With the Cleveland Catholic Diocese facing a decrease in parishioners and available funds, it was announced in 2009 by Cleveland's Bishop that St. Colman's would be one of many churches to close as part of a reconfiguration plan. Father Robert Begin, the pastor of St. Colman's, publicly denounced the decision, filed an official appeal with the Church, and led a grassroots campaign to fight the Diocese's order. Begin succeeded in his efforts to save the parish by convincing representatives of the Diocese that the church was both financially stable and played a critical role in providing social services to the surrounding neighborhood.
Photograph courtesy of the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization.Download Original File
