St. Peter's Closing Set for April 11, 2010

Despite all our efforts, Bishop Richard Lennon has rejected St. Peter's appeal to remain open and set the closing for April 11, 2010. There is a sad irony in the fact that St. Peter's will close as it celebrates the 150th anniversary of the dedication of our church building, the oldest in the diocese and the first to reach such a milestone.

Members of the parish council met with Bishop Lennon in early May to present once again our case for why we believe such a vibrant and active parish should remain open. After that meeting, the bishop wrote to the council and stated that he would not rescind his order to suppress our parish, which has served in the city of Cleveland for 156 years.

This is indeed a tragic decision for both our church and our city. We urge everyone to continue to voice their objections to this decision. The loss of St. Peter's is a loss of a vital piece of Cleveland history and a vital force in the presence of our city today.

While Saint Peter is one of the oldest parishes in the city, it is at the same time one of the newest. Since the mid-1980's, the parish has experienced a gradual re-birth and an exciting and dynamic restructuring of its mission and ministry. Through its 150 year history, Saint Peter Church has been a strong and vibrant presence in the city during times of prosperity and growth and equally during periods of need and decline.

The present membership of the community is rich and diverse, representing six of the eight counties which make up the Diocese of Cleveland. As an essential part of its mission, our community sponsors a vibrant education and arts program as well as involving itself in areas of service and social justice. At the center of our life together is the liturgy - which forms us as a people and guides us in our mission.

Building on a long and rich past, Saint Peter is today an intentional community of over 340 households. We gather to worship, to learn, and to serve the needs of others. We hope to continue to be a vital and faithful presence in the city to the gospel of Christ for many years to come.

We welcome you to share with us in the Sunday liturgy and in our many programs of education, arts, and service. We look forward to your visiting us and sharing in the diverse and exciting parish community that is Saint Peter Church.