Deteriorating Conditions Close Catholic Church in Ohio

A church in Toledo, Ohio will close its doors for good.

A Decree of Relegation has been issued for Saint Hedwig Church in Ohio's Polish Village neighborhood.

A statement issued in the church bulletin for January 23-24, 2016 by the church's pastor, Father Jacob Gordon, reads as follows:

"Dear Parishioners of Saints Adalbert & Hedwig Parish,

Included with this week’s bulletin is a recently signed decree of Bishop Daniel Thomas regarding Saint Hedwig Church. As you know, our parish has been discussing this property, its needs and expenses for some time. Last year, after much consideration, our Parish Finance and Pastoral Councils asked Bishop Thomas if we could move forward in a way that would help alleviate some of the challenges facing our parish relative to this property. This decree is both a pastoral and an administrative response to our request. As you know, each Catholic church is consecrated (blessed) when it is dedicated. When a parish church is closed and is no longer used for Mass or other liturgical services, a “Decree of Relegation” is issued, by which the sacred building formally loses its consecration. According to canon law, this allows the sacred items in the church building to be used elsewhere, for example, by other churches, and allows for the possibility of the building to be sold. The wording of the decree “to profane but not sordid use” means that Saint Hedwig Church may not be used in a way that would be opposed to Church teaching or in some manner that is contrary to its dignity as a place where Mass was previously celebrated. This holds true even if the building should be sold in the future. As a parish, we will continue together to consider what steps to take with regard to this property and the contents of the church. More information will be published at a later date once conclusions have been reached and decisions have been made. Please feel free to provide any comments and/or thoughts you may have to myself or to a member of our parish Finance and Pastoral Councils. Because canon law requires that this decree be made public to our parish, it will be published for two consecutive weekends in our bulletin. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please don’t hesitate to ask me! Together let us pray that as a parish community we each might be the living stones which build up the Church and the Kingdom of God!

Yours in Christ,

Father Jacob Gordon Pastor."

Deteriorating conditions are blamed for the decree and loss of consecration. Sacred items from the church are permitted to be moved to other parishes in the Toledo Catholic Diocese.

Although mass has not been celebrates at the church since 2012, the church was available for use as a wedding and funeral venue until 2014.

It is not yet known whether the building will be demolished or put up for sale.