Since my conformation, I had always imagined my adult life in my church. I had imagined planning a wedding, with Calla Lilies even though they would not be in season. I dreamed of walking down the aisle in my mother's wedding dress and on my father's arm. I had visions of my sisters standing alongside of me on that grand altar on what is supposed to be my happiest day. I was overjoyed when I'd think about my family members who have gotten married in this church. My late grandparents, my parents, my sisters, all had a beautiful ceremony in that beautiful church. My extended family has also had their fair shares of weddings in the old church. A church that faced a fire, bad location, and a consolidation with three churches still stands in its glory today. A church that has had over 100 years of service. A church that has been my home for 23 years. A church I grew up in and was an altar server in for over nine years. I taught the younger generation to replace me and then took my place in the choir. I have helped make pierogis when I could, Buried three of my grandparents. Watched my parents renew their vows for their 25th wedding anniversary (where I both served and sang in the choir).

I personally have seen six priests come and go in my church and our most recent one, Reverend Joseph Campbell shared some light on recent devastating news: a recommendation suggested to our church to close its doors. Many people first responded with a natural emotion: anger. Reverend Campbell decided to use his homily on Sunday, April 17th. A homily that will resound in my ears for as long as that church stands or does not stand. A church that has changed not only my family, but many other parish families has also affected a priest who has not been there as long as I have. He stated: "Even the prospect of this happening makes me sick with grief... I have felt like I've been at a wake service for the past five days, and feel emotionally drained." This quote emphasized exactly what the congregation had felt. Not only were we angry, we also experienced distraught. He put into perspective that harboring anger will do no good.

"Allowing your anger or resentment to dictate your response to this process. Such sentiments, although understandable, are not becoming of a Christian and aren't of the Spirit. This process is difficult for all of us! We don't need to exasperate it with negativity, finger pointing and stone throwing. Remember when you point the finger at someone, there are always three fingers pointing back at you. There are many factors that have brought this situation to a head, for which we find ourselves in a crises of faith, both personal and public... a failure on the part of both the membership of the church to exercise a spirit of fidelity/obedience and personal holiness."
I have often felt like I failed my church. I stopped altar serving and did not continue to serve when the church needed me. I used to go to other churches on Sunday morning because I couldn't make my Saturday mass because of work and I "didn't feel like getting up early." I sacrificed many days I didn't feel like going to my church over sleep.

I also continued to sacrifice her when I chose to go an hour away to college. I became a member of another Catholic church and attended my church only when I came home for a weekend. I am at fault just as much as some of the other congregation families. But it is important to recall Father Joe's words: "We're all in this together, and it's important that we stick together and help support one another by being present to one another and showing compassion for our priests and ordained leaders, but also for our fellow parishioners by being willing to suffer through this transition together...I mean, the hardest/most painful part of this whole process is the possibility/ the prospect of not being able to see the people we've grown familiar with and developed friendships with, on a weekly basis...but we can blunt that pain and soften the potential blow by being there for one another...if that happens, no matter what the outcome, we can be happy wherever the future leads us."

So let us stand together in the brave fight for our church. Let us be rational, Christian, and peaceful.
And remember, "Trust in God, entrust in yourself and our situation to God and be at peace, assured that the same God who has provided for us and cared for us all these years will continue to guide us in ways that will continue to amaze us and fill us with the joyful assurance that we are loved." Our church is home. It has been for over 100 years. I will never feel the same way I do when I walk into Saint Adalbert's. I will never see another church as my home.