This may seem to many as a non-issue but allow me to give my views as to why this is a big, big issue. These are my opinions based on my studying the issues and knowing the actors. For a refresher, Holy Ghost Church on Starr and Bridge Street decided that it would like to finance the building of a new social hall by parceling off a piece of their land (a very choice piece) and selling it. The buyer was Fr. Jim Evans (BTW congratulations to Fr. Evans for celebrating 40 years of being a preacher) and his not for profit corporation that specializes in public housing. He wanted to build a nice big senior housing complex to compliment the ugly gray thing he built across the street. There were some shady deals that went on that involved certain members not being able to vote and crucial information being kept from parishioners. Father Evans was even telling members of the church that there would be apartments available just for them. How sweet. The vote passed there partial membership meeting by a slim margin.
There were a few problems that stared Fr. Evans and the leadership of Holy Ghost in the face as they sought this deal. 1) They didn't necessarily own the land and therefore had no legal right to pass this deal. 2) They did not have the legal right to build what was planned because the zoning wasn't there. Have no fear though, Mike Speck and some of the boys would help ole' Fr. Jim out.
In the meantime, the Holy Ghost Church decided that they wanted to take the St. Nick's Brotherhood to court to prove that they actually existed and had legal rights as the true owner of the property. At this point, I would like to stop this saga and continue with the other. . . . . .
Despite the chicken shit recommendation of the Planning Commission that said they did not support the project but since the ordinance would be changed anyway, here are the changes we want, there was little opposition to the ordinance change. Mr. Speck and the boys were well aware that there was active litigation on the property and that the dispute was over ownership rights which would completely exclude the current applicants from any rights to the property other than what is covered under the lease. Mr Speck needed no fact to guide his hand in helping out the cause. He decided to add the use to the current zoning (Holy Ghost happens to be in a zoning district that only they occupy). Mr Gill and Mr,. Cirilues and Mr. Wagner all followed along. Facts be damned.
Back to the story. It just so happens that the Brotherhood wins part of its court case that determined that it was a legitimate organization and therefore could own the property. Oh No, what will Jim do?????
This is a sad case. First of all, the destruction of a church community is never good. They were ex communicating members that disagreed, for christ sake. To have one priest from a different denomination be the one leading the charge, is ungodly. To have an elected body support the act that will destroy the church is unforgivable. This is a case where the Borough Council was within its rights to change an ordinance but absolutly tuned out the opinion of the community to come up with the changes they wanted to help out a friend. Talk about eating our young. Our community is what makes Phoenixville special. When a small group wants to ram through changes so they can profit off the back of the overall community, that is plain wrong.
14 comments
Holy Ghost raised prices on their food for the holidays by a huge percentage.
How sad
The pirogi's were rotten that my wife bought and nutrolls were up to 14 FOR SOME and 12 when they were 12/
nuts went up but this is robbery. To pay for legal fees
This posting and the comment "update on the mess" are the best reporting on this so far. The Phoenix has a pathetic piece with the focus on the internal church dispute. It has the gall the to label Jim Evans as "housing advocate Father James Evans" rather than list the many properties he owns and the huge amount of money he makes in management fees for government subsidized properties. Instead of this: no further formal actions have been taken against other Church members. But the issue of the property's sale, its ownership and the legal scope of the Church leadership's rights and duties remain tangled in litigation — and the HUD proposal on hold until those prior issues are untangled by the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County.
why doesn't the paper report that at this point the court has found against Jim Evans side in the matter. Why doesn't the paper report that Jim Evans has consistently been a main contributor to the local Democrats? The number one issue in this town may be the mess at the former Bank of Phoenixville on Bridge. And the number one positive story may be that the most comprehensive and fair reporting on local issues comes from the local blogs.
I think that all of this is crazy! Why would the church want to sell a piece of its land to build a building right out front that will make the church look so ugly. Why dont these people go find some other land to build on and leave these good Catholic people alone.The priest of the church is just as bad as all the others voting for the sale. He is getting rid of innocent people of the church who are just voicing their opinion on what they believe is their moral right as a member of the church. To torture this people, who are mostly elders, that they will lose their membership and their buriel plot, is just plain wrong. Why not make the back property commercial property and sell that. No one will see that all the way in the back. You people who are for this sale need to get your heads screwed on right because what you are doing for a little bit of money (pure greed) is going to make God very unhappy and you will pay for it later on. You can bet on that. How would like someone coming to your house, telling you they want part of your land that sits right in front of your house? Would you agree because it comes with some money?? no you wouldnt because it would make your house look so ugly that you wouldnt even want to live there anymore. If you put this building up, it will make the church look ugly and no one will want to come there anymore. It definately will not draw more new people to your Church. One way or another, if you allow this to happen you will wish you didnt. And that little bit of money you are going to get for that property isnt even going to make a dent in what its going to cost to build a new social hall. You better remember what is more important God or money? You can make that choice. I wont know who makes what choice but God will. And yep one day you will have to meet him face to face. And if he asks you what you did to his beautiful place of worship, what are you going to tell him? Be ready because that day is coming very soon!
As for the person complaining about the price of food at the church, dont buy it if you dont like the price. Things obviously cost more to buy these days to make those things you absolutley have to have, so yeah the price has to go up. But dont talk down about the food. Because someone very special to me makes that food for you to gobble down without a moments thought and she works her butt off in that kitchen to give you people what you want and desire. There are more important things to complain about, so why dont you ask God why he made you so bitter to put others down because you didnt like that the pirogi's were rotten. Be thankful for what God has blessed you with! A mouth to eat with and tastebuds to taste with and eyes to see with and motor fuctions to be able to eat those "ROTTEN" pirogi's! Geez you people have no idea how lucky you are. You better ask God to help heal your mind because it is not in the right place. It should be solely focused on him and what he wants you to do for him. Do you think that GOD would go into someone's home and eat a dinner that was overcooked and dried out. Your are darn right he would and he would say and prayer before and after he ate. He would thank the cook and bless her for all her hard work. So wake up and start counting your blessings.
To the person that was complaining about the "rotten" pirogis. Do you know what it takes to make all that food that you have to have? No you dont! Things in this country have obviously gone up in price so yeah its going to cost more money to make that food. Those woment who make that food do it for free. Just think what the cost would be if they got paid. be thankful that you can even eat and taste the pirogi's. Even if they werent as good as you wanted them to be. I am sure there is plenty of hungry people out there who would have eaten those "rotten" pirogi's and thanked the cook who made it. You better count your blessings buddy!
those of us om scoal seurity do not appreciate the inflated cosszt copaed to elsewhere.. there waere hard edges and the priest laughted when we told him about his prices and bad quality this year - maybe he sold old frozen ones but they were baf. he raised the xcosts every year and a lot of what he esells he puts in his pocket it looks like and no other priest did htat. how do you know the church even gets that moeny e and his wife make every friday ??
Those ladies are used and the food not handled as it used to be as it tastes a lot worse. i atte it or over 50 years
The ladies who cook are hard workers but to sell 7 day old soup as fresh or piroghis refrozen 2 and 3 times is not healthy. I got some too and they were not good. The fresh stuff is used for special people I guess as many in public are complaining as the church is talk of town these days.
The cost of 14 and 12$ much higher then anywhere else for a nutroll and unfair and makes the church look bad- agreed but not the cooks fault.
I even had heard of side business by priest wife with roasters of food being sold and is that money for church to be fixed up or for the cruises and potted plants at the church house. They have the church house lit up like a house on a contest - if money and economy is an issue, they should practice what they preach. Why does that priest and his wife collect the money on the sales?
Soon the yearly appeal to put 100$ in an envelope for your childs gift to Jesus will be made and the way it is explained by priest, you get no blessing if you do not give this to baby Jesus. I go to hear about the Gospel and instead it is all about giving more to get a blessing - pledge pledge pledge. Not Orthodox theology.
How Sad
...the way it is explained by priest, you get no blessing if you do not give this to baby Jesus...
OMG I am laughing so hard I am crying!!! Tell me again why I am not a member there? I can't believe in this day and age that people actually fall for this line of bull. Honestly, as time goes on I believe they don't. They are just stuck with what they get if they want to worship God in a group setting.
"Holy Mess" doesn't begin to describe what the public has seen going on in this place.
Thank God for the St Nicholas Brotherhood. I can totally understand why it was formed - to protect the sheep from the abuse of wolves in collars! Ahhhh the power of it all, LOLOL. I am sure the two collars actually believe God is guiding their actions. After all, they both are leaders who are charged with guarding the real Truth. LOLOLOLOLOL Yeah.
Poor God. He takes the heat for men like these.
To the person who is buying the churches food and not liking it. I dont know if you were highly upset about what I said but you spelled alot of words wrong, but that being said I understood what you were saying. I am sorry if I upset you that was not my intention. If you are living on social security alone you should not be spending that money on things you just can not afford. I surely hope the church is not feeding you left-over frozen food from last year but I will surely find out about that. As for the priest's wife making the food, if she is, it probably does stink because I know there are only a few special women who can make those specialities that everyone loves. What to do about the price? i dont know! Maybe if everyone refuses to buy the food they will have to lower the cost or you can all petition the cost as well. But I would try and find out how much it actually cost to make the pirogi, filled cabbage, nut roll etc and if the priest is raising the price for his own profit then that is plain wrong. I dont like that Father John and I didnt care for him since the day I met him so I can believe it when I hear all the things people have to say about him. When Father Michael was there things were so much better. Its a shame what happened to him. I would take him back anyday and I think a lot of other people would too. It would probably bring parishioners back who left the church and we wouldnt be having the problems we are having today. I would love to purchase pirogi's or filled cabbage for you in the future because you need to save your social security for more important things but I wouldnt know how to get a hold of you to do so. I hope the next time you buy pirogi's they are not rotten but I will try to get down to the bottom of what is going on and if I can i will let you know. Have a wonderful day!
I spoke to one of the ladies today that makes the filled cabbage and pirogi's. When I told her what people were saying she got very upset. She says that they make the food and they immediately freeze it if its not going to be used right away. They do not heat up food then refreeze it again. People can either buy it already frozen or they can buy it heated up. She said that the cost to make these products have gone up so unfortunately they have to raise the price of the food. Father John lets them know how much it cost to make the food and how much they made on their sales. She doesnt believe that father John nor his wife are pocketing any of the money. She says if it wasnt for the homemade foods that the church would not have the kind of money it has coming in. So the food sales help out alot. She and all the other women enjoy making the food. It gives them something to do because many of them are retired and sit home all day bored with no social life. So this is one thing that is a high-light in their life. Like I said they make the food at no cost to them because if the church had to pay them then the food would cost more. If anyone would like to volunteer their time they could really use the help when it comes time to make more. Often they can not find the help they need and there are times where they are unable to make the food because of that. Again I tell you she was very upset that people are saying such things and it really hurt her feelings. I hope everyone enjoys the food from here on out because it will be in the back of her mind everytime she sells some now. Again I will say if anyone would like to volunteer their time to help make these wonderful homemade foods then that would be greatly appreciated then you may also see all the hard work that goes into it and how much these ladies have such a good time doing it.
Again I tell you she was very upset that people are saying such things and it really hurt her feelings. I hope everyone enjoys the food from here on out because it will be in the back of her mind everytime she sells some now.
you might have put it to her in a different way so you didn't have to hurt her feelings.
i thought you made and sold mrs t's perogies? are you making your own from scratch now? what kind of fillings do you have? i think you can make a nut roll for $6 cost to you per roll. $8 profit is what 125% ? thats a lot in this economy
Interesting insight from the hard working woman. They do all want to believe in the process and unfortunately have not witnessed what MANY others have:
Many people offer to help and are turned away if they are not in Father Johns cliche of YES people.
Many people have not been given reports of the funds. All food sales are to be deposited into church treasury. Majority of fish sales and special sales go to alternate bank accounts. The treasury reports of the church do not include the "FLOWER AND DECK" FUNDS that are not according to bylaws of the church. What the priest and pani want, gets taken from the top and purchased. IT is printed in the bulletins. $1000 for flowers for sidewalk, $5000 for deck, $2000 for ferns and annuals.
There are many who used to be called so all were included and now it is only those included who want to sell the property. The bazaars had been 2 day affairs along with the other many fun events and now it is down to limited affairs, based on what is able to be controlled by them. Why has there not been a detail report of collections, profits etc. from the past bazaar, weekly collections etc.
I believe as do many, that the woman want to respect and believe in the honor of their priest but do the math, audit the books - the real statments not those re-typed by treasurer and the trustee of the restricted building fund.
There are so very many conflicts of interest in the board of officers.
The daycare President who draws a salary is married to church President. HUGE CONFLICT.
Prior to that the daycare President was the church President. Huge Conflict.
The tenant of church is on the board as a secretary and now claims to be the SNB secretary and suddenly she lives in cottage at rent $300 less then setup which was to pay back borrowed funds from restricted bldg fund.
Then you have the treasurer of the church. He has had the job and two sets of books. He is bound to the priest by thier children being married to each other. He has had huge amounts of unexplained Miscellaneous accounts and expenditures over and above his authority to spent without church congregational approval. They spent thousands and thousand on items not approved, necessary or in the relm of needed work at this stage with this EVENS deal. Now the ladies are working hard, and believe they are working for the church but when was the last time they did anything for the alter? When was the last time anyone cleaned the pews well ...
But surely the luncheon's and free dinners are continuing to portray all is fine.
The church is going broke, the leadership is corrupt and the ladies are scared to death to admit to what they know. Roasters have been put in trunks are cars, sold to others and photos exist of this being done and buyers admit to paying. It will all come out and still, Metropolitan will allow him to remain as his mission is to destroy the parish so the land becomes that as the bylaws state when amended the year Father John arrived.
Food complaints have been many. It is not just those people here as many w/o computers have discussed this at the hairdressers last week and at bingo.
Look, i did not comment about the way people are talking about the food being rotten to hear a bunch of things I could care less about. You dont need all those flowers and other things to make the church look pretty. All you need is the people and the building itself all that other stuff is nothing but a distraction. As for me hurting one of the cooks feelings, I didnt do a thing I simply told her the truth as it was written on here. So it is not me who hurt her feelings. I no longer go to that church because of Father John being there. Like I said I did not like him since the day I met him. As for you not being able to help make food, well maybe you should go directly to the ladies and ask them if they would like some help I know they would love to have some extra hands at least thats what they tell me. And if they say no then its not them denying you its done by someone who runs that church. I dont even go there anymore yet I can go help if I want to. And how do you know that these ladies dont do anything for the ALTER? If you think the pews are dirty, get some rags and some cleaner and go clean them your-self, the doors open on certain days. Look I am done with all this, its getting into things i know nothing about. I backed up that special person in my life who has been making the homemade foods (and yes they are homemade, not Mrs T's) for many many years and who will continue to do so dispite what others are saying. As for all your other problems, you all better come together and figure out how to fix them or that church is not going to exist much longer. What I heard about 65 people last Sunday. Wow! thats such a shame. Look what has happened since Father John got in there. He is your biggest problem if you ask me. Well good luck with the church and I hope the homemade foods taste better the next time.God Bless you one and all!
It sounds like this place was a sad sorry mess before the attempted sell-off of the property.
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