Reader agrees with disappointment

To the Editor:

I was saddened to read Charles A. Tartaglia's letter of the inconsiderate treatment of the Holy Rosary Parish.

My family and myself have attended mass at Holy Rosary Church and have found the parishioners very welcoming and spiritual.

One of the Terre Haute Deanery planning committee members attends Annunciation Church and privately defended the decision to close Holy Rosary along with three other parishes in the Terre Haute Deanery.

The planning committee was given the marching orders that only five priests would be available in five years to minister in the Terre Haute Deanery.

The Terre Haute Deanery includes the cities of Terre Haute, Clinton, Rockville, Greencastle and Brazil. Because of this fact, the closing of Holy Rosary was necessary.

The member also stated that I need not worry about closing Annunciation Church, as the Indianapolis Archdiocese was committed to keeping at least one Catholic Church in each county.

I found this information to be disheartening.

Is it Holy Rosary Church's misfortune to be located in a county where other Catholic churches exist?

It is ironic that Father Rick is the current head of the Terre Haute Deanery succeeding the late Monsignor Joe Kern, who was a very thoughtful, understanding and compassionate Catholic priest.

The members of the Holy Rosary Church will be in the thoughts and prayers of us at the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church as they go through the traumatic closure of the 100-year-old faith community.

Sincerely,

Larry G. Creed,

Brazil