First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerThe closing of more than 50 churches as part of the downsizing of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese was one of the biggest local stories of 2009. The impact of that downsizing echoed throughout the region and was intensely personal for the thousands of parishioners who were affected. St. Casimir Church has an automated gate and a chain link fence to protect the church in a neighborhood that continues to deteriorate.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerAnn Christopher sits with her daughter Elizabeth, 10, during a prayer service at St. Stephen Church. St. Stephen's was one of the Cleveland churches in danger of closing during the Catholic Diocese downsizing.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerDaniel Flesza pokes his head out of the pew during the Polish mass at St. Casimir Church. The church closed it's doors for the final time in early November.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerUsher Walter Szylwian, a 96-year-old Polish immigrant, prepares to light candles for Sunday service at his church, St. Casimir. The marble and wood-carved altar dates to 1918.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerAndy Toth, a former parishioner of the now closed St. Margaret of Hungary, protests outside St. Mary Church. Bishop Richard Lennon presided over the final mass at the church this morning.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerGeorge Gamble is comforted by Lisa Sullivan after hearing the Church of St. Adalbert will close it's doors as part of the diocese downsizing. Gamble has spent his entire 26 years in the church. He was baptized, made his first communion and confirmation at the church, and came back to work at St. Adalbert School after graduating from college.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerThomas Sutton-Lovett, a seminarian who grew up in St. Adalbert Church, holds the Easter candle as it is lit before the Holy Saturday Vigil.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerJane Skinner (left) and Johnnie Farmer hold candles during the Holy Saturday Vigil at St. Adalbert Church.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerGeorge Gamble holds the cross in the doorway of St. Adalbert Church. The church was conducting an all night prayer vigil in hopes that Bishop Richard Lennon would change his mind and keep the church open.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerThe doors of the church are unlocked as the sun rises on Saturday morning at St. Adalbert Church. The church was conducting an all night prayer vigil in hopes that Bishop Richard Lennon would change his mind and keep the church open.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerA sign announcing the plight of St. Patrick Catholic Church is carried back into the church after a candlelight vigil. Bishop Richard Lennon recently announced the closing of the church.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerSara Gulasey (center) looks upward as raindrops fall during a candlelight vigil at St. Patrick Church. Bishop Richard Lennon recently announced the closing of the church.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerLayah Hodges gets inspected one last time before she and four other children make their First Communion at St. Adalbert Church. The Cleveland church, linked to the city's first black Catholic congregation, is to close as part of the downsizing of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese. This will be the final First Communion at the church.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerMorgan Slone (left) stares intently at the crucifix as Rudolph Thompson III (right) prepares to lead the procession for First Communion at St. Adalbert Church.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerTiffany Skillern (right) hugs her friend, Cynthia Reed after Skillern's two daughter were baptized during the Holy Saturday Vigil.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerSr. Mary Beth Gray practices before the mass at St. Colman Church. St. Colman was a surprise casualty in the Catholic Diocese downsizing. On appeal, Bishop Richard Lennon would reverse his decision to close the historic church.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerBill Sheehan, a parishioner at St. Colman Church, writes a thank you note to God and Bishop Richard Lennon before the 5 p.m. mass. Sheehan, with his dog, Bowser, wrote the chalk note after hearing that Bishop Richard Lennon had rescinded his order to close St. Colman.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerSisters Sue McMasters (center) and Shirley Panagopoulos (right) celebrate the announcement that St. Colman Church will remain open, during mass. St. Colman will keep it's doors open after Bishop Richard Lennon rescinded his order to close it's doors. The sisters have been members of the church since 1965.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerAnn Marie Schafle and her son, Joseph, protest outside of St. Procop Church during the final mass.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerMembers of the group Endangered Catholics protest outside of St. Procop Church before the final mass . The church closed it's doors for the final time after the morning service.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerOlek Chmura, 13, of North Royalton, holds the Polish flag outside St. Casimir Church during a morning prayer service. Parishioners continue to hold prayer services outside the closed church.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerBishop Anthony Pilla, Bishop Emeritus, waits before the mass to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Historic St. Peter Church. The oldest continuing church will close it's doors for the final time next April as part of the church downsizing. Pilla served as bishop before retiring. His position was filled by the current bishop, Richard Lennon.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerAnnie Holan,, kneels as she takes a picture of the altar after the final mass at St. Procop Church. The church closed it's doors for the final time after the morning service.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerMark Holan (left) comforts his daughter, Annie, as the two were standing on the altar after the final mass at St. Procop Church. The church closed it's doors for the final time after the morning service.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerChoir director Martha Talbott (right) gives a hug to Sr. Annette Amendolia (left) after the final mass at St. Procop Church. St. Procop closed it's doors for the final time after the morning service.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerCollin Klaco folds his hands in prayer during the final mass at St. John the Baptist Church. Klaco's father, Paul, was an altar boy at the church while growing up. Bishop Lennon was at the Akron church to preside over the final mass.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerBishop Richard Lennon implores a group of protesters to vacate the closed St. John the Baptist Church. Bishop Lennon was at the Akron church presiding over the final mass.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerBishop Richard Lennon listens as Fr. Paul Rosing, of St. John the Baptist Church reads the court injunction prohibiting a group of protesters from occupying the church.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerAkron police watch over protesters inside St. John the Baptist Church as Bishop Richard Lennon addresses the small group. Bishop Lennon was at the Akron church to preside over the final mass.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerA member of the Polish Legion of American Veterans Post 31 dips his fingers in holy water as the procession makes it's way to the front of the church for the final Polish mass at St. Casimir Church.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerMichael Golab, 11, leads a procession around the church rectory to stop the closing of St. Casmir Church. Bishop Richard Lennon would later lead the closing mass at the church.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerApproximately 100 parishioners from St. Casimir Church walk out of the closing mass led by Bishop Richard Lennon.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerParishioners from St. Casimir shout at Bishop Richard Lennon after walking out of the closing mass. Shouts of "go back to Boston" and "Judas" were heard from the crowd. The mass was interrupted with protests and one parishioner cut power to the church's audio system.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerParishioners from St. Casimir Church snub Bishop Richard Lennon as they walk past without greeting him after the closing mass.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerKristina Moreno carries off a portrait of the Black Madonna after a morning prayer service outside the closed St. Casimir Church. About a hundred people turned out for the service a month after the church closed it's doors.
