After careful and prayerful consideration, Epiphany of the Lord Parish, in collaboration with the Diocese of Toledo, has decided not to accept the singular offer to purchase the former church of Sacred Heart in Toledo.
That offer, in the amount of $1.00, included purchasing the building, the rectory, “any and all appliances, commercial kitchen wares, church pews, organ, and non-religious relics or furniture;” but did not include a pro-posed use of the former church, which was one of the criteria required for any proposal.
The offer likewise did not indicate how the building would be repaired or maintained, which was another element required for consideration.
There was also a singular recourse made to the Holy See — the Vatican — against the decision to relegate the church, and the Diocese was recently informed that the recourse has been rejected.
Therefore, the parish, with the support of the Diocese, intends to move forward with the original plan.
Beginning in 2020, Epiphany of the Lord Parish, which comprises three campuses including the former Sacred Heart church, initiated an inclusive, thoughtful, and robust process with serious discussions about retaining and maintaining its 12 buildings, a process which involved much prayer, dialogue, and collaboration.