St. James Church in Ferndale Closing, Parishioners Invited to Mother of Perpetual Help in Oak Park

St. James Church in Ferndale Closing, Parishioners Invited to Mother of Perpetual Help in Oak Park

(Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct. 31, 2024)

Ferndale, MI – St. James Catholic Church in Ferndale is closing, with their final service taking place Sunday.  Dwindling attendance and increased need for building upkeep prompted the closure, with church leaders directing energy and invitations to Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Oak Park.

A decree issued by Archbishop Allen Vigneron on Oct. 21 “relegates Saint James Church, Ferndale, to secular but not unbecoming use; that is, the building will no longer be used as a church. The decision takes effect on November 4, 2024.”

St. James has served the community for generations, with many recalling attending the St. James Church which had been attached. The school has long been closed, and in 2019 was converted into The James senior living community.

The church itself can no longer be used as a church, meaning that if the property is sold, it cannot be sold to another congregation.

Fr. Chateau shared a message with parishioners, stating:

Dear Parishioners,

I, along with the parish transition team and our family clergy, spent over eight months in prayerful discernment and in close consultation with the Archdiocese of Detroit to determine what is best for the future and sustainability of our parish. There were numerous meetings, parishioner and community input, gathering of facts and information, a town hall, and a meeting to reach consensus within the transition team and our family clergy. As you know, the transition team overwhelmingly reached consensus to close St. James Church. Despite the transition team’s decision, affirmed by the Regional Moderator, Family Moderator, and priests of the Family of Parishes, some of the parishioners who served on the transition team and dissented from the consensus decision requested time to reverse the declining offertory trends, Mass attendance, and participation in parish activities, and to raise funds to support building maintenance and repairs at the Ferndale worship location.

Benchmarks were set by the Archdiocese of Detroit related to raising capital expenditure funds, increasing offertory, and mass participation. While the benchmark process was launched, it was not a guarantee that the church would remain open but rather an openness from all involved to explore the possibility. Benchmarks were set, with an understanding that all of them would have to be met, and progress assessed every two months, for up to eight months. Sadly, the benchmarks were not met after almost three months. Any donations received for the capital expenditure fund have been returned to the donors.

It is with a heavy heart that I share that Archbishop Vigneron has issued a decree to proceed with the planned closure of St. James Church in Ferndale. On October 21, 2024, Archbishop Allen Vigneron issued a decree that relegates Saint James Church, Ferndale, to secular but not unbecoming use; that is, the building will no longer be used as a church. The decision takes effect on November 4, 2024. A certified copy of the decree may be obtained by contacting the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish Office, Oak Park. For additional information and assistance in understanding the details of this announcement, you may write to chancellor@aod.org. The closing Mass will be at 11:00 am on Sunday, November 3, 2024.

Additionally, I share the following information with you regarding the columbarium. In April 2012, prior to the cluster and eventual merger of St. James Parish with Our Lady of Fatima merging to form Our Mother of Perpetual Help, St. James was advised by the archdiocese that, “should the St. James building be closed, the columbarium will be moved to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery” and notification should be sent to niche owners.  For some reason, this notification was not made.  However, now that the decision to close St. James Church has been made and to be in compliance with Archdiocesan policies and Canon Law regarding columbaria, a plan has been established for the remains of the faithful departed interred in our parish columbaria at both worship locations to be respectfully relocated to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield.  The transfer of the cremains, which will take place by November 2, 2024, will be conducted with the utmost care and oversight by the staff of Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. You are invited to attend the All Souls Mass at 9am at Holy Sepulchre. Archbishop Vigneron will offer a special blessing of the faithful departed being relocated to the cemetery.

Should you have any questions or require further clarification regarding the columbarium, please feel free to contact Chuck White at 734.635.2598 or chuckwhiteolofsj@gmail.com.

Thank you for your understanding and support during this process. We continue to offer prayers for the eternal rest and light of those who have passed: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

We fully understand that some of you are not happy with the decision to close St. James Church. However, the building is closing, not the parish. As we move forward, we must focus our efforts on strengthening and growing Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish. It is my prayerful hope, and I encourage and invite all parishioners who have primarily attended our Ferndale location to attend Mass and parish activities in Oak Park as well as our family of parishes activities.

Please keep our entire parish community in your prayers. You may be assured of mine. Our Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for us.

Blessings,

Rev. Paul F. Chateau