Submitted by Christina Nakraseive, Mar 16, 2007 22:53

I am a second generation American of Lithuanian, Irish and German heritage. In 2004 I read of the plight of St. Brigid's in "The Villager" with great sympathy and indignation. Later that year I visited Our Lady of Vilnius on Broome Street, the church of my father's family. I found that they had been having Mass in the basement for over 2 years because the Archdiocese had not approved needed roof repairs, nor authorized the release of insurance monies to pay for same. It was then that I felt that a process was at work, the cultivation of parishes for closure by neglect of the the physical property, and the diminution of attendance and "sacramental viability" by compelling worshippers to attend services in spaces designed for other purposes. I felt that St. Brigid's was the canary in the coal mine and that Our Lady of Vilnius was headed down that road. But the canary stood up and sang, loudly, like the 300 lb. canary of bad jokes. I admired the tenacity of the core parishioners and the spirit and generosity of the wider community that came to their aid. I admired the courage displayed by standing up to the Archdiocese, and I had always hoped that St. Brigid's would prevail and live as a beacon of hope to Our Lady of Vilnius. On February 27, 2007, Our Lady of Vilnius was abruptly locked. We, too, are trying to fight. Not only do I miss my church, but I miss my Archdiocese. No end would seem to justify the means they have used to crush opposition and deceive the public.

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