Engineers recommend emergency demolition of closed church

HOLYOKE, Mass. (AP) — An engineer has recommended that a 116-year-old Holyoke church that was the subject of a battle between the Diocese of Springfield and former parishioners be demolished after pieces of the steeple fell to the ground.

The Republican newspaper reports that the study released this week says “time is of the essence and full demolition” of Mater Dolorosa church is the only option in the interest of safety.

The diocese closed the church in 2011 due to structural concerns and declining attendance. Parishioners held a round-the-clock vigil for a year after the last Mass and fought the closure all the way to the Vatican’s highest court. The Vatican ruled against them in 2015.

An effort to save the church by including it in a proposed Polish Heritage Historic District also failed.