Disappointed in process, outcome of Catholic parishes’ merger

Published 1:30 am Sunday, May 15, 2022

I have been a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish for more than 64 years. Over the years I have done my “time, talent and treasure” to the benefit of my faith, parish and diocese. I am not going to go over what I have done or what procedures and techniques were used for forming this new parish Our Lady of Hope (“North Everett Catholic parishes to merge into one,” The Herald, May 9).

I am not criticizing the theology of our pastor or the church, just the administrative aspects of the merger. My initial opinion of our archbishop and pastor during the formation phase was the “blind were leading the blind.” That opinion has changed to they were deaf to certain viewpoints and had myopic vision.

One of the things that really upset me, as a Vietnam veteran, Perpetual Help received political refugees from Vietnam and over the years developed a large community that had an excellent youth program plus their own Sunday mass. With this new parish their community has been excluded now becoming religious refugees and told to go south to St. Mary Magdalene if they want to continue in their community. That is approximately one-third of our parish population.

I have approximately over a month left before the merger takes effect and the Sunday masses cease, so I will enjoy going to our 8:30 mass enjoying our beautiful church, listening to our traditional choir and beautiful organ playing.

Erv Hoglund

Marysville