The archdiocese in September of that year offered the parish to the preservation group for free, Sawicki said. Yet after three months the deal was called off, she said, with the archdiocese allegedly saying it was planning to “market” the parish.
The Archdiocese of Chicago did not respond to requests for comment on Friday about the parish and its interactions with the Society of St. Adalbert.
Sawicki told CNA that since the archdiocese allegedly backed out of the deal, advocates have been engaged in “a battle to save St. Adalbert’s from demolition as well as any potential, non-Catholic uses.”
“There have been four contracts for sale that have fallen apart” over that time, she said. “No doubt, the hand of God was also at work here.”
Sawicki said it was “disheartening” that Church leadership isn’t putting “thought and effort into figuring out creative solutions for our churches.”
She criticized the archdiocese’s ongoing “Renew My Church” plan, which has closed and merged dozens of parishes in order to address shrinking budgets and priest shortages.
“There are solutions for our unwanted churches,” she said. “Most people do not know what can be done to save a church and are often overwhelmed by the thought of going up against a powerful diocese.”
But “the St. Adalbert situation has emboldened us and we remain steadfast in our mission,” she said.
Daniel Payne is a senior editor at Catholic News Agency. He previously worked at the College Fix and Just the News. He lives in Virginia with his family.
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