Wide Open Doors at St. Joseph Church

To the Editor: 
A church which “goes forth” is a church whose doors are open. These were the words spoken by Holy Father Pope Francis in his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium – The Joy of the Gospel in 2013.
But, is this the case in St. Joseph Church in Sea Isle City? Has anyone in the parish tried to make a visit in either the historic church or the new $7.1-million church addition during the day or early evening? Have they found St. Joseph’s doors wide open or locked?   
These words of Pope Francis apparently have fallen on deaf ears to those deciders in our parish hierarchy.
Now, we are told to believe that our historic church is in such disrepair that it needs to be demolished to make way for a new, energy-efficient, intimate, spiritual life center to better serve our parish, and will be built in its place for gatherings, fellowship, and meetings. 
Isn’t a church a place for such interactions, like a mother with an open heart? 
Utilize the first-floor space of the existing church for gatherings and fellowship. If a larger venue is needed for meetings, the parish owns other real estate assets such as classrooms in former St. Joseph Regional School building and an auditorium with a commercial kitchen, ample parking, etc. (The auditorium and school building sit on a site consisting of 1.26 acres of property).
Another option is to use the adjacent rectory/parish center to conduct some of these activities. 
I recall receiving assurances during the church fundraising campaign’s focus group interactions, and in the campaign literature and press reports, that along with building a needed new church, upgrading and connecting the historic church was a stated intent of the campaign. It would be maintained and continue to be used as a church and for weddings, funerals and other religious functions, representing a historical connection between the past and the present.
Fully 86 percent of the parish surveyed then said the retention of and continued use of the current church was very important. 
What has prompted this current effort to circumvent the obvious will of the parishioners from this survey?
Apart from potential legal implications for the prudent use of “institutional funds,” this apparent “bait and switch” in use of donor-restricted funds, deferring church maintenance and proposing to tear down a 134-year-old historic place of worship, using building maintenance as an excuse to do it, should outrage the moral conscience of our collective faith community in St. Joseph parish. 
Finally, I caution those being solicited to contribute to the $ 1-million-plus Catholic Strong campaign in our parish.
Be aware of the legal aspects of your rights as a donor to the church and for the specific use and restriction of your charitable gifts if you decide to contribute. Please do not let it be used to tear down our historic church.
Let us not forget those generations who came before us, of faith and good works, who prayed, worshiped, sang hymns, baptized children, married and buried family members from this holy place.  
Holy Father tells us that “memory is a dimension of our faith, not unlike the memory of Israel itself or as Jesus left us the Eucharist as the Church’s daily remembrance of, and deeper sharing in, the event of his Passover”.
Let us of St Joseph parish be faithful to our collective memory, heritage and living history that surrounds us by preserving our historic church and insist its doors always be wide open.