1615 BROADWAY, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94109
PHONE 885-4214
January 3, 1994
Archbishop of San Francisco
445 Church St.
San Francisco, CA 94114
Dear Archbishop Quinn:
Upon receipt of the Decree I was deeply distressed to read within the body of that document that the Pastoral Planning Commission's reasons for recommending closure. Those reasons would have been valid some time ago when we completed our self-study of the parish. They have not characterized the situation here for some time. Ever since I arrived at St. Brigid four and a half years ago, I have attempted with the help of dedicated associates and parishioners, to open up this parish and turns things around. I believe this has happened. Many months ago when we took a look at ourselves, we came to the conclusion that much remained to be done. We have conscientiously addressed those areas with very positive results.
I have heard it suggested that we didn't present our case during the cluster meetings that went on for so many months. If the insinuation is that we didn't specifically rewrite the conclusions of our self-study, then that insinuation is correct. To my knowledge no other parish present did either. Whenever the opportunity presented itself to speak about, for example, the wonderful young adult community we have here at St. Brigid, we did so. How anyone present could conclude then that the changing demographics "have frustrated the ability of the parish to recruit young adult communities" etc., is beyond my comprehension. The other reasons for closure regarding the inability to elicit the services of laity as liturgical ministers simply are not accurate. We did state that we have had difficulty getting an adequate number of couples to help with marriage preparation. This does not mean that we have had no one to take on this important work. We have a couple who has been doing this work in a very competent and caring way.
Archbishop, the Pastoral Planning Commission has a herculean job and they did it well. But it is inconceivable to me and the parishioners that the Commission would make a recommendation to you concerning the closure of St. Brigid Parish without personally visiting with me and the parish leadership to discuss the recommendation for closure and the reasons. Time and again during the months of cluster meetings when the discussion started to veer into the area of specific parish closure, we were reminded that that forum was intended to allow us to participate in the development of the pastoral plan for the Archdiocese and not for the discussion concerning the possible closure of specific parishes. If the Planning Commission had met with us prior to making its recommendation to you, it would have been provided with the following information defining the current status of the parish.
In the area of liturgical ministers and sacramental preparation we have thirty ministers of hospitality, fourteen lectors and twelve extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. We have a team of three conducting our excellent RCIA program. As a result of their work we baptized or received into the Church ten men and women in 1992, sixteen men and women in 1993, and currently we have seven enrolled. We have a dedicated layman heading up our baptismal catechesis program and ten women who faithfully care for the church as members of the Altar Society.
As I stated before, we are gratified with the large number of young adults who have added a great vitality to the parish and contribute so much to the parish in general. In addition we have a championship soccer team, made up of eighteen members, which plays against a number of the other parishes in the City, a program which was inaugurated here at St. Brigid.
Parish outreach is an important part of our ministry. Every priest on the staff visits the sick and homebound each week, and together with the help of Eucharistic Ministers, we make approximately 1,400 personal calls each year providing the sacraments to those unable to get to church. We have special ministry to the non-English speaking Chinese community. Our St. Vincent de Paul Society members are busy each week making 400 - 500 sandwiches to feed the hungry, in addition to collecting clothing for their use and providing financial assistance to those in halfway houses trying to make a comeback into society.
We have a thousand people coming to Mass on the weekend. Of the fifty-one parishes in San Francisco County, twenty-nine or over fifty percent have fewer people coming to Sunday Mass than we do. I believe that if the other parishes in the Archdiocese can double their Mass attendance by the year 2005, a goal set by the Pastoral Planning Commission, we can as well.
In the area of finances St. Brigid Parish is in good shape. We are able to pay our bills. Only fifteen out of all of the parishes in this county receive more ordinary income than we do. Our Archdiocesan Annual Appeal subsidy for Archdiocesan support was the third highest of any San Francisco parish in 1993. Also relevant to our financial condition is the fact we have a substantial deposit in the Archdiocesan Deposit and Loan Fund in addition to the money in our local parish accounts.
Although there is no plan to close St. Brigid School I feel, along with the school community, that it is important to have the parish operating in tandem with the school, so that the children can continue to receive the sacraments and participate in the liturgy in a church that they have come to love. On November 30, 1992 you wrote to me recommending that opportunities for the parish and school communities to come together be provided. We have done that by inaugurating children's Sunday Mass which has been very well received and brings together people who would not otherwise intermingle.
There are so many other things that could be included that would reinforce our belief that St. Brigid Parish is alive and has much to offer to this faith community. Other members of our parish have written to you and those letters have included some of those things.
Obviously the cost of retrofitting the church is a challenge that faces us, but then it faces Old St. Mary, St. Patrick and St. Paul as well. The $5.5 million estimate for St. Brigid is undoubtedly a "worst case scenario". It is possible as the unreinforced buildings are studied in detail with the opening up of the walls, etc., and a clarification from the City on the degree of retrofit necessary to comply with the ordinance, the cost could be markedly less.
Needless to say Archbishop, this is the most important period in the history of this venerable one hundred thirty year old parish. Because this matter will have such a profound impact on the future of all of us here at St. Brigid, the parish committee which has been studying this matter, and I would like to meet with you to discuss the situation. We believe that we are a viable and vibrant parish with an enviable past and, if permitted to continue, a very promising future.
Sincerely in Christ Jesus,
Father Kirby Hanson
Pastor of St. Brigid's Church
HOMEPAGE