UPDATE: According to the Fall River Herald News, St. Anne’s Shrine reopened on July 4, 2019. For more information, check out their article.
A City Landmark
Buildings have a strange way of evoking strong emotions out of us. We love our homes, admire our skyscrapers, and revere our churches.
And yet, even though we know that at its most fundamental core a structure is nothing more than stone, steel, and wood, we can’t help but feel a sense of loss if one day we were to wake up and discover that our most cherished building had disappeared. Why do we feel this way?
Perhaps it’s because we know that these buildings are more than just the sum of their materials. They remind us of our lives’ major milestones: our births, our weddings, our funerals. The architecture of our great buildings represent what we as human beings are capable of creating.
This is how many residents of the Fall River, MA area feel today. Since its dedication in 1906, St. Anne’s Church, whose iconic steeples can be seen for miles, has been a landmark in the city. The parishioners of St. Anne’s, along with the rest of the area, have learned that the church will be closing on November 25, 2018.
The Shrine
The basement of the church is open daily to the public for prayer and meditation. When I was a child, my aunt would take me here and show me how to light one of the candles. I would be afraid that I would burn myself, and a few times I came close to being singed before plunging the wooden lighter into a pile of ash. As a kid, that was pretty exciting.
As I got older, I continued to visit the shrine when I needed to think and clear my head. The only difference was that this time I didn’t come close to burning my fingers. My juvenile adrenaline rush was replaced by a more meditative demeanor as I would watch the candle burn.
The Last Candle
When I heard that St. Anne’s would be closing, I knew that I needed to make plans to visit the church one last time. On a cool November afternoon, my wife and I entered the opened, lower portion of the church.
The serene atmosphere hadn’t changed at all since my last visit. We walked slowly, not wanting our footsteps to disturb the meditation of others who had also come to say their goodbyes. The smell of candles filled the air while their light illuminated the darker areas of the shrine.
Coming across to a row of candles, I felt compelled to light one. I knew this would be the last time I would have the opportunity to relive one of my childhood memories. As I lifted the wooden lighter, I felt a chill come over me. This would be the last time I would be able to do this. The candle sparked and then came to life. I stared at it for a moment, again lost in a meditative spirit. It’s amazing how something so destructive, such as fire, can have a calming effect in the right environment.
What will happen to St. Anne’s is a mystery. Will it be sold? Will its granite be stripped down? Or will a local group succeed in its efforts to thwart the bishop’s decision to close the church? At this point, there’s no way of knowing.
One thing is for sure: the shrine has been an oasis of peace and meditation in an increasingly busy world. Over the years, its quiet sanctuary has comforted thousands of people who have sought relief from physical, emotional, and spiritual anguish.
And it will continue to do so until the last candle burns out.
What’s your favorite St. Anne’s memory? Share below!
St. Anne’s Shrine is located at 818 Middle Street, Fall River, MA.
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My memories of St. Anne’s church are many. My entire family ( there were 8 of us) went to St. Anne’s Sunday 11:00 am Mass every week. I was baptized, made my First Communion, Confirmation and Marriage at St. Anne’s Church. I have been to the Shrine many times where I found peace and Serenity there and answers to my prayers.I am deeply saddened by the Bishop’s deciding to close such an important House of Christ.
If the building will be renovated for a different purpose. Why can’t it be renovated for the good Catholic people and many from all Religious backgrounds who have deep attachments to this House of God ? We have supported this Church over many years please do not take it from us
Thanks for sharing, Rachel! I hope the St. Anne’s Preservation Society can manage to save it.
St. Annes church has been a part of our community, families, and many memories. Sunday mass, midnight mass, first communion, confirmation, Dominican Academy, weddings, and funerals to mourn our loved ones. To the lighting of a candle, a place to pray, and find peace. More than one of the beautiful historical places in Fall River, it’s the heart of the city in many ways. In beautiful weather sitting on the steps with the doors open and saying a prayer or sitting in the park looking at the church was peaceful. Keeping St. Annes church open definitely would be all I’d want for Christmas. A Christmas miracle, isn’t that what Christmas is really about? I’m sure Jesus would agree.
What a wonderful way to describe St. Anne’s. I agree, it’s been the heart of the city. Let’s keep praying for that Christmas miracle.