The memories of St. Brigid Church of the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders of the school are very vivid despite the fact that they were the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders the year the church closed. When asked what they remembered of the church, the immediate response from each class was the candles and the incense. The wonderful church-smell fills their memories. The second favorite memory recalled with much joy was the fabulous sound they made with their feet when running down the ramp on the way to the Broadway street door. Our annual Christmas Pageants were also special memories for the students. The pageant was one of the rare times they were in church with all their friends and families at night and they loved the way the church felt sort of cozy on the cold nights with in the soft lights glowing and the candles flickering. They remember Masses in which we always sat with our school families (one person from each grade kindergarten through 8 makes a school family). They loved the "big kids" guiding them through Mass. The loud sound of kneelers accidentally hitting the floor during the most solemn moments at Mass, still make them cringe! Although none of the students had ever entered one, they remembered the dark, scary looking confession boxes. The statues of the angels up by the ceiling were a special memory, especially the angel that looked like it was waving to them! The big holy water fonts were great and one boy remembers sticking his whole hand into the holy water and the cool feeling on the hot day as he entered the church. They remember as very little kids, playing under the pews when no one was looking. One boy remembers getting his leg stuck under a kneeler at a school Mass and causing such a commotion that he got in trouble and was kept after school. They remember when they were in kindergarten and when they knelt down, they couldn't see over the pews. The stained glass windows, statues, and banks of candles were big memories. They will always think of lighting a candle, if they behaved well at Mass, as a very special reward. One boy remembers clearly his baptism when he was three years old. The closure of the church is the biggest memory for all students. They recall making protest signs, marching on Van Ness, and making drivers honk their horns. Some remember going to the Chancery Office with their parents and waiting for the Save the Church Committee members to report from the steps. They remember their parents staying long after Mass was over to talk with each other in the aisles even though they had always been taught not to talk in church. So many remember never missing Sunday Mass. One boy remembers that he and his parents always sat in the last pew and how they loved the sound of the choir and vibrations of the organ from there. They remember drawing pictures of the church and hanging them in the gym. --- They remember the towels. They remember Fr. O. They remember hearing voices from the church and thinking the building could talk to them at recess as they played right next to it! They remember the excitement of everyone working together to save the church. The lucky children that were able to attend the special retreat that look place just before the closing remember it so fondly. They got to explore the hidden places of the church, even the bell tower. One of the girls remembers saying good-bye to the church by kissing a pillar as she left the retreat! The 7th graders remember that they were the last first communion in St. Brigid and they are hoping that next year they will be the first Confirmation in the reopened church. In every class, the children said they had not given up hope that the church would someday reopen. They had been told many times that the prayers of ch8ldren are very powerful and they continue to pray that the church will reopen. Despite their young ages at the time of the closures, their memories of the church remain intense. * * *

 

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