Church asks diocese to give back its buildings

Five years ago, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson wanted to help San Miguel High School, the city's newest Catholic high school, and sold it some land on the South Side adjacent to St. Monica Catholic Church.

The problem was that the land also included the church buildings, which neither the school nor parishioners realized at first.

It came to light when the property's management and parishioners started asking questions about a new contract that church leaders and school officials were negotiating in August.

Officials with the diocese and the high school have told parishioners that they can continue to use the church buildings, despite the sale. But some church members say they won't be satisfied until they once again own the building in which they worship.

Last week, Tucson Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas announced that school and church officials were working on a new agreement to resolve the parishioners' concerns about parking spots, trash bins and increased traffic, among other issues.

"The bishop was honest, and we are thankful he came," said Arturo Del Cueto, a St. Monica parishioner.

"But we have to fight for a new building, because reality is that (St. Monica) has already been sold."

During the meeting with about 300 parishioners, organized by the diocese and held at St. Monica Church, Kicanas apologized for the lack of communication, which he cited as the reason for the misunderstandings between the school, priests and parishioners.

"As you know, the property was sold to the school for $250,000, which was the appraised value of the school piece of property. But in selling the property, the school never understood that they owned the church buildings or the buildings of St. Monica," Kicanas said.

"There were some concern among the parishioners that if the school decided that the church was causing difficulties or was not being cared for, that they could take it away from you. This is simply not true," Kicanas said. "In fact, the school is very proud that they are at the same property as a lively and growing parish."

Kicanas said that the Rev. Jim Hobert has begun planning an expansion of the church.

The bishop also said that during the past weeks, school and church officials have been meeting to discuss the parishioners' concerns.

San Miguel High School, 6601 S. San Fernando Road, is affiliated with the diocese but operates as a private entity sponsored by a religious order called De La Salle Christian Brothers. It also is a member of the Cristo Rey Network.

Details learned in August

For St. Monica parishioners, the apologies came too late. It wasn't until August when the parish's members were told the property had been sold in its entirety.

"They told people they were just going to sell half of the property, meaning the school area," Del Cueto said. "But they couldn't sell just half, because to build a school they needed at least 10 acres."

For parishioners such as Alfredo Román, who has been a church volunteer for 20 years, news of the sale was disappointing, especially because the sale relies on a contract that must be renewed every four or five years. St. Monica Church was built in 1964.

"They hid a lot the agreements they made," Román said. "They sold the priest house, the building. We don't own anything. We want our church so we don't have to ask any permission."

Olivia Martínez, another parishioner, expects that a new agreement will be a permanent pact, and not one that must be renewed.

However, that wasn't made clear during the meeting with Kicanas. Church and school officials said they were still working on the new agreement's terms.

Problems between the parish, the school and the parishioners are not new.

By mid-2007, the parishioners — thinking the church owned the land — asked why the school removed 15 church parking spaces to put up a fenced area in the middle of the parking lot.

At that time, the parishioners even received deductible tax receipts for their donations to the construction of the church parking lot, when in reality the money went to the school, Del Cueto said.

Later, the school put a trash bin in front of the parish offices, upsetting some parish members.

Other parishioners have expressed concerns that the current entrance to the parking lot creates lots of chaos, so a second entrance has been requested, Del Cueto said.

Petition sent to bishop

It was when the parish and the school were about to sign a new contract and the parishioners raised questions about the property sale that the sale terms were released.

Parishioners responded by sending a letter and a petition containing 1,700 signatures to the bishop, expressing their concerns and asking for his help. The bishop responded by calling last week's meeting.

During the meeting, Kicanas said both institutions are working to get city authorization to build another parking lot entrance and a new location for the garbage bins.

Elizabeth Goettl, president of San Miguel High School, said the school wants a healthy relationship with parishioners and the church — "and in the future to continue to serve the parish and the school and to really become one with you," she said.

Román said parishioners are pleased by the responses of officials and Kicanas to concerns about trash, the parking lot and other issues. But the ultimate solution would be that the church would once again own the property, Román said.

"It is like paying a loan that isn't yours," Román said. "I have my doubts that things are going to be the way we want, even though they have said that."

Kicanas said the parish and the school will meet every month and will maintain open communication about the new agreements.

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(Source: SN)