Timeline of Events

5/24/04

St Frances receives letter of intent to close from Archbishop Sean O' Malley

5/30/04

Letter sent to Archbishop requesting reconsideration and delay (no reply)

6/7/04

Bishop Lennon meets with parishioners

7/5/04

Letter is sent to Archbishop with additional information (no written reply)

8/04

Parish council and Fr. MacDonald decide on closing date of Oct 29, 2004 with a final Mass on Oct 24,2004 at request of Archbishop, dates are approved a few weeks later.

8/20/04

Farewell Dinner Dance in Parish Center

9/4/04

Telephone call from Archdiocese saying written reply to 7/5 letter is forthcoming (did not come forth)

9/14/04

Dove appears after the 9:00am Mass and lingers for 2 days

9/25/04

Family Festival

10/6/04

Decree of Suppression received

10/13/04

Appeal of Decree to the Archbishop

10/15/04

Letter from Archbishop acknowledging receipt of the appeal

10/24/04

Two members from Appeal committee meet with Bishop Lennon for hearing on appeal

10/24/04

Last Mass

10/25/04

Locks changed at night - 4 days before officially closing date

10/26/04

Parishioner enters church through an unlocked door-Vigil starts

10/29/04

Parish suppressed

11/13/04

Letter of denial of Appeal received on Mother Cabrini's Feast Day

11/24/04

Petition for Recourse to Congregation of Clergy delivered to the Archdiocese (copy to Papal Nuncio and Congregation of Clergy in Rome)

11/29/04

Response to Fr. Manning's letter delivered to Archdiocese included in appeal (same to Nuncio/Congregation of Clergy)

12/14/04

Request for a Christmas Mass after St. Albert the Great is given 2 Masses at Christmas

12/21/04

Request for a Mass denied

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1/5/05

Telephone archdiocese about Vatican receipt acknowledgment (they do not acknowledge)

1/8/05

Call from Archdiocese says appeal received

1/10/05

Date of Feb 3, 2005 chosen for meeting with the Independent Reconfiguration Committee

1/24/05

Blizzard of 2005

2/2/05

100th Day of Vigil

2/3/05

Meeting at 2:00pm with the Review Committee for Reconfiguration

2/28/05

Appeal from Rome delayed until May 10

3/31/05

Results of Review Committee for Reconfiguration announced in a Press Conference: St Frances will remain closed. Reliable internal source states recommendation was Chapel status.

4/2/05

Pope John II dies

4/14/05

Eucharist is brought back to St. Frances

4/19/05

Pope Benedict XI is elected

4/24/05

First prayer service with Communion Service will be every Sunday at 10A.M.

4/26/05

6 month anniversary of vigil. Decision to bring a civil lawsuit against the Archdiocese is discussed and voted on. Unanimously voted yes to file civil suit

5/10/05

Appeal decision from Rome is delayed- no response

5/15/05

200th day in vigil

6/8/05

Supplement to Petition - supplement Appeal is sent to the Congregation for Clergy via the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States of America

7/15/05

Filing of Lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court Mother Cabrini's Birthday

8/31/05

Petition and Letter Drive commences (~300 letters sent - certified return receipt to the Archbishop and ~300 signatures on a petition.)

9/16/05

Civil hearing for ownership and lis pendens

9/23/05

Evening Under the Stars Fundraiser

10/14/05

Ruling on hearing, lis pendens granted

10/26/05

Prayer Service to mark 1Year Anniversary in Vigil

365 days in Vigil

12/3/05

Meeting with Archbishop O'Malley

12/10/05

Christmas Craft Bazaar and Bake Sale

12/23/05

Call from Father Kickham to schedule another meeting with the Archbishop-January 21st

12/24/05

Christmas Eve Service- 400 attend

12/25/05

Christmas Day Service-200 attend

12/31/05

The Friends of St. Frances X. Cabrini becomes incorporated

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1/14/06

Appeal denied from Congregation of the Clergy, all 10 churches denied

1/20/06

Meeting with Archbishop postponed and to be rescheduled, to give the Archbishop time to complete a proposal he wants to present to St. Frances

1/24/06

Hired Adv. Carlo Gullo as advocate to represent us at the Apostolic Signatura

2/17/06

Appeal filed at the Apostolic Signatura, Rome, Italy

2/27/06

Requested a date for a follow-up meeting with the Cardinal Elect Sean, as well as, a priest for Easter Sunday Mass

3/08/06

The Friends of St. Frances X. Cabrini, Inc. receives notification of their 501(3) non-profit status

4/14/06

Good Friday Stations of the Cross followed by a soup and bread supper.

4/15/06

Easter Sunday Service followed by an Easter Egg hunt for the children.

5/13/06

Meeting with Cardinal Sean

6/14/06

Adv. Carlo Gullo informs us of the Suspension of the Suppression Decree of the Archbishop of Boston

07/13/06

Civil hearing - Archdiocese of Boston filing to dismiss our civil case (as of 11/29/06 still pending ruling from judge)

07/15/06

Second Annual Friends of St. Frances Bazaar

08/20/06

Parishioner Picnic Reunion

10/3/06

Unanimously voted at Parish Meeting to file a Brief Amicus to the Supreme Court of Massachusetts

10/8/06

TF1 French TV films St. Frances Communion Prayer Service and interviews parishioners on the process of reconfiguration

10/26/06

Communion Prayer Service to mark Two Year Anniversary in Vigil - 730 days in Vigil

10/28/06

Council of Parishes and vigiling churches celebrate Two Year Commemorative Communion Prayer Service at St. Frances

11/11/06

Christmas Day Service- 250+ attend Second Annual Christmas Craft Bazaar and Bake Sale

12/24/06

Christmas Day Service- 250+ attend

12/25/06

Christmas Day Service- 250+ attend

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3/4/07

Fox 25 National News films Sunday Service

4/9/07

Easter Service - 350+ attended - major media coverage

4/26/07

Marks two and a half years in Vigil

7/22/07

Third Annual St. Frances Picnic

7/23/07

Communion Prayer Service and 3rd Annual Parish Picnic celebrating 1,000 days and nights in Vigil.

8/19/07

1,000 Starry Nights fundraiser

10/26/07

Marked three years in Vigil

12/18/07

St. Frances Christmas Fair and Bake Sale

12/24/07

Christmas Eve Service 400+ attended

12/25/07

Christmas Day Service 350 attended

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2/27/08

Civil court case hearing in the Massachusetts Appeals Court of Boston. Case heard in conjunction with St. Jeremiah.

3/20/08

Holy Thursday "Celebration of the Eucharist" Communion Prayer Service.

3/21/08

Good Friday Stations of the Cross followed by a Soup and Bread Supper.

3/23/08

Easter Communion Prayer Service followed by an Easter Egg hunt for the children. 375+ attended. (Note: All vigiling churches that have requested a priest to celebrate Mass on Easter or Christmas have been granted at least one Mass. The Archdiocese of Boston has repeatedly denied St. Frances's request for a priest at Easter and/or Christmas.)

4/1/08

Introduced the Friends of St. Frances Book Club.

4/1/08

Nova Dutch airs documentary on American Catholic church featuring St. Frances.

4/15/08 - 4/20/08

Pope Benedict arrives in Washington, DC then heads to New York, NY refuses to visit Boston. 5 churches remain in Vigil.

5/10/08

Garden Party - planting and landscaping garden beds.

5/24/08

St. Frances Spring Fair

6/3/08

Notification of Apostolic Signatura Appeal denied. Denied for all 9 churches who filed an appeal.

6/4/08

The Friends of St. Frances filed the next level of appeal at the Apostolic Signatura. Unanimous decision made by the parish community.

6/11/08

Received via mail official decree from the Apostolic Signatura. Decree dated 4/11/08 but was mailed after Pope's visit.

7/11/08

Judge issues split decision in church tax dispute.

8/22/08

Under the Evening Stars - Annual Friends of St. Frances Fundraising event.

9/1/08

Religious Education and Youth Group Ministry programs reintroduced.

10/4/08

Painting Party - painting doors and trim of church.

10/8/08

Letter to Cardinal Sean O’Malley asking for further dialogue.

10/26/08

Communion Prayer Service marks Four Year Anniversary in Vigil. The “Spirit of Hope” quilt dedicated.

11/14/08

Mother Cabrini Parish Spaghetti Supper

12/6/08

Annual Christmas Fair & Bake Sale

12/24/08

Christmas Eve Service- 600+ attend

12/25/08

Christmas Day Service-350+ attend

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1/6/09

The New York Times - In Quiet Rebellion, Parishioners Keep Faith.

1/25/09

CBS Evening News - On a Mission from God.

1/26/09

ABC Evening News - Act of Faith: Church Congregants Hold Vigil.

4/9/09

Holy Thursday “Celebration of the Eucharist” Communion Prayer Service.

4/10/09

Good Friday Stations of the Cross followed by a Soup and Bread Supper.

4/12/09

Easter Communion Prayer Service followed by an Easter Egg hunt for the children. 500+ attended.

4/12/09

The Today Show airs A Revolution of Faith.

8/15/09

Evening Under the Stars Annual Fundraiser.

10/1/09

A win for Scituate in town’s battle with archdiocese

10/1/09.

Judge: Property must be put to a religious use for exemption to continue

10/3/09

Collaborative 5th Year Vigil Anniversary Celebration at St. James, Wellesley

10/25/09

Celebration of Five Years in Vigil - actual date 10/26/09. The dedication of the Fifth Anniversary Quilt : Boundless Energy Driven by Faith.

11/13/09

The Hope House is added to the St. Frances outreach programs. Current programs include the Scituate Food Pantry, the Scituate Community Christmas, Friends of St. Frances Parishioner Christmas and The Lord’s Outreach Ministry.

11/15/09

St. Frances Art Show & Sale

12/5/09

St. Frances Christmas Fair & Bake Sale

12/24/09

Christmas Eve Service- 500+ attend

12/25/09

Christmas Day Service-275 attend

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3/28/10

Palm Sunday Service-150+ attend

4/1/10

"Celebration of the Eucharist" Communion Prayer Service

4/2/10

Stations of the Cross and Veneration of the Cross followed by a Soup and Bread Supper.

4/9/10

Easter Service - 800+ attended

4/25/10

*Come Bloom at St. Frances* Spring Brunch & Welcoming New Parishioners Service

5/8/10

St. Frances Spring Fair

6/10/10, 7/10/10

Harvard Law School Mediation/Conflict Resolution Training.

7/7/10

Apostolic Signatura denies all 9 Boston Appeals.

8/20/10

Evening Under the Stars Annual Fundraiser.

9/27/10

Meeting with regional Bishop and Archdioesean representative.

10/19/10

Papal Appeal is delivered to the Pope at the Vatican.

10/24/10

Celebration of Six Years in Vigil – actual date 10/26/10. The dedication of the Sixth Anniversary Quilt : Hope Soars.

10/27/10

The Congregation of the Clergy is notified of our intent to appeal “The Relegation of Profane Use” of St. Frances church.

11/13/10

Mother Cabrini Parish Spaghetti Supper

12/4/10

St. Frances Christmas Fair & Bake Sale

12/24/10

Christmas Eve Service - 680+ attend

12/25/10

Christmas Day Service - 350+ attend

12/25/10

Seventh consecutive year The Friends of St. Frances donate to the Scituate Community Christmas.

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1/5/11

Papal Appeal rejected by Pope. Appeal is not denied but not reviewed at this time.

1/12/11

Nine churches within The Archdiocse of Allentwon, PA receive favorable ruling follows with the Relegation to Profane Use Appeals.

2/3/11

The Archdiocese of Boston takes steps to retool parishes. Goal is mergers, not closings. Reconfiguration II beginning?

2/15/11

The Vatican Congressio rules favorably for three churches in the Archdiocese of Springfield. They approve their appeal to Relegation to Profane Use – meaning the church cannot be deconsecrated.

2/15/11

St. Frances files at the Vatican their Relegation to Profane Use appeal.

2/17/11

Archdiocese Launches Public Consultative Survey to help decide the fate of the seven churches appealing to the Relegation to Profane Use. (Comment issued by The Friends of St. Frances – “It is interesting that a 2,000 year old hierarchal institution has suddenly become a democracy. Why this shift?”)

3/9/11

Ash Wednesday Service

4/17/11

Palm Sunday Communion Prayer Service followed by an Easter craft session.

4/21/11

"Celebration of the Eucharist" Communion Prayer Service

4/22/11

Stations of the Cross and Veneration of the Cross followed by a Soup and Bread Supper.

4/24/11

Easter Service followed by an Easter Egg hunt for the children. 700+ attended

4/26/11

Marks 6 years and 6 months in a 24/7 peaceful and prayer vigil.

5/14/11

St. Frances Spring Fair & Plant Sale

5/21/11

Decision of the Apostolic Signatura's Collegium (supreme court equivalent) UPHOLDS the appeal of the St Mary parishioners (Jamesville NY, Archdiocese of Syracuse) against the reduction of their church to profane use. St. Frances still waiting for their ruling on the same appeal at the Congregation for the Clergy level.

6/3/2011

The Boston Archdiocese is considering a radical reshuffling that would unite its 291 parishes into 80 to 120 groups so that each cluster could share resources and clergy, according to an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press. (Commented issued by The Friends of St. Frances – “It appears that Reconfiguration II is at our doorstep yet again.”)

6/12/11

“A Tribute to Graduates” - Communion Prayer Service dedicated to all high school graduates.

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