WEYMOUTH, Mass. (AP) – The first parish in the Boston Archdiocese to start a round-the-clock vigil to protest its closure celebrated the 100th day of that sit-in with a series of events on Sunday.

Parishioners at St. Albert the Great in Weymouth began with a morning prayer service, followed by visits to seven other parishes in the archdiocese that are holding vigils.

About 200 parishioners also decorated and trimmed a Christmas tree outside the church, then ended their day with a tree-lighting ceremony followed by caroling.

The parishioners are refusing to leave the church to protest the archdiocese’s decision to close the parish for good. The 100th day of that vigil is on Monday.

The Roman Catholic archdiocese plans to close or consolidate 83 parishes to address falling attendance, a shortage of priests and a financial crisis caused in part by the clergy sex abuse crisis.

St. Albert’s and other churches claim the process was flawed because it resulted in the closing of vibrant, viable and financially health parishes.