To the Editor:
On behalf of myself and the members of the St. Ann’s Society of Our Lady of the Assumption Church, I would like to express our sincere disappointment and disapproval of the Archdiocese’s decision to close our church. St. Ann’s Society has been part of this parish for 81 years, and we feel as if we are losing our home. Our church holds a special place in our hearts as most of us were baptized there, made our first Communion, Confirmation and were married there. Some of us attended the parochial school when it was newly built. It is our home!
My grandparents took part in the building of our first church to continue the traditions and values that they brought with them from Italy. They formed the St. Michael’s Society and sponsored bus trips to Shrines, held processions carrying their patron Saint’s statue through the town, and raised funds to support the church. Again it was their home. This was at a time when the Italians were the main parishioners of the church.
Times change and with the addition of our Spanish/Latin and Filipino brothers and sisters, we join them to celebrate their cultural traditions at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, our home.
We all want to save our church and believe that the Archdiocese should listen to the many voices who have spoken out against the decision to close our church. It would be in the true spirit of Jesus to reverse this decision and let the people of Our Lady of Assumption Church keep their home as an open, vibrant part of the Bayonne community.
JOANNE ARLINGTON
President, St. Ann’s Society of OLA