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KEVIN GUTTING

The Rev. Merle Lavoie delivers the homily at St. John Cantius during the formal closing Mass at the parish on Hawley Street in Northampton Sunday.

Parishioners of three Northampton churches bid farewell to their long-familiar houses of worship Sunday as a new era dawned for the city's Roman Catholic faithful.

As decreed by the Diocese of Springfield, St. Mary of the Assumption and Blessed Sacrament, both on Elm Street, and St. John Cantius on Hawley Street will close their doors this month. The parishes will be combined into the new St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, which will be housed at the former Sacred Heart Church on King Street. Pastors at the new church will be the Rev. John Connors of Ludlow and the Rev. Sean O'Mannion of Springfield.

Before a large congregation Sunday at St. Mary's, the Rev. William J. Hamilton described his time with the church as "the highlight of my pastoral ministry." Hamilton said that while he still held out hope for a "Christmas miracle" that would keep St. Mary's open, he assured parishioners that they are part of something greater - with or without their church.

"Wherever we go, wherever we worship, we are still God's people," said Hamilton, who received a round of applause during Mass.

"Nothing can separate us from God," Hamilton added in his booming voice. "Not death, not persecution. Not even the closing of a building."

Many parishioners snapped photos near the end, and church volunteers handed out photos of the St. Mary's church sanctuary as a remembrance as parishioners filed out to the recessional hymn "Joy to the World."

- DAN CROWLEY