Church closings unveil a silver lining.

Byline: Bronislaus B. Kush 

WORCESTER - The old convent house at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church has been relatively unused for decades.

The South Worcester parish operates a thrift shop in the building at 6 Sheridan St., but there's little other activity going on within the brick structure.

While parishioners have no real need for the convent, officials at Massachusetts Veterans Inc. believe the building can accommodate housing, training and educational programs for people who have served in the armed forces.

To that end, Massachusetts Veterans, which has operated a shelter at Wheaton Square for years, agreed recently to buy the convent for an undisclosed price. The organization hopes to complete the purchase soon so that programs can start as early as this fall.

"The convent offers us an opportunity to provide some real help to veterans in need," said Denis M. Leary, the nonprofit's executive director.

The purchase also looks like it will greatly benefit Sacred Heart parishioners.

Officials at the Diocese of Worcester said proceeds from the sale will be re-invested into the aging church on Cambridge Street, will finance programming and will help pay off outstanding parish bills.

Some congregants said privately that the deal with Massachusetts Veterans kept their parish off the list of churches that will be closed July 1, at least temporarily.

Sacred Heart was twinned last year with St. Catherine of Sweden Church on Wiser Avenue in Quinsigamond Village and has shared a pastor, the Rev. George J. Ridick. The chancery has directed the two parishes to work toward a merger by 2010.

"In the end, the purchase agreement with the veterans group will strengthen the parish's life," said Msgr. Thomas J. Sullivan, diocesan chancellor.

While Sacred Heart has survived another physical downsizing of Catholic parishes in the community, others were not as fortunate.

Bishop Robert J. McManus announced last weekend that five city parishes - Holy Name of Jesus, St. Casimir, Ascension, St. Margaret Mary and Notre Dame des Canadiens - would close this summer.

The closures, brought about by shifting demographics and a sharp decline in priestly vocations, may financially bolster the parishes that will assume the property and other assets of the shuttered churches.

Like the convent at Sacred Heart, if the closed church buildings are deemed surplus properties eventually, it could put parishes that are welcoming members from the shut churches on sound financial footing for years to come.

In announcing the closings, Bishop McManus said St. Joseph's Church on Hamilton Street, which will be renamed Holy Family Parish, will acquire the assets and liabilities of Holy Name of Jesus Church on Illinois Street, as well as Notre Dame.

St. John's Parish on Temple Street will take possession of the church, rectory and other holdings of St. Casimir and Ascension churches. At the same time, St. Margaret Mary Parish will be incorporated within St. Anne's Church in Shrewsbury.

Elsewhere in the nation, dioceses have directly taken over the assets of closed churches, generating bitterness and spawning lawsuits from parishioners of the shuttered churches.

Worcester officials said some of the closed church properties could draw interest from developers, even in today's depressed real estate market.

For example, the officials said, the Notre Dame parcel at Salem Square might warrant attention from Boston-based Berkeley Investments Inc., developer of the proposed multimillion-dollar CitySquare project. Berkeley officials, including President Young Park and Vice President and Project Manager Barbara Smith-Bacon, could not be reached for comment.

The Holy Name of Jesus complex, which is across from University Park in Main South, might also be attractive as a result of the development in the neighborhood over recent years.

Raymond L. Delisle, diocesan spokesman, said it will be up to the parishes to decide what to do with the closed facilities, and chancery officials would assist with any sale.

"There are many issues that would have to be considered," said Mr. Delisle. "The diocese would work in coordination with the parish. They wouldn't work in isolation."

Meanwhile, Mr. Leary said he's looking forward to the start of the project on Sheridan Street.

The convent was built as a 19-bed residence. The bedrooms need to be reconstructed because they're small, and the plumbing and electrical systems need to be updated.

Mr. Leary said Sheridan Street might house adult males "in the single digits." It would also provide space for computer and other employment training.

"We would not have purchased the building if those living in the area objected," Mr. Leary said. "But we were welcomed by neighbors, as well as the parishioners."

Still, the plan has drawn parking and other concerns from District 4 Councilor Barbara G. Haller and William T. Breault, chairman of the Main South Alliance for Public Safety. Both said there are already too many residences for the homeless in the area, with Mr. Breault estimating as many as 400 such units along Cambridge Street.

"The Sacred Heart property is an important asset to the neighborhood and I believe a better use can be found for it," said Ms. Haller.

Contact Bronislaus B. Kush by e-mail at [e-mail].

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Massachusetts Veterans Inc. hopes to complete the purchase soon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church's former convent building at 6 Sheridan St., Worcester, and use it for housing, training and educational programs for people who have served in the armed forces. Officials at the Diocese of Worcester said proceeds from the sale will be re-invested into the aging church on Cambridge Street, will finance programming, and will help pay off outstanding parish bills. (2) Mr. Leary

PHOTOG: (1) T&G Staff/PAUL KAPTEYN