When a Heart of a Parish is Broken in Rosevile, MI.

A broken heart. The iconic and historic spiritual, academic and sports prowess Sacred Heart Parish of Roseville, Michigan has one. A crowd showed their broken heart Sunday as they sat on the steps at the corner of Utica Road and Gratiot Avenue, miles north of Detroit. Parishioners claim they are resigned. Go figure. Sure there was a process that led to the closure, shuttering and now, the selling of the vast parcel of property that saw thousands graduate from its schools, and, even more walk through the doors of the church where the bells will be silenced soon, or, sold, or demolished for some other business enterprise. Of course the people have a right to be heart broken. Grief is like that. It's a process like movement through the Detroit-Windsor tunnel. My eyes always aim toward the light at the end of of that water walled-in and murky tunnel. We all like light. Even a little bit of it. Were the people ever really involved in the process? Were they? When local officials and bishops framed town halls with little time for input from those attending some of those session, of course, one has to wonder. Trust and morale are diminished when people who built that edifice seem to be an afterthought. Or, a second though. Shame on such shepherds! Well, perhaps the faithful were decided upon even though some input came from them. Looks fine. But....? And, to think of an appeal? Fat chance. Mopping up those there hurting hearts will take time. Will anyone be there for them? Will a shepherd? Time will be needed to get through this one also. Life is like that, and, loss of life, a limb, a love, also. After all, those faithful are witnessing their hearts tore asunder...again...with the anguish, even torture, with the memories of Sacred Heart of Roseville that filland flood these elderly hearts. So much for shepherd. Dare they question. Speak up. Join together in solidarity. They are one. Someone brought communion with them. More could have been done to include parishioners. So much. Of course, one has to make decisions when money is limited and fewer parishioners frequent the place. But, what about looking at how leaders and pastors reach out or fail to? After all, it all starts at the top. At least in a hierarchical church. No?