Father Peter: A Crisis of

Father Peter: A crisis of leadership at Holy Cross in Times Square In keeping with the new Church policy initiative, the Reverend Peter Colapietro, pastor at Holy Cross in Times Square, is being reassigned to St. Monica in Yorkville after twenty years of service to his community. Father Peter is a beloved fixture at Holy Cross. He has long stood as a cornerstone for change in the Church, reaching out to historically disenfranchised and marginalized populations.

He has seen the development of Holy Cross into a vibrant faith community; played an active role in the $6M church renovation; begun various service initiatives (including a recent suicide prevention campaign, anti-poverty campaigns, and anti-hunger campaigns); and served as chaplain for various New York City departments. Many parishioners directly credit Father Peter with saving their lives and souls. The stated reason for Father Peter's removal is that he is overdue for a transfer, despite his lifetime of service.

However, given the critical state of the community at Holy Cross, there is a great deal of concern about Father Peter leaving, and a less experienced priest taking over his efforts. It is feared that this new policy is keeping in line with the Church's desire to close down and combine more parishes and that the continued existence of Holy Cross may be threatened. For many in the area, Holy Cross is the main center of service and worship. It caters to a wide variety of at-risk parishioners.

While we recognize that it is the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York policy to reassign pastors after six years and the need for new voices and visions, we also believe that Father Peter continues to embody a spirit of change. True, Father Peter's replacement technically overdue but the need for an experienced pastor within the community is very great. At a time when Church attendance is in decline, Father Peter continues to command a large following of the faithful. On the June 23rd, thanksgiving mass alone, over 600 people attended.

Since hearing of Father Peter's departure, the Holy Cross Church has been inundated with calls from concerned and disappointed parishioners on the subject of who will replace him. The community is disturbed because of the need for continuity between current and past policies. Father Peter has done so much work to help Holy Cross, but his mission is far from accomplished. Holy Cross is at a loss to understand why the transfer occurred at this time, given how many years of service Father Peter has committed to this specific location.

While we understand the need for cost-saving and consolidation, the 'at risk' nature of the population served by the Church and its increasing numbers suggests that this is not the right time for such a move. It must be stressed that the desire for Father Peter to remain in his current position is not meant as a sign of disrespect to his designated replacement, merely an expression of the need for Father Peter's service in an already-beleaguered.