“Under the Microscope”: A Report of the Status of St. Mary’s Jamesville by Fr. Finnegan

 This document, written to the parishioners, explains that as soon as the construction on the new Holy Cross Church building is completed, St. Mary’s will become a mission to Holy Cross Church in DeWitt with Fr. Yeazel acting as administrator. Fr. Baranski will be the St. Mary’s parish administrator starting in September 2005. Fr. Finnegan assures that St. Mary’s will not close nor “lose its own identity.”

September 17, 2005

 Good-bye Letter from Fr. Finnegan to the Parishioners of St. Mary’s

 Fr. Finnegan says goodbye to the parishioners of St. Mary’s after serving as pastor for 15 months. He notes that he does not know any other parish “which has the level of commitment and volunteerism that is much the hallmark of this fine parish and community of good and faith-filled people.”

 Letter from Fr. Lang to Fr. Baranski

 Fr. Lang informs Fr. Baranski that the presbyteral council met on May 16, 2006 and decided that St. Mary’s will become a mission of Holy Cross on October 1, 2006.

 Letter from Fr. Lang about the Diocese’s Plans to Implement PCA Recommendations

  Fr. Lang states that the Bishop wants local PCAs (Pastoral Care Areas) to submit reconfiguration plans to the diocese by Thanksgiving 2006. These plans should be publicly communicated to parishioners. The letter contains nine questions to be answered by the PCAs and submitted to the Bishop.

 Letter from Fr. Yeazel to Fr. Lang

 Fr. Yeazel submits to the Diocese the PCA recommendations for the reconfiguration of St. Mary’s and Holy Cross.

 Letter from St. Mary’s Pastoral Care Area Committee to Fr. Lang

 The St. Mary’s Pastoral Care Area Committee asks the diocese to adopt Fr. Yeazel’s recommendation that calls for a parish administered by one pastor at two sites: Holy Cross and St. Mary’s. The letter explains that St. Mary’s is financially solvent, is located in a growing demographic area, has 350 actively registered families, and oversees several community ministries.

Post Standard Article:DECLINING NUMBERS FORCE CLOSING AND MERGERS

Bishop Moynihan announces that St. Mary's will be closed.

This letter informs Bishop Moynihan, Cardinal Eagan, and Cardinal Hummus that St. Mary’s has filed a written canonical appeal. The letters also request that the Bishop reconsider his decision to close St. Mary’s, which he announced in an April 27, 2007 letter.

Letter from Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo to John Clinton, St. Mary’s pastoral council president.

Letter and appeal to Bishop Moynihan
(Also sent to Cardinal Hummes)

This is a hyperlinked copy of the the St. Mary's appeal. You can access the exhibition documents by clicking on the hyperlinks embedded in the appeal letter.

Letter from Archbishop Pietro Sambi to Colleen LaTray and other members of St. Mary’s

This letter acknowledges that Cardinal Hummes has received St. Mary’s May 29, 2007 letter and appeal and has forwarded them to the Vatican.

Letter from Mauro Piacenza to John Clinton and other members of St. Mary’s

This letter acknowledges that the Vatican has received the cover letter of St. Mary’s appeal and informs St. Mary’s that they must produce a hierarchical recourse in a specific time frame.

Letter from St. Mary’s to Bishop Moynihan

This letter informs the Bishop that St. Mary’s has filed for an administrative recourse action with the Vatican. It also asks that the Bishop suspend both administrative action and the execution of administrative decree, as per canons 1734.1 and 1736.1.

Letter from St. Mary’s to Cardinal Hummes

This letter informs Cardinal Hummes that St. Mary’s has filed for an administrative recourse action with the Vatican. It also asks that the Bishop suspend both administrative action and the execution of administrative decree, as per canons 1734.1 and 1736.1.

Letter from St. Mary’s to Archbishop Sambi

This cover letter is attached to a copy of the letter sent to Bishop Moynihan and Cardinal Hummes about St. Mary’s requests for the suspension of administration action and execution of administrative decree.

Letter from Archbishop Sambi to Colleen LaTray and other members of St. Mary’s

This letter acknowledges that Cardinal Hummes has received St. Mary’s June 6, 2007 letter and has forwarded the additional attachments St. Mary’s sent to the Vatican.

Letter from Fr. James Lang to Colleen LaTray

This letter, written on behalf of Bishop Moynihan, argues that the St. Mary’s appeal is one-sided and does not fully document the suppression of St. Mary’s parish. It also argues that the “merger” of St. Mary’s with Holy Cross was a long, open, and agreed-upon process led by the Bishop.

 Letter from St. Mary’s to Fr. Lang

St. Mary’s asks Fr. Lang for an exact copy of all the full process documentation the Diocese is sending to the Vatican, including last year’s minutes of the St. Mary’s and Holy Cross pastoral council meetings.

tter from St. Mary’s Pastoral and Financial Council Members and Parishioners to Bishop Monyihan.

This letter asks the Bishop to provide the formal decree that would officially change the juridic personality of St. Mary’s Jamesville.(NOTE:Incorrectly dated 2006)

Letter from St. Mary’s Pastoral and Financial Council Members and Parishioners to Fr. James P. Lang

This letter asks Fr. Lang to send St. Mary’s an exact copy of the documentation the diocese is sending Archbishop Sambi and Cardinal Hummes. The letter specifically requests copies of the minutes of the Holy Cross and St. Mary’s pastoral council meetings from 2006-2007, which the diocese sent in their documentation. (NOTE:Incorrectly dated 2006)

Letters and documents from St. Mary’s to Archibishop Sambi, Cardinal Hummes, and Bishop Moynihan.

This multi-page document is intended to respond to Rev. Lang’s June 12, 2007 letter to Colleen LaTray and the members of St. Mary’s. The document includes the cover letters to Archbishop Sambi, Cardinal Hummes, and Bishop Moynihan. Also included are (1) a letter from Msgr. Yeazel to an attorney indicating his desire to sell St. Mary’s church building as soon as possible and (2) a list of triggers the Diocese uses to justify merging one church with another.

Post Standard Article:CNY CONGREGATIONS APPEAL TO VATICAN TO SAVE CHURCHES

Article examines widespread pessimism at St. Mary's appeal. .

Two letters from Raymond J. Dague to Bishop Moynihan and Colleen LaTray; one letter in response from Fr. Lang to Raymond J. Dague

Post Standard Article: FIRST OF THE LAST MASSES

St. Mary's celebrates its "last mass."

Post Standard Article: VIGIL PROTESTS CHURCH CLOSING

St. Mary's parishoners begin their vigil.

This letter forwards Fr. Lang’s response to Raymond Dague to Colleen LaTray, noting that it seems that the diocese intends not to sell St. Mary’s church until after the appeal is decided by the Vatican.

Letter from St. Mary’s to Fr. Gerold Chonacki

This letter updates the Jesuits of Central New York about St. Mary’s appeal. St. Mary’s also states that they would welcome an opportunity to partner with the Jesuits for pastoral care.

August 29, 2007

Letter from St. Mary’s to Bishop Moynihan

Letter from Bishop Moynihan to Colleen LaTray and other members of St. Mary’s

This letter addresses Msgr. Yeazel’s intent to move the food pantry out of St. Mary’s rectory. It asks that this move not be done in accordance with canons 1734.1 and 1736.1, the suspension of administrative action and the suspension of the execution of the administrative decree. The letter also asks why the Jesuits at Le Moyne College are not being asked to help provide pastoral care to the parishioners of St. Mary’s, as they do for other parishes in the diocese.

Letter from Archbishop Sambi to Colleen LaTray and other members of St. Mary’s

This letter acknowledges the receipt of St. Mary’s November 5, 2007 letter and informs St. Mary’s that their enclosures have been forwarded to the Vatican.

This letter from the diocese challenges the religious education preparation for First Penance and First Eucharist offered by St. Mary’s in conjunction with St. Andrew’s.

Post Standard Article: VIGIL REFUSES TO LET JAMESVILLE CHURCH DIE

St. Mary's parishoners continue their vigil.

Letter from St. Mary’s to Msgr. Yeazel

This letter reiterates the questions St. Mary’s has for Msgr. Yeazel about the moving of the food pantry, possible partnership with Le Moyne, and the location of St. Mary’s financial assets.

November 26, 2007

Letter from St. Mary’s to Rev. Cliff Auth and Sr. Katie Eiffe

This letter responds to Rev. Cliff Auth and Sr. Katie Eiffe’s November 11, 2007 letter, explaining that the St. Mary’s religious education program was diocesan approved.

Letter from St. Mary’s to Cardinal Hummes

This letter updates St. Mary’s appeal files.

Letter from Archbishop Sambi to Colleen LaTray and other members of St. Mary’s

This letter acknowledges the receipt of St. Mary’s December 3, 2007 letter and informs St. Mary’s that their enclosures have been forwarded to the Vatican.

Letter from St. Mary’s to Cardinal Hummes

This letter, faxed to Cardinal Hummes, updates him on the forced eviction of St. Mary’s parishioners from St. Mary’s church by Msgr. Yeazel, Bishop Moynihan, and several plains-clothes police officers on January 30, 2008. The parishioners of St. Mary’s had been maintaining a 24-hour vigil in the church since June 28, 2007.

Letter from St. Mary’s to Archbishop Sambi

This letter, faxed to Archbishop Sambi, updates him on the forced eviction of St. Mary’s parishioners from St. Mary’s church by Msgr. Yeazel, Bishop Moynihan, and several plains-clothes police officers on January 30, 2008. The parishioners of St. Mary’s had been maintaining a 24-hour vigil in the church since June 28, 2007.

Post Standard Article: PARISHIONERS FORCED AWAY FROM ST. MARY

Bishop Moynihan enlists the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department to help the diocese shut down St. Mary's vigil.

 Affidavit of John P. Clinton, St. Mary’s pastoral council president and a PCA representative.

 Clinton explains what occurred during the St. Mary’s and Holy Cross PCA meetings and notes two things: that Fr. Yeazel submitted the PCA recommendations without his (or other representatives’) knowledge and that St. Mary’s PCA representatives submitted a letter on November 19 expressing their support of the option to have two sites (St. Mary’s and Holy Cross) under the administration of one priest.

Letter from Archbishop Sambi to Colleen LaTray and other members of St. Mary’s

This letter acknowledges the receipt of St. Mary’s January 31, 2008 letter and informs St. Mary’s that their enclosures have been forwarded to the Vatican.

Post Standard Article: FAITHFUL RETURN TO CHURCH

Despite being locked out, hopeful parishoners return to St. Mary's for outdoor prayer service.

Letter from St. Mary’s to Cardinal Hummes

Letter from Archbishop Sambi to Ciarri Eaton and other members of St. Mary’s

This letter acknowledge the receipt of St. Mary’s February 5, 2008 letter and informs St. Mary’s that this second appeal has been forwarded to the Vatican.

Post Standard Article: HOW TO FIGHT THE VATICAN - YOU STILL WON'T WIN, EXPERTS TELL DISSENTERS IN JAMESVILLE

Another article examines the widespread pessimism surrounding St. Mary’s appeal.

 Decree from the Congregation for the Clergy (Vatican)

 The Congregation for the Clergy writes to reject St. Mary’s hierarchical recourse against the diocese’s decision to suppress St. Mary’s because the appeal was submitted past the time frame dictated by Canon Law and because of other procedural errors with the documents presented by St. Mary’s.

 Letter from the Congregation for the Clergy to St. Mary’s

 The Congregation for the Clergy writes to reject St. Mary’s hierarchical recourse against Msgr. Yeazel because canon law specifies that recourses can only be submitted against the administrative acts of bishops and dioceses, not individual persons within those dioceses.

 St. Mary’s Appeal to the Apostolic Signatura (Vatican)

 This letter appeals the Congregation for the Clergy’s August 5, 2008 decree, which rejects St. Mary’s hierarchical recourse against the diocese’s decision to suppress St. Mary’s. The letter states that St. Mary’s believes “there has been a gross miscarriage of justice,” pointing out that St. Mary’s did submit the appeal to the Congregation for the Clergy within the canonical time frame. St. Mary’s did not submit a recourse when they became a mission; they submitted the recourse when they learned they would close.

 Hyperlinked letter from St. Mary’s to Bishop Moynihan

This letter, which contains hyperlinked attachments, explains why St. Mary’s is appealing the Bishop’s decision to suppress St. Mary’s. It states that St. Mary’s believes that the reasons given for St. Mary’s closure do not correspond with the actual facts of the case.