdeen said: "Your church of the Sacred
Heart will NOT be closed: indeed I plan to repair it and improve
it.
"The Catholic community in Torry has proved that it is in
good heart, both the small Scottish nucleus and the larger community
of recent arrivals from Poland. You have fought a good fight
and shown your spirit.
"However, the financing of even the minimum repairs is a
huge challenge. After serious consideration of several proposed
schemes, I have decided that we must sell the presbytery house."
The Bishop concluded his letter by thanking all those who have
contributed to the discussions, inside or outside the parish community.
He concluded: "It has been a long and sometimes painful process,
and some of you may still feel disappointed. I ask you to rally
round my decision, to look ahead positively, and to play your
part in revitalising the parish of Sacred Heart."
Last August Bishop Peter Moran spoke personally to a meeting of
parishioners at Sacred Heart Church, Torry to tell them that advice
he had received pointed to closure of the church building and
said that alternative premises had already been identified in
nearby Scottish Episcopal Church buildings.
Source: Diocese of Aberdeen
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