Everything that was written in the Sun Journal on June 17 concerning the possible closing of some Catholic churches — namely St. Patrick’s and St. Joseph’s — was unfortunately true but nevertheless very sad.

However, I am one of those Catholics who does not believe that the answer to our problems is insurmountable or impossible to solve. I also believe that the Irish people deserve to keep open at least one Catholic church that they can proudly call their own as an Irish people. We owe the Irish at least that much. I am not Irish, but I know that the Irish have done much for the city of Lewiston and they deserve better. 

And that is why I suggested at that meeting June 17 that a fundraising campaign could possibly be undertaken by all the churches of the Prince of Peace Parish to raise enough money to see to it that none of the handful of our remaining Catholic Churches close.

I truly believe that many parishioners would be glad to donate to such a worthwhile cause and I, for one, would donate a considerable sum of money if St. Patrick’s would be taken off the list of possible church closings.

I truly believe, as a practicing Catholic, that God would want us to do no less than keeping the rest of the parish churches open. 

Ray Mathieu, Lewiston