Is Mary Queen of the World Church on Topsail Road, where parishioners have practiced their faith for nearly four decades, the future for Catholics in Mount Pearl? Or is it St. Peter’s on Ashford Drive, which is newer and bigger? These are very emotional questions that come at a time of great upheaval for churchgoers throughout the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John. St. Peter’s parish was established in the fall of 1982 and the first Sunday service was held in July 2001. (Terry Roberts/CBC) Catholic properties across the St. John’s area are being sold as the Archdiocese tries to compensate victims of Mount Cassel abuse. Committees associated with both Mount Pearl churches submitted bids to the court-appointed insolvency practitioner, Ernst & Young, but CBC News has learned that both bids, deemed too low, were rejected. And there do not appear to have been any other suitable bids from non-church bidders. Now a big decision must be made: to pool the combined resources of both parishes and make a new, more substantial offer for one of the two churches. But here’s the problem. Mary Queen of the World Church on Topsail Road in Mount Pearl was completed in 1984. (Terry Roberts/CBC) A 10-member steering committee is leading the effort to define a way forward for Catholics at Mount Pearl, made up of five members from St Peter’s and five from Mary Queen of the World. Not surprisingly, they are deadlocked and unable to decide which church to save as a place of worship. The only thing they seem to agree on is that the only viable path is a church. This is because the churches are shrinking and raising the money needed for a mortgage to buy one of the churches is more realistic under a single, united parish. It’s a divisive issue, and no one is talking on the record. CBC News has learned that a meeting has been scheduled for Thursday morning, with representatives from both parishes addressing a discussion with the archbishop about why their respective church should be saved. The meeting was supposed to take place at 9 am in the archbishop’s office, but did not proceed as planned. It is not known if the meeting was rescheduled. Peter Hundt is the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John’s. (Paula Gale/CBC) What is certain is that the church’s footprint at Mount Pearl will soon shrink greatly. “Each side doesn’t want to lose their church,” said a longtime member of St. Peter’s. CBC withholds their name. “Everyone thinks his own is the right church.” The parishioner said “no one wants change,” but there seems to be agreement that it is no longer viable to maintain two churches in Mount Pearl. Hunt has declined interviews throughout these bankruptcy proceedings, but he will have to make a decision — a tough one — very soon. Total claims have not yet been finalized but are expected to be in the $50 million range. Lawyers for the victims want the sales process to continue and a High Court judge is expected to sign off on a number of sales, including the basilica, next week. Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
