Mater Dolorosa and Holy Cross parishes joined together to create a new parish, Our Lady of the Cross. Watch video
HOLYOKE – Diocesan officials plan to hire a contractor soon to remove the steeple from Mater Dolorosa Church, even though protesters continue to occupy it 24-hours a day.
Protesters argue they see no serious flaws in the steeple. They recently hired their own engineer to inspect the steeple and are awaiting a report.
Victor Anop, of Chicopee, a church member and one of the vigil organizers, did not release the name of the engineer, but said he was selected because he has experience with church buildings.
In a recent tour of the steeple, Andrew Pavlica, president of Engineering Design Associates, which examined the church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, showed a reporter the flaws found.
The firm reported it is only a matter of time before the steeple fails.
The major concern is that a set of four tie rods that hold the steeple in place are loose, and one of the timber beams the tie rods run through has a large crack through most of it. The crack allows the tie rods to move more than they should, he said.
In heavy winds the steeple will sway more than intended, jeopardizing the integrity of the masonry, Pavlica said. Already there are cracks that Pavlica said are caused by the movement.
During the tour, he also cited problems with the church’s slate roof, which is causing the structure to deteriorate.
“When we first looked at it, there was a lot of missing slate, broken slate, displaced slate. When you have slate missing, that’s essentially the same as any residential roofing. If you don’t have roofing material on there, you get water coming in, which deteriorates the wood framing,” he said.
But Anop said members have been in the steeple and looked at the roof and see no falling bricks or slate.
Andrzej Stefanowicz, of Holyoke, a parish member for 14 years, said the building consultants did not go high enough into the steeple.
“They’re saying the woodwork, the wooden beam, they are loose. So my question is: If you’re not higher than the bell, you’re taking the photos of the woodwork, and you’re not touching the woodwork with your hand — how can you possibly say those beams are loose?” he asked.
Mark E. Dupont, spokesman for the diocese, said the condition of the steeple is not the main reason the church was selected to be closed.
Holyoke no longer has enough Catholics to support the six churches in the city. The decision to close specific churches is based on both the condition of the building and that fact that Mater Dolorosa Church is less than a mile from two other churches, Dupont said.
Under the closing plan, Mater Dolorosa and Holy Cross joined together to form the new Our Lady of the Cross parish, which is using the former Holy Cross Church.
“We want this resolved before another winter season and we are moving ahead with that in mind,” Dupont said about the repairs.
But, the church cannot be repaired when it is occupied, which is something Anop is questioning.
Dupont said he is hoping the protesters will soon volunteer to leave the church. Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell has no interest in forcibly removing the people from the church, he said.
“It will leave a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth and no one wants to go down that road,” Dupont said.
Assistant Online Editor Greg Saulmon contributed to this story.
Structural Conditions Assessment Report of the Mater Dolorosa Parish Church