April 7, 2009: Friends Submit "Mediation Proposal" with Council of Parishes
The Friends of Star of the Sea, in a joint effort with the national Council of Parishes organization, delivered a "Mediation Proposal" to the Vatican on April 7. The proposal requests the Holy See to suspend all parish suppression appeals pending before Vatican courts, and to instruct local bishops across the country to enter into mediation agreements with parishioner groups, such as the Friends of Star of the Sea. The mediation proposal was submitted on behalf of 31 parishioner groups throughout 8 American dioceses.
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Friends of Star of the Sea Cookout/Fundraiser
Thank you to all who made our cookout such a great success on September 21, 2008. Over 200 "Friends" attended the event to help raise more than $3,500 for our organization. Newspaper articles about the event may be found here:
Patriot Ledger article - Sept. 20
Patriot Ledger article (with video) - Sept. 21
Pictures from the cookout:
Photos by Cailin Driscoll & Maureen Mazrimas ________________________________________
Read our Aug./Sept. '08 Newsletter HERE.
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June 28, 2007: QUINCY SUN ARTICLE
The Friends of Star of theSea are celebrating a few anniversaries these days.On July 2, the Friends will celebrate 91 years since the first Catholic Mass was celebrated in Squantum in 1916.
On July 5, the Friends will celebrate the two year anniversary since their church was reopened and designated as a chapel of Sacred Heart Parish in North Quincy.
The Friends have also been celebrating the one year anniversary since the Vatican suspended Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley's decree of suppression against the parish.
"It is very hard to believe that Star of the Sea has already been reopened for two years," said Sean Glennon, co-chair of the Friends of Star of the Sea. "We certainly celebrate the reopening of the church, but we still have much work to do. Personally, I'm very disappointed that in two years, the organ still has not been replaced and that a choir has not been reestablished."
"We are looking forward to a time when the sacraments of baptisms, weddings, and funerals are celebrated again," said Glennon. "It is at these times that we truly come together as a faith community."
The Friends would also like to see religious education classes available to the children in their own neighborhood.
"We look forward to having Sacred Heart provide a renewed pastoral presence in Squantum," said Maureen Mazrimas, co-chair of the Friends of Star of the Sea.
In the meantime, Glennon and Mazrimas stay in regular contact with their canonical advocate in Rome, where their appeal of suppression is currently pending before the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.
"It's good to see that the process
works and we were rightfully reopened pending resolution by the Vatican,"
Mazrimas added, "It's sad to think that a vibrant, engaged and prayerful
community could be shuttered due to the number of worshippers. In reality,
we had no fewer congregants per priest than our welcoming parish."
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DECEMBER 3 , 2006:
WINTER NEWSLETTER RELEASED!
CLICK HERE to download the Winter 2006 Newsletter of the Friends of Star of the Sea, which has just been released! Of note, you'll read updates about our appeal to the Vatican; a recap of Sacred Heart Parish's recent "Listening Session"; and a request to have a town meeting with Fr. O'Brien at Star of the Sea.
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October 17, 2006:
Friends of Star of the Sea attend "Listening Session" held by Sacred Heart
Former Star of the Sea Parishioners were extremely well represented at a recent "Town Meeting" held by Sacred Heart Parish in North Quincy. Star of the Sea representatives expressed their serious concern over the severe lack of liturgical and social celebrations held at Star of the Sea. Representatives also expressed other spiritual needs of the Squantum community, including the need for religious education classes in Squantum, the re-establishment of a children's choir at Star of the Sea, and for the church organ to be returned. Rev. John O'Brien, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish indicated that the results of the Listening Session would become the agenda for the Sacred Heart Parish Council.
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JUNE 16, 2006:Vatican Tribunal Suspends Decree of Suppression of Star of the Sea
The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura in Rome has suspended Cardinal Sean O'Malley's Decree of Suppression of Mary, Star of the Sea Parish.
Through this action, the Apostolic Signatura has found merit in the appeal from the Friends of Star of the Sea, and will issue a final decision once all of the arguments of the case are presented.
