Proceeds will benefit parish's properties
SUGARCREEK TWP, Armstrong County — Although it will remain empty, a stone chapel that once operated as part of St. Patrick Parish in Bradys Bend will continue to benefit the church through the proceeds of its sale.
The secondary location in Sugarcreek Township, The Chapel of St. Patrick Parish, Bradys Bend, on Route 68 was closed in January 2008 and was sold earlier this month.
According to the Rev. Joseph Bonafed, the 200-acre property was sold to a subsidiary of Snyder Associated Companies in Kittanning.
Bonafed said part of the $291,600 proceeds will be put toward renovations to the primary location of St. Patrick, which was built in 1969. Part also will go toward endowments for a historic log church and nearby cemetery as well as for a cemetery at St. Mary Our Lady of the Snows in Parker, which closed in October. Bonafed was administrator of that church.
"That's our beginning, there, and we have a moral obligation to take care of it — and we will," Bonafed said about the log church and cemetery, both situated near the chapel but not included in the sale.
"That's our roots," he added. "We'll make sure it's kept up very nicely for generations to come."
Closing the stone chapel and St. Mary in Parker were both part of an ongoing strategic plan launched by the Diocese of Greensburg in 2005.
Beth Fazzini, assistant director in the office for communications, said 14 parishes and various chapels of convenience have closed since that time.
"The bishop repeatedly said (there is) a strong need to move from a historical model to a pastoral care model," said Fazzini, referring to a dwindling population of priests who often are required to manage multiple parishes.
"(We have to) work with the resources we have in terms of how the diocesan and religious order of clergy serve the diocese."
According to Terry McMaster, assistant land manager at Snyder, gas and mineral rights on the land were purchased several years ago by Allegheny Mineral Corporation, one of Snyder's many subsidiaries. Buffalo Valley Ltd., another subsidiary, bought the land when it came up for sale."It's just a long-term investment," McMaster said, describing the property as deep, mineable land whose resources lie about 300 feet deep.Activity on the land is "many years down the road," he added.McMaster said the company also has no immediate plans for the stone chapel.Brenda Fennell, a lifelong member of St. Patrick, said losing the 80-year-old chapel is sad, but members of the congregation anticipated the change.Fennell said the chapel served as a full-time church when it was built in 1929, but became a chapel of convenience in the early 90s."At that point, a lot of the parish knew that even that was just the first step of having it be closed," Fennell said."Basically, we weren't shocked by it."Fennell praised Bonafed for bringing unity to the parish during the changes, which led many who attended Mass in the chapel to move to St. Patrick, which now comprises about 230 families. Bonafed said about 75 people attended Mass at the chapel.Bonafed said the influx of new people has brought life and new talents and gifts to the church — and members seem enthused by the changes."(The diocese) recently had a major (fundraising) campaign, and we were one of the first parishes to go through it," he said. "And we surpassed our goal.""They are making a statement that they want to be here," he added.
