As parishioners at St. Mary of the Lake Church sang hymns during Palm Sunday Mass, Josie Werhowatz couldn’t help but wonder if these same life-long friends and family would be singing for her —- in her church — on her wedding day in July.
Even though she has her wedding dress, has picked out her flowers, booked the photographer, and even has her song list for her reception, she can’t print her wedding invitations yet. Bishop Donald J. Hying announced on March 23 that he will close St. Mary of the Lake parish, the church where Werhowatz attended all 37 years of her life and where she had hoped to be married.
Still, Werhowatz has hope that her special day will be in her special house of worship.
“We have been lucky to have such support from my parish family and friends. They have been saying extra prayers, offering smiles and words of encouragement. Father Mick Kopil has also been a blessing to me and my fiancé in trying to help us keep our perspective on the true sacrament of marriage despite the challenges that we have faced because of such unusual circumstances,” said Werhowatz.
Hying announced to the congregation that during his 11 weeks as new bishop of the Diocese of Gary he had made his decision to close the 86-year-old church based on several factors, including its $100,000 debt.
But church members say there are ways to save the church and they have begun printing signs to post throughout the Miller community. They also are organizing a spaghetti dinner, and have set up a crowd funding site at gofundme.com/stmaryofthelake.
They don’t want to see the church, a vital institution in their community, closed.
“I’ve been a member of this church all of my life,” Werhowatz said. “All of the people who belong to our church have supported me growing up. I went to school at St. Mary, I made my first communion here, my confirmation here, and I’m supposed to get married here. This is the whole community I’ve known for my whole life. It’s much more than just a building. We truly are family.”
The parishioners all have stories.
“My three children were baptized here, I sent my children to school here, and I’ve been in the choir just about a lifetime. We have fish fries, Christmas bazaars, and it’s very fruitful for the area. We’ve all been here so long, it’s family,” Teresa Samuel said.
Music Director Jack Denges says he has been a part of many churches in the area, but none quite like St. Mary of the Lake where he has been for the past seven years.
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“Miller is its own community and that church plays a big role in the lives of many of the senior citizens because they’ve been there for 50 years,” Denges said.
One of those members, Judy Stanton, was a student in St. Mary of the Lake School’s first graduating class in 1952 and was married in the church in 1961.
“We have a congregation that is small but is very much a community and part of the external community around our church. There’s something to be said about not being large. You can always go to any Catholic church and feel at home, but we’re the only one on the east side of Gary,” said Stanton.
Werhowatz says that place in the community is another essential function of St. Mary of the Lake.
“The issue is bigger than a church issue,” Werhowatz said. “Miller has a lot going on and revitalization is starting and we really need to be here. There’s so much potential and promise and we’re willing to do the work.”
Debbie Bosak, a spokeswoman for the diocese said, “After laying out the challenges facing this parish and listening to the concerns of all involved, Bishop Hying asked for time to think, reflect and pray upon the situation and if there is any chance that the parish could prove itself to be viable going forward.”
The members of St. Mary of the Lake say they are encouraged to hear that the decision is not yet final.
“We are hopeful, and we are certainly willing to do the work we need to do,” Stanton said.
Parishioner Judith Siroky spoke to the congregation during the church’s Palm Sunday Mass and said, “Bishop Hying is continuing to pray about our future and I hope we will continue to pray for him. Ask God to intervene on our behalf.”