Recently, with the approval of Bishop Luis Zarama, the Mission of St. Anne in Scotland Neck was closed. This decision was taken after careful deliberation and appropriate consultation with the Council of Priests and Father Rob Schmid, the pastor of the mission.
While it is always sad to close a place of worship, the population in the area had declined significantly in recent years. In addition to the declining population, the challenge of growing or even maintaining the mission was exacerbated by the decline in the numbers of priests or religious that could serve the community. In recent years, following the departure of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Louis, S.S.L., that had served in that part of the diocese, several area pastors had struggled to maintain a sense of community and consistency at St. Anne’s while serving their other parishes.
“Years ago, while it was never a large community, there was a presence,” said Fr. Schmid, pastor of St. Charles Borremeo, which most recently oversaw the mission. “But the original and long-time supporters of the mission have moved or long since passed to the next world. The sisters and the pastors that have served in this area worked hard to keep people engaged and living out their faith. But the support just wasn’t there, not just financially but from a sense of community and vibrancy, to make the mission more than just a place where small gatherings for sacramental events took place.”
The resources that were being used to support the mission will now be used for ministry in other areas that will benefit from greater pastoral presence. Several families from St. Anne’s have already made the transition to the parish of St. Charles Borromeo in Ahoskie. Parish communities in Tarboro (St. Catherine of Siena) and Roanoke Rapids (St. John the Baptist) will also continue to welcome and serve those who formerly attended Mass at the mission.
With the cessation of weekly Masses at St. Anne’s in the fall, St. Charles Borremeo was able to move its Sunday Spanish Mass to a time that was more convenient for the broader community, which has resulted in much greater attendance and much greater opportunity for community and faith building.
“Fortunately, what we are already seeing is not just consolidation, but in consolidating, strengthenIng and growing what remains,” said Fr. Schmid.
The church building was recently relegated, and permission was given by the Diocese of Raleigh for it to be sold. The purchaser of the property is an Anglican priest in the area, who plans to preserve the building and maintain its status as a place of prayer.