Or should I have said the "Community of Christ Our Light." Poor people, stuck with that horrendous name. Anyway, looks like the mergers aren't going so well. Shocker.

Re: "Cares deeply" (letters, Sept. 2).

I realize Bishop Joseph Galante has a full schedule. However, if he truly cares about the well-being of parishioners and has a great love for the church and its people, why wasn't he present at any one of the three Masses that were part of the closing of Queen of Heaven Parish during the weekend of July 25-26?

A shepherd should be with his flock in times of rejoicing as well as in times of sorrow. Because of my ministry at Queen of Heaven as lector, cantor and choir member, I was at all three of those Masses, fulfilling each of those ministries, and I can tell you that it was nothing short of gut-wrenching.

Hearing the sobbing of lifelong parishioners while the final prayers were being said and seeing tears rolling down the faces of grown men is something I will never forget. It would have meant so much to the parishioners of Queen of Heaven to have the bishop come, look us in the eye and tell us how sorry he was but that there really was no other solution.

Does he know what that would have meant? Maybe it would have helped to ease this incredible heartache. At the moment when Queen of Heaven needed a caring shepherd the most, he was not there.

AMY WEIRAUCH

Cherry Hill

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