by Bea Peterson
On June 28 a very special Mass was held at Sacred Heart Church in Berlin. It was a Mass filled with memories for many. The Church was officially closed. The sign across from the Church announcing Mass hours is gone. Just the sign post remains. The Church that withstood the horrendous propane fire 53 years ago couldn’t withstand the changing times.
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In 2002, as congregations became smaller and priests scarcer, Sacred Heart joined with St. John Francis Regis Church in Grafton to form Our Lady of the Snow Parish. Fr. Ken Gregory, who has served both churches as Sacramental Minister for 20 years, conducted the service and led the procession from Berlin to Grafton where a Mass of welcome was held and artifacts from the Berlin Church were incorporated into the Grafton Church.
“The closing is unfortunate,” said Fr. Gregory. “But it had reached the point where we couldn’t sustain both churches. Sacred Heart is in need of at least $150,000 in repairs and the funds are just not there for that amount of work.”
Our Lady of the Snow is now a missionary church to Our Lady of Victory Church in Troy, under pastor Randall Patterson. Fr. Gregory continues to serve Our Lady of the Snows, offering one Mass at 10 am on Sundays in Grafton. “The Food Pantry and all church related activities continue,” he said.
Fr. Gregory said several studies of both places were undertaken and the studies more than justified this move. “By and large the people have pulled together very well,” he added. “And the church in Grafton is now filled for Mass.” He added that a church is more than a building, “it’s a community and these are wonderful people.”
For many years Sister Mary Kenan McGowan guided the Grafton congregation and later served the Berlin congregation as well. Sr. Kenan was loved by all and gifted with many talents. Her greatest contribution to these communities was to encourage them to take responsibility for their parishes and the operation of those parishes. And they have done just that.
Communion Service
Cindy Skrandis of Berlin said the closing of Sacred Heart was a beautiful ceremony, but very sad. “It’s a sign of the times,” she said. Cindy, a 30 year parishioner, is caretaker for the church and rectory. Closing, she said, “was hard for the people.” Anywhere from 35 to 60 people attended Sunday Mass. The Church, she said, is still open for special events. And a Communion Service is held Monday through Friday at 7:45 am.
Eventually, said Fr. Gregory, the church and the rectory will be sold.[private]