Letter: Seeking answers about surveys to why churches were suspended

``Bishop Daniel R. Jenky is going to retire shortly and I would like him to answer questions that should be answered by him. In 2003 you suspended four (4) churches in our area and tore down St. Benedicts in Ladd and was going to destroy Resurrection church in La Salle, but it was sold for $225,000.00. You were to spend $l,000,000.00 on “Rooted in Faith” and you sent out people like Mr. Dwyer to relate what you were about to do for the benefit of the Diocese of Peoria.

You informed Dawn Becker of St. Peter and Paul Church of Spring Valley that these churches are NOT CLOSED, but rather the services are suspended so that a more thorough study of the community continues to be studied. Dawn Backer said, “Why do we need to be studied?” Call it what you want. The doors are locked BAM, CLOSED, SLAMMED SHUT, No more masses. Find a new place to worship. The people of St. Peter and Paul parishioners spent almost $200.000 to beautify the church and it was suspended.

Out of the four churches suspended, St. Thomas More in Dalzell, St. Benedicts in Ladd, St. Gertrudes in Seatonville and St. Peter and Paul in Spring Valley, only St. Thomas More in Dalzell is functioning today. It is functioning because we work hard making tortellini and sell than to keep our church open to add to the loss of membership that has existed with the suspension of the church.

We had at least 85 to 90 families that gave to the church, but now we are lucky to have 10 people from Dalzell that go to church presently because of the suspension. That is what the suspension did to our church.

To get back to the answers, I would like you to tell the community what your study did over these almost 20 years. What benefit did arise from what you did? Also you wrote to me saying that I offer much free advice without much “accurate information.” Where was my information inaccurate? And you said that my letters gave you ““indigestion.” You didn’t say indigestion, but “dyspeptic.”

We still wonder why you suspended these churches and closed five churches in Streator and three in Spring Valley. And my question as to why you tore down St. Benedicts in Ladd and how do you make a HOLY CHURCH UN-HOLY like St. Benedicts in Ladd. These are question We would like you to answer, about your study.

Carlo Olivero

Dalzell