"I feel bad, because what are we going to do?" said Flynn, a parish council member and catechist teacher. "I feel bad for the children we are teaching catechism to, and I feel sorry for them due to the fact that where are they going to go?"

For the last several months, the parish has been under study to determine its viability. On Saturday, Jan. 10, Auxiliary Bishop Francis Reiss, who represents the South Region, Fr. Jack Baker, parish administrator since Nov. 1, 2003, and Catherine Wagner, director of the Department of Parish Life and Services, made the announcement at the 4 p.m. Mass that the parish would officially close by May 31.

Several factors were considered in the closing of the parish, which Cardinal Adam Maida pointed out in a letter sent out to parishioners prior to the Jan. 10 announcement: Although the parish had a registered 163 households, its only weekend Mass had an average attendance of 80 people. In addition, there were almost no baptisms or weddings and only a few funerals (most of which were for persons not from the parish).

The parish, which had a $700,000 debt, could not meet its costs when compared to its weekly income and expenses for the current budget year, said Fr. Baker. Of the parish closing, "we sent a letter to every registered family and made phone calls to everyone and we covered it in the (parish) bulletin," he added.

There were about 60 people at the Mass when the announcement was made Jan. 10, said Wagner. "They were sad, but grateful that the bishop and I were there as we outlined for them that even though this parish site would be closing, there are about 10 parishes within four or five miles from them."

The closest one is less than a mile from the parish, she added. In addition, on Jan. 21, Fr. Baker, Bishop Reiss and Wagner will hold a meeting with all the neighboring pastors and talk with them about welcoming the members of SS. Kevin & Norbert Parish into their community.

"We're sending everyone a letter asking them to tell us their needs and which parish they would like to go to," she said. Afterward, that information will be forwarded to the pastor and pastoral staff of their choosing, who will then be asked to make contact with them.

Wagner said she is not aware of any other church closings in the near future, but said it may be possible. "It's a fact of life (due to) demographics and smaller parishes that are experiencing a great decline in numbers and who are unable to manage their debt. We also have to look at the number of parishes available in the area and say what is the best use of resources."

Fr. Baker, who also serves as pastor of the 2,400-family St. Mary Parish, Wayne, said he understands why his parishioners at SS. Kevin & Norbert are saddened. "They were shocked, but I gave them copies (of expenditures) from July 1 to the present," to help them see the reasons for its closing, he said.

"They were upset and surprised a little bit. Some understood and were sad," he said. "It's hard to see someone's parish go, but the times and the demographics have changed."

St. Norbert Parish was founded in 1951 under the leadership of Fr. Isidore Bohr; at that time, it had 1,000 households. St. Kevin Parish was founded six years later, under the leadership of Fr. Lawrence McHugh, and had 283 households.

In 1998, the two parishes merged and combined resources, operating out of the St. Norbert site on Inkster Road. Fr. John Lehner, OSFS, was pastor.

However, due to its lack of parishioners, disrepair of the buildings and the huge financial debt, the decision to close was made by the priest consultors and the entire Presbyteral Council, said Fr. Baker.

Nearby Holy Family Parish, which has 150 families, is the only Catholic parish left in Inkster and has continued to maintain its viability, said Fr. Baker, who is also parish administrator there. "Holy Family has no debt," he said. "It's a larger community and is more viable."

Other nearby parishes to SS. Kevin & Norbert, within approximately one mile, are St. Dunstan, Garden City; Divine Child, Dearborn; SS. Simon & Jude, Westland; and St. John the Baptist, Dearborn.

Flynn said she is more concerned about what will happen to those who depend on SS. Kevin & Norbert for its location and other services the parish provides. "What's going to happen to people who have to walk to church to get vouchers? Or take Communion to shut-ins?"

She said she wished other parishes could have stepped in to help. "Why couldn't they have? If they took an interest in parishes that were in bad shape, a lot of these churches prospering could have set up something and donated X amount of money to the poor parishes."

She and her husband, Ed, will be looking to join another parish soon, she added.

In his letter to parishioners, Cardinal Maida said, "A decision to close a parish is not easy for anyone, myself included. SS. Kevin & Norbert have each made a great contribution to the Church of Detroit over the years …. With courage, humility and trust, let us now move forward into a new chapter of these parishes and our Archdiocese of Detroit."