www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Update on Holy Trinity in Bridgeport, CT

Bishop Andrew recently approved the sale of 15 acres of land belonging to St John's in Trumbull CT to a developer looking to build an over 55 age restricted community. This would leave the parish with approximately 4 acres, a new smaller rectory, newly paved parking lot,driveway & city sewers all at the builder's expense.The deal sounds a little too good to be true. The big question is whose bank account will receive the $2.1 million deposit? St John's or the Eparchy of Passaic?
St Johns is also getting a belltower to house the original bell from Arctic St along with 3 bells "donated" by the bishop. Once again Holy Trinity gets raped.

I'm praying for you all in CT.

http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_3551230

Article on the sale of St. John's property from today's CT Post.

Angel Lady:

since you do not have the PM function enabled, I am going to comment on your post.

You ask a question, but are really looking for an answer? If you really wanted to know, why not ask the pastor or administrator directly?

You mentioned that the sale "would leave the parish with approximately 4 acres, a new smaller rectory, newly paved parking lot,driveway & city sewers all at the builder's expense.The deal sounds a little too good to be true."

I'm assuming by your last comment you are referring to the new improvements on the remaining property. Although, I am not personally involved with this sale (nor do I claim to know the details), this type of arrangement where the purchaser/builder makes new improvements to a seller's remaining property is quite common. As a seller, I've also negotiated similar improvements on my remaining property after a sale.

But more to the point...

I thought the parish was closed, so why the need for a new rectory?

Fr Deacon John ,

With deference - I think it was Holy Trinity that had been closed - see page 1 of this very convoluted thread

Did the Fr. George or the Bishop Andrew notify the parishoners of Holy Trinity prior to its closing? No they did not.
FYI,several of us asked who was interested in purchasing our property & for what purpose & were told that everything had to go through the "proper channel" first. He would reveal nothing until now that it is practically a done deal. You actually think Father George is going to honestly tell us where the money is going to go? LOL No,he doesn't answer direct questions but I have every intention of asking him.
St Johns in Trumbull is not closed. Rumors were circulating about the possible closure but now that they are "down-sizing" I don't think the bishop will close the parish. I think they would have sold off the entire property in that case but then again I could be wrong.

Your right on all counts, thanks.

Angel Lady and others,

as OLSOL has pointed out this thread has veered from the original subject. I will attempt to create anew thread entitled "Update on St John's, Trumball, CT. If in the event I fail to do so and somehow delete posts, it will not be intentional.

On second thought, I am going to ask Angel Lady to begin a new thread on St. John's.

In doing so, I am going to ask anyone who posts on this subject to recall the prayer of Saint Ephrem before posting.

Please do not post info on Saint John's, Trumball, CT in this thread!

thank you

For those who are interested the new topic reads:
Sale of property: St John's Trumbull CT

Sorry for the confusion.

To update:

This is in reference to the CLOSURE of Holy Trinity in Bridgeport, CT...NOT the attempts to sell most of the property at St. John's in Trumbull, CT...

It was learned through the CT Post Property Transactions on Sunday April 6, 2006 that the property located at 155 Scofield Ave. was sold by: "Bishop A. Patakijol to French Speaking Baptist church, $1,200,000" (our understanding from the baptist church members is that actually all four pieces of property (Church, rectory, hall, & parking lot) were acquired for this not just the 155 Scofield Ave. property. (I continue to say, and anyone who knows the area strongly agrees...the eparchy essentially gave the property away.)...it appears there continue to be no financial sensibilites, or pastoral for that matter (see discussions on the proposed DL revisions) in the Eparchy of Passaic.

My understanding is a few former HT parishioners went this past weekend to an "Open House" for the parishioners of this Baptist Church entering their new church building. The church graciously invited HT parishioners to attend...I believe 2 or 3 did...

One thing that came back to me on this was when the Eparchy cleaned out the church they left the Hungarian flag (although they took the American one and papal one, I guess that is another sign that there is no room for Hungarians in a Rusyn Church )...and this new community who purchased the facilities, (French speaking african-americans) plans to leave the Hungarian flag there as a reminder of the community that built the church...

As to an update on the community...I believe the latest count is 9 who have been received into the Orthodox Church...1 who has not yet been received although attends the Orthodox Divine liturgy weekly and is becoming an active parishioner...1 who attends the Orthodox Church as well weekly and is becoming active as well (although he was not a Byz. Cath. he attended HT for several years and although was finding God through the DL...has stated he would have never converted to the BCC)...it didn't take long (we were just closed the end of October 05) he is now a catachumen at this ACROD parish...2 that periodically (once or twice a month) attend the ACROD parish...I believe 2 have joined the UGCC in Ansonia, CT...and the remaining have gone RC or no longer attend "organized religion"...

Personally, I am very proud and pleased, that so many have remained true to their eastern roots...it had been said, numerous times over the last 18 years that HT was simply a "chapel of convenience" it was a social gathering, there was no "church" there...There are always those who will go "because that's what we have always done"...and those are the ones who went RC or no longer attend any "organized religion" but, it was clear to anyone who knew/knows the community that an Eastern Christian Church did exist...as much as they attempted to extinguish it and thought if it was said often enough and loud enough that there was no church it would make it so...Please contine to remember us in your prayers...

Chris Gombos

PS...I almost forgot, with my wife expecting twins we can add two more to ACROD (possibly 3 I pray that will help push my daughter to become Orthodox) and I know of two other children who are to be received by the Romanian Orthodox Church (I believe by year end) and 1 who is cannonically RC who is converting to the Romanian Orthodox Church...God continues to work with us (so what's that 9 already converted to Orthodoxy, + 1 catachumen + 5 mentioned in this PS + 2 UGCC members = 17 members have remained in the Eastern Churches (this doesn't take into consideration the 1 who attends ACROD weekly or the 2 which attend ACROD once or twice a month) NEVER LET IT BE SAID AGAIN, THAT AN EASTERN CHURCH DID NOT EXIST IN BRIDGEPORT, CT

Chris,

Although I've followed this story with great sadness and prayers for the parishioners of Holy Trinity since these events first unfolded, I am not Ruthenian and don't have anything of great pertinence to add here. I was struck, however, ... touched is probably a better word, by the following:

May God bless these very Christian people for their sensitivity toward those of our peoples who went before them.

Many years,

Neil

AMEN!!!

I was "floored" when I heard that information myself. It was a reminder to me, that we, (as the Holy Trinity Community) were living the Christian Gospel,reaching others, and were noticed and recognized by others in the greater community (I think the CT Post and other newspapers picking up so quickly on the closure showed that as well) even though the eparchy had it's own warped view of things...

WOW!!!

Approximately 13 months after the closing of Holy Trinity in Bridgeport. We gathered together once again as a community for a second time having a St. Nicholas gathering. We had approximately 50 people in attendance 7 of which were children and were blessed to have St. Nicholas himself attend this year. (couldn't pull that one off last year with such short notice)

I wanted to post this since I am continually asked by people what is the status of the community. So much for a "dead" community.

Update for those who are interested...

On Sunday December 2nd 2007 we had our 3rd St. Nicholas Day gathering of the Holy Trinity Community...Like last year, we had approximatly, 45 people and 11 children...we had a visit from St. Nicholas himself who had candy and a toy for each child...along with good food and caroling...

Christ is amongst us!
He is and ever shall be!

Since I am still asked about the Holy Trinity Community in Bridgeport I will continue to give my annual update...

Yesterday (Sunday December 7th 2008) we had our 4th annual St. Nicholas potluck gathering for the Holy Trinity Community. I know we had 10 children in attendance with about 40 people total. I think the lateness of the event, coupled with the snow the night before (1-3 inches) didn't help since I believe we only had 2 people over 70 attend. It was great to see so many people even though we didn't have many who have attended in previous years. Once again St. Nicholas found his way to make an appearance with candy and an icon card for each child...and great food, caroling and friendship!!!