Westland — The parishioners of St. Bernardine of Siena Parish gathered for the last time; after 54 years since its founding, the church has closed.
Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Francis Reiss presided at the parish’s final Mass last Sunday, June 26. During his homily, he said the community can see the parish’s existence as a gift from God.
“We give thanks to God for those men and women who have shared their lives with us over the past 54 years,” he said.
While the parish was filled with smiling faces and conversation at its final liturgy, there was plenty of emotion. During Mass, tears could be seen in the eyes of some parishioners.
“I attended St. Bernardine when I was younger,” said Maureen Winfrey of Milford, who came to the final Mass. “I was baptized here in 1964 by the founding pastor of the church. Fr. Kress and I also had my first communion here.”
Even though St. Bernardine has closed its doors for good, the community may have the same pastor, for at least a while. Fr. Salvino Briffa will serve as the temporary administrator at nearby St. Damien Parish until a new pastor is named there, then he will retire.
During the mass, Fr. Briffa said he hopes to retire to Livonia.
Preceding its final Mass, St. Bernardine parishioners attended an event on Friday June 24, which they called “The Last Hoorah.”
“It (was) a time for everyone to get together for one last social,” said Judy Canfield, who has been a parishioner of St. Bernardine for 39 years. “We had dinner, we danced, and there was even a 5-week-old baby there! Five generations of people.”
Embarking on one last adventure together as a community seemed just as much joyful as it was sad. Following Mass was a reception where those who were in the pews came together, gave hugs, told stories, and laughed — just as they had before the Mass started.
In the words of Fr. Briffa, “We ask for wisdom and guidance as we start this new journey.”
Fr. Briffa said that, as the parishioners attend St. Damien or other parishes, they will never forget each other or the memories that have been made at St. Bernardine.
Throughout the past 54 years, many parishioners, pastors and Bishops have given their dedication and devotion to St. Bernardine. It all began with Fr. Kress on December 7, 1958 when the very first mass took place at St. Bernardine.
Catholics in the area have a handful of parishes to choose from within a few-minute drive from the site of St. Bernardine. St. Theodore of Canterbury is nearby in Westland.
In Garden City, there are St. Raphael and St. Dunstan parishes. St. Michael in Livonia also is nearby, as is St. Robert Bellarmine in Redford.
The decision to close the doors of the church was made through discussion with other parishes in the area through the archdiocese’s “Together in Faith” process. St. Bernardine had had declining numbers of parishioners for a number of years. Fr. Briffa, along with his parish council and other representatives of the parish, decided that St. Bernardine would continue its services until Fr. Briffa’s retirement.
He has been a pastor for 40 years.
The St. Bernardine of Siena Parish had built up quite a name for itself over the past 54 years, its members said.
The parishioners and pastors are known as kind and generous people, volunteers who give their spare time and efforts and expect nothing in return, except the celebration everyone enjoys every Sunday, they said.
