We resume this weekend making announcements and prayers immediately after each Mass. This is in response to requests from an extraordinarily large number of parishioners, even though they are aware that Archbishop John R. Quinn has ordered us not to do this. People want to be informed as to developments and plans to save this wonderful Church, and see no harm in talking and praying about doing Christ's work in his Father's House. At the end of June this viable 130 year old Parish is to be closed forever, and we must work to save it. As Louisa B. Stanton, age 88, who first attended Mass at Saint Brigid in 1931, said Friday evening:

"I believe we must do everything possible to save our Church, including the after-Mass announcements. Christ expects this of us. We must be brave! Saint Brigid is so important to me and this community. It is vital to the young people, who may be lost to the Catholic Church if Archbishop Quinn closes our Parish. Saint Brigid is the only Roman Catholic Church on Van Ness. Archbishop Quinn is making an egregious error in trying to close our Church."

Please remain a few minutes after Mass, and learn more about what is being done to save Saint Brigid Church.

Yolanda ChanKuo of our Committee has received a most touching letter from Gregory Peck, who won the Academy Award as Best Actor for his performance in To Kill A Mockingbird and has been acclaimed for sensitive portrayals in such films as The Keys Of The Kingdom, Twelve O'Clock High, The Snows Of Kilimanjaro, and The Man In The Grey Flannel Suit. His mother, Mrs. Bernice Mae Maysuch, who died April 27, 1992 at the age of 97, was a parishioner of Saint Brigid. In offering public support to the cause of saving this Church, Mr. Peck wrote: "I do this in memory of my Mother."

Saint Brigid is on appeal to the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome, from the Decree of the Archbishop to close our Church. Last week Robert R. Bryan, our attorney, sent to Rome a detailed motion asking that the Church not be closed while we are on appeal. Joining him was our canonist, Rev. James A. Coriden, Dean, Washington Theological Union.

Even though our prayers are for an early victory, we must prepare for the worst. The Archbishop's canonist recently stated that he expected a decision being made "around June 11." Consequently Robert is already in the process of planning, in the event of an adverse ruling, to appeal further to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. Last week we told you of St. Rocco's in Chicago Heights which lost before the Congregation for the Clergy, but won after it appealed to the Signatura. Clearly this struggle may continue well into next year, if we do not receive success quickly. As Robert said: "We must not give up, for we have a sacred obligation to Jesus Christ to save Saint Brigid."

Our offer to raise the funds to save two churches, without any cost to the Archdiocese, stands. The Archdiocese conceded on April 8, 1994, that we can raise the money since this Parish is so affluent. Please pray that Archbishop Quinn has a change of heart.

Write letters to help save the Church
Our leaders in Rome must understand the importance of saving Saint Brigid Church. Please write them. Feel free to give us your letters, which will be promptly sent by fax to Rome. They should be addressed to: His Holiness Pope John Paul IISupreme Sovereign of the Universal Church00120 Vatican City StateEurope(FAX: 011 396 6988 5088) Cardinal Jose T. Sanchez, PrefectPiazza Pio XII 300193 Rome, Italy(FAX: 011 396 6988 4845)

Meetings of the Committee to Save Saint Brigid Church
The Committee to Save Saint Brigid Church meets here on our Church property Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. All who want to unite with us in this campaign to save the Parish, are welcome. We need you.

Donations
The campaign to save Saint Brigid Church is expensive, since we are involved in extensive litigation in Rome. Please send your donations to the Committee to Save Saint Brigid Church.

Prayer
Most importantly, we need to continue praying.

Thank you for joining us in the campaign to save Saint Brigid Church. Everything we do is based upon a commitment to continue doing the work of Jesus Christ and the Roman Catholic Church in this community.

BSJ
Secretary