The neighborhood surrounding St. Casimir's is now low income. Over the past decade, St. Casimir's School tried unsuccessfully to provide a catholic education to inner city youth. This closing may be the first of several. The City of Watervliet is expected to lose 2 of its 4 Catholc Churches. That would leave 1 Roman and 1 Ukrainian Catholic Church. However, it will soon gain a Maronite Catholic Church ;-D.
St. Casimir, Our Lady of the Angels and St. Patrick's lost their immigrant congregations, when they moved out of the city and into the suburban sprawl. You can learn more about the history of these churches, and their plight, from this Times Union article.
I read the article. In no way do I pretend to know the recent history of Watervliet, but I do know of Hubbard, and from my experiences in and around NYC, I know what has happened over the last 40 years.
This bishop did nothing to stem the tide of decay of the neighborhood, for all of the social programns that prelates of his ilk profess to love - with their so-called concern for the poor (which is usually nothing but a bad joke). But I will even be generous (while laughing) and say that there is nothing Hubbard could have done about the cosial ills of the area.
There was a lot that hubbard - or any Bishop - could have, and should have done to stem the steady egress of people from parishes like these.
In many Protestant churches in urban areas, the congregation does not live in the area - a family may have moved away 2-3 generations ago, but still comes to "Mom's church", or "my grandfather's church". There is a sense of pride in the historical association, and in passing it on to one's children.
Let's examine what other factors will keep those folks coming: the like the music - aesthetically, and spiritually, and are pleased & proud of it. They like the historic appearance of the sanctuary of their church - and will give money until it hurts to maintain it. They like the pastor, and feel supportive of him, and his ministry. They like the style of the worship service. They feel, by the maintainance of the traditions of their church a sense of continuity - and of kinship with parishioners gone before them. They are made to feel comfortable and welcome.
If any of these factors - and certainly if too many of these factors are changed, erased, or radically altered, they will - as intelligent people - vote with their feet!
Let's see what happens in most Catholic parishes by contrast: the music is awful, disrespectful, and is in no way connected to the past; by its very nature the past is rejected. The historic appearance of the church's sanctuary is mutilated & wreckovated beyond all reason - and usually for the purpose of being disruptive - jarring; it rips out the heart of what should be the joy and prixe of the building. The pastor, regardless of individual personality & outward appearance, cares little for the parishioners; and it shos in the response to him - he treats them as strangers in their own land! Their money is used - whether they like it or not, to fund such destructive projects.
The style of the service of worship (mass) is so horribly altered that one is uncertain what is going on, or where it is all heading, Modernist pastors do everything posiible to constantly change things &/or agitate for change, that one is left on a very unsure footing.
This has been the state of most urban Catholic parishes over a nearly 40 year period. Is it any wonder that the parishioners left - and never came back, even if they could still get there on Sunday?