COLUMBUS, Ohio — For 125 years, the community of Holy Rosary & St. John the Evangelist has been a staple on the city’s south side.
For nearly 30 years, it’s been the home for parishioner Fern Upshaw.
"We create an environment that allows the hungry to be fed and the people to be cared for,” she said.
Upshaw's church is one of the 15 that was slated to close. In May, the Catholic Diocese of Columbus Bishop Earl Fernandes announced that 15 churches across the city would close within the upcoming years because of low attendance, including the community of Holy Rosary & St. John the Evangelist.
When 10TV interviewed the bishop in May, he said, "I think sometimes people will say, well, church closures and see it as a loss. I think today, we have a clear direction for the Diocese of Columbus, we have a new hope we have a sense of direction. this is how we're adapting to a changed environment."
Upshaw said her church, which is predominately Black, is a huge resource to many people in that area.
She said they’ve helped feed thousands of people through the food pantry and connect people to job and higher education opportunities.
"It would be very sad if the bishop does close the Community of Holy Rosary & St. John the Evangelist because if he closes us, then if you think about kind of the south side of Columbus, there are no other choices,” said Upshaw.
Upshaw said she and the church members respect the Bishop and they want him to see their church as another resource.
"We're going to have that celebration of 125 years we want to be there for 125 more,” said Upshaw.
Statement from the Diocese of Columbus:
"His Excellency, Bishop Earl K. Fernandes, and the leadership of the Diocese of Columbus understand that the merging of parishes is a difficult and emotional process for parishioners. Diocesan leadership has been and will continue to work with pastors and parishioners as the process of merging moves forward. Each of our parishes and parishioners have unique needs, we have worked to take those into account and will continue to work to be sensitive to those needs.
"The decision for HRSJ to merge with St. Dominic was based on a number of items. To name a few, declining numbers at Mass and few, if any, baptisms, confirmations, and weddings, and deteriorating facilities, whose repairs could cost millions, were all factors. Additionally, there are a number of churches nearby, including St. Dominic which is an African/African-American parish.
"There is no date set for suppression and no decree has been issued. A decree will only be issued after the pastor of a church (that has been slated to merge) has had the time to get to know the community, ministries, parishioners, etc. After that, with his transition teams (made up of parish staff and parishioners), decisions will be made on what ministries will continue, how they continue, and where. Only then, along with the pastor, would a decree be issued by the chancery."