ANTHONY S. FOTI
NOREEN W. FOTI
770 Lantern Hill Road
Shavertown, Pennsylvania18708
(570) 696-3169
May 24, 2007
Rev. Msgr. John J. Sempa, Pastor
Sacred Heart – St. John’s Parish Community
601 North Main Street
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania18705
Subject: Proposed Capital Improvement/Debt Repayment Plan
Sacred Heart – St. John’s Parish Community
Dear Msgr. Sempa,
It has been over two months since I sent you a letter dated March 2, 2007 requesting a parish meeting to advise all interested parishioners of the plans for the future of our church and the status of the subject plan that I presented over six months ago.
I have waited patiently for you to get past lent, the Easter Season, and First Holy Communion. Considering that you have formally announced during this past weekend’s masses that you will be assuming the Pastoral Duties for St. Stanislaus and will be moving to that rectory shortly, it has become apparent that decisions have already been made, and that changes are being implemented.
As you know, there is a large contingent of parishioners who want to restore SacredHeartChurch, and who are very concerned and worried about the future of their church. Many of these parishioners call us at home, and stop us on the street when they see us, to inquire of our progress and to share the latest rumor. They deserve to hear from you what the plans are, and to answer their many questions.
If you decide not to hold a meeting to address their concerns, I will call a meeting of my own to inform those concerned of what I know, based upon my correspondence with the diocese. I would prefer to hold this meeting in the school auditorium, but if necessary, my meeting will be held in a meeting room open to the public and the press. You are aware of my concerns regarding the way this entire presentation and approval process has been handled, and that we have been mislead to believe there was ever a chance of saving our church. Keeping us in the dark only reinforces my conviction. Do not doubt that I will be very explicit regarding the refusal of the bishop to even hear our presentation, the fact that efforts to save the church have been characterized as irresponsible, and how the parish community has been mislead and uniformed for over five years.
I believe that a week should be sufficient time for you to schedule and announce the parish meeting I am requesting on behalf of those concerned parishioners. In the event I do not hear from you by June 1, 2007, I will advise the public through an open invitation in the newspapers of my own meeting.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this request.
Sincerely,
Anthony S. Foti
CC: Monsignor Joseph C. Bambera, V.E., Episcopal Vicar
Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, D.D. Hist. E.D., Bishop of Scranton |
