Saturday, January 29, 2011

A Mystery in The Villager's article: Whodunnit? Got a clue?

Albert Amateu's recent article on the Our Lady of Vilnius (Vilna), "Lady of Vilna appeal goes to the state's highest court" contained one curious statement:
"Instead, Blaudzinas said the congregation is looking into “the possibility of starting a new dialogue.” Leaders of the congregation met with New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan and hope that he finds favor with their cause,Blaudzinas said."

I view a "congregation" as a religious entity with a clerical leader. I do not view our movement to restore the parish of Our Lady of Vilnius as a "congregation" and no one that I recognize as my leader has met with the Archbishop regarding the parish. Could they be referring to this meeting? Who are my mystery leaders and what is their cause?

"The Villager" reports on Our Lady of Vilnius Lawsuit

The latest issue of The Villager features and article by Albert Amateau titled "Our Lady of Vilna goes to state's highest court" The article goes on to explain the legal issues at stake. We thank The Villager, the local paper literally around the corner, that has been documenting our plight since we first heard that Our Lady of Vilnius was destined for closure (Lady of Vilnius and 'Pretzels' and 'Provolone' may lose home)

Please read the article, and add your comments to the forum.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

To Grow Up and Old around Our Lady of Vilnius

Today Manny Fernandez profiles John "Moe" Maloney of Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, in his piece To Grow Up and Old in the Same Little Neighborhood.

Joe Maloney doesn't seem much different from Francis Healey, who was Grand Knight of the Knickerbocker Council, Knights of Columbus, at the time that Our Lady of Vilnius was locked. Last year I saw Mr. Healy standing at the corner of Broome and Varick. I walked up to him and asked "How are things in the neighborhood?" He replied "What neighborhood? The neighborhood is shot," waving his hand in the direction of an empty space on the corner diagonally across Varick where an interesting brick building had once stood.

Mr. Fernandez mentions Mr. Maloney's parish, 132 year old Holy Name of Jesus. Let us hope that this parish survives the cuts planned for the Archdiocese of Brooklyn. These parishes are the habitats of now-rare birds like John Maloney and Francis Healey. Mr. Fernandez describes greater diversity arriving in Windsor Terrace along with gentrification. Will greater diversity accompany residential development around Our Lady of Vilnius, which now bears the real-estate moniker "Hudson Square?" Or will we have a racially and geographically diverse population of seekers of new apartments, top of the line appliances, a short commute and ready access to their preferred consumer goods and night life? It is my hope that the inner light of a restored Our Lady of Vilnius parish will attract them and transform them into the rare birds that they were meant to be.