I totally agree. Unfortunately, I think the parish reconfiguration is another scandal in itself. Frankly, I think its a pastoral disaster no matter how the Archbishop's PR firm tries to spin it. That feeds into a "Fortress Mentality" that is more parochial than Catholic.
They expect an easy "Plug 'n'Play" Catholicism where the Domus Dei is simply a "Worship Space". What works against their effort (and lack of pastoral understanding) to suppress parishes is the fact that generations of Boston Catholic's have been required to attend Holy Mass at their local territorial Parish. Culturally, I think the hierarchy and chancery hacks minimize how deeply parochial the Catholic Faith has been experienced by Catholics in Boston. I also believe there is a failure to comprehend how Catholics attach cultural importance to the incarnational aspects of the Faith (e.g. use of Sacramentals, Sacred Art and Architecture, Vestments,..."smells and bells") which appeals to our own human (incarnational) condition. In other words our Holy Faith is both Incarnational and Spriritual. It seems Modernism has formed a generation of clerical Iconoclasts in their effort to foster post V-II renewal. To be Catholic also includes passing on both the traditions and Sacred Traditions of the Faith...faithfully to the next generation. This includes our ENTIRE patrimony, both earthly and spiritual.
The "stonewalling" and spin (PR psyhco-babble) we continue to receive at the hands of the Archdiocese of Boston is inexcusable from our perspective. At some point we may have to relent in not drawing more scandal upon the Church. For now this may be an exercise in turning the light on in a darkened room infested with cockroaches. As laymen, our awareness of continued scandal in Boston must continue to be clearly aired with the Hierarchy until this situation is brought under control. Unfortunately, many of the folks who were at the helm during the period that led to the Sex Scandals of 2002-present, did not leave with Cardinal Law's resignation in December 2002. The "Lavender Mafia" remains alive and well in the Archdiocese of Boston. Furthermore, it remains influential in key posts. The ecclesiology of the old Mass remains a threat to this power base.
Maybe the Irish hierarchy wants us to return to the "Mass Rocks" of the ol' Sod. They are doing Cromwell proud.
The reason I ask is that one the one hand, I keep hearing the parish is self supporting yet on the other hand I know the parishioners are questioning the financial acumen of the administrator. So I wonder who has been keeping track of the money and if the finances are messy, how does anyone know the parish really is self supporting?
I only ask out of curiousity and honest questioning, my hope is that the Indult will continue on at Holy Trinity and that the diocese will leave the one Indult right where it is and has been and that all the press lately will swell the ranks of the Indult.
Was wondering too if you know if the parish received the donation from the Boston Historical Association in order to fix the steeple. I read an article where it said that monies were donated but I haven't ever seen or heard anything else about it and of course, the steeple remains as it was in 1936 after the hurricane.
Too bad the parish isn't considered a landmark.