St. Patrick’s Church approved for reopening
By Lethbridge Herald on March 17, 2021.
Herald photo by Dale Woodard
After a decade-long battle, an appeal has ruled in favour of St. Patrick's Church that the 108-year-old church across from City Hall can be re-opened. However, there is no date set as the Diocese of Calgary decides the future of the church.Dale Woodard
Lethbridge Herald
After a decade-long battle, The Save Our Churches Association has received some good news moving forward in that St. Patricks Church can be reopened following an appeal with the Apostolic Signatura.
The decision brings to an end the legal battle that began on August 1, 2011 when Bishop Frederic Henry, then Bishop of the Diocese of Calgary, closed St. Patrick’s Church.
Shortly before he retired, Bishop Henry ratified his decision by issuing the Decree of Relegation on October 1, 2017, a decree that was upheld by the Congregation for the Clergy in the Vatican.
The Signatura ruling negates both previous rulings of the Congregation and in effect invalidates Bishop Henry’s Decree of Relegation.
“We had an appeal going on with the Apostolic Signatura, which is the supreme tribunal in the Vatican that rules on matters of appeals,” said Grant Alger, vice president for SOCA.
Though the appeal was in their favour, Alger stressed there is no reopening date.
St. Patrick’s Church remains the property of the Diocese of Calgary and decisions regarding its future will be made by the present head of the Diocese, Bishop William McGrattan and the Pastor of All Saints Paris, Lethbridge, the Very Reverend Kevin Tumback.
“(They) will be tasked with the responsibility to work with the church community to come up with a solution to this issue and how we’re going to go forward,” said Alger.
What the ruling does do, said Alger, is preserves the 108-year old church located across from City Hall.
“That was a fear of our church body that supports and maintains St. Patrick’s, that church would be sold. So that takes that away and fortunately through the appeal process it has been kept safe that way and with this ruling it preserves it for the time being.”
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