It is always sad when a church closes its doors. So many families devote so much of their time and talent to building and maintaining their worship space. But it continues to happen as more and more congregations shrink.
A while back, when St. Ethelreda closed, Father Fanelli rescued some of the statues, bringing them to St. Thomas More, refurbishing them and placing them in the Tommy More prayer garden where they remain today.
More recently, a beautiful marble altar was rescued by St. Rita Parish and now sits in the sanctuary of the church on 63rd Street.
And now, a new prayer garden in honor of the Blessed Mother is being created at St. Clare of Montefalco with the centerpiece being a statue from the shuttered St. Maria Addolorata Parish in New Town…