Hello
Welcome
Our goal is to keep HRSJ church a open and serving the community through faith, hope and charity.
Stand With Us!
Let Bishop Fernandes know you support keeping this parish open.
We're a growing African American parish on the Near East Side blessed to worship in a 125 year old church that's stood the test of time!
We have a plan! Help Us to #SaveHRSJ!
HELP us communicate to Bishop Fernandes!
Step 1 - Write letters to asking him to #SaveHRSJ!
THANK YOU TO ALL who wrote letters to the bishop!
On September 9th, 2023, Adrian Moore and Fern Upshaw from the parish met with Bishop Fernandes, Fr. Schalk, and Father Ramon Owera.
- We delivered 275 letters from our supporters, including parishioners, volunteers, St. John Center Ministry leaders and civic leaders.
- We shared our desire for the parish to remain open.
- We shared that we have people coming into OCIA (formerly RCIA) who are neighborhood residents. The bishop's response was that the evangelization that the parish wants to do to the neighborhood should have started 15 years ago.
- We shared our survey results which state - if HRSJ closes, most members will not attend St. Dominics, therefore the idea that the money from HRSJ will follow to St. Dominic's is incorrect. The bishop's response was "that's okay. It happens."
- We shared that some of our external / friends of the parish donors donate because they have a tie to St. John the Evangelist church (parents married there, the donor or family member was baptized there, the donor went to the St. John School, etc.) and therefore if HRSJ closes, their donations will most likely stop. The bishop's response was that 'this can happen'.
- We shared that the original facilities estimate from the diocese of $2.7 Million dollars is grossly inflated as it did not contain any written estimates. We shared that our written estimates for the necessary work was less than $600,000 AND we are confident that we can raise the money. The bishop's response was: "There is better use for those funds".
- Sadly, the bishop is intent on closing HRSJ and used his time with us to convince us that it was for the best. He used the analogy that he is pruning some churches in the diocese for the health of the overall diocese. He also reiterated over and over that there were not enough priests to serve the diocese at this time. (Note, when the Paulist Fathers left the OSU Newman Center, the bishop was able to QUICKLY replace those priests, so while his statement may be true in heart, it is false in fact as it is obvious that there are priests where the bishop believes it is valuable to place them.
Certainly this was not the result we wanted. Howver, he DID PROMISE promise to read each letter provided to him AND to PRAY ABOUT HIS DECISION.
And But in fatih, we continue! Please feel free to continue to write letters. Need help?
Click here for a parishioner letter that you can copy and paste into an email, "sign" and send to savehrsj@gmail.com.
Click here for a letter from friends, family, business partners or supporters! Then copy and paste it into an email, "sign" and send to savehrsj@gmail.com
Click here for a letter from supporters of our social services within the St. John Community Center! Then copy and paste it into an email, "sign" and send to savehrsj@gmail.com
Wanna add your own comments: click here for a letter that you can personalize! Then copy and paste it into an email, add your personal thoughts, "sign" and send to savehrsj@gmail.com
We will deliver the letters to the bishop in the beginning of August, so write and sign those letters and send to savehrsj@gmail.com TODAY!
Step 2 - Remind the Community of our Value. HRSJ has quietly served for 125 years, making an impact on our community and beyond. Christ saw all, but unfortunately the current powers that be did not. Now we need to toot our horn! HRSJ has always been Faith in Action!
- Engage Community and Civic leaders for support.
- Engage the Media to tell our story!
- Engage other like minded Catholics to help spread the word about HRSJ.
- Contact us to help open doors!
- Check out our building!
Faith without works is Dead!
We Celebrate God through
The Eucharistic Celebration
Prayerful Praise
Service to others
Food Pantry * Community Kitchen * St. John Learning Center * Order of Malta Medical & Dental Clinics
I Believe
Keep checking back for testimonies about the impact of HRSJ
We Are a Catholic Community
As Catholics
We praise God through the celebration of the mass.
We serve Him through serving others.
View the Services offered at www.hrsj.org