At 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, Bishop Walkowiak celebrated the final Mass at St. James in Grand Rapids to mark the closing of the church. The public was welcome to attend.
View Mass photos
The Diocese of Grand Rapids’ Office of Communications issues the following statement upon the closing of St. James Catholic Church in Grand Rapids:
“St. James has been a pillar of the West Side of Grand Rapids for almost 150 years, and the diocese recognizes the important role it has played in the faith lives of Catholics in West Michigan. The decision to close a church is not easy. The emotional connection people have to their spiritual home runs deep and decisions like this are hard to accept.
At the same time, we must be cognizant of the current realities. There is a declining population in an area from which multiple parishes draw parishioners, a shortage of priests to assign to individual parishes, and needed repairs that cannot be financed. For these reasons, this difficult decision has been made.
I am hopeful that through and in Christ, this new reality can bring about further good in the community by making the Basilica of Saint Adalbert a more vibrant parish community with the resources necessary to accomplish that mission.”
Click here to read about the history of St. James Church.
Contact:
Annalise Laumeyer, director of communications
or contact the Basilica of St. Adalbert Parish office at 616-458-3065.
