Ethiopian Orthodox Church buys former Ascension Church

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

WORCESTER – The former Ascension Church building and the attached Msgr. Edmond T. Tinsley Center were sold for $250,000 on April 13 to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church that has been worshipping there for several years, according to Father John F. Madden, pastor of St. John Parish.
The parish acquired the Vernon Street property when Ascension Parish was merged with St. John’s in 2008. Ascension’s rectory was sold several months after the merger.
All the proceeds from the sale of the church and center went to St. John’s, since the parish did not owe any money to the diocese, according to Paul G. Schasel, director of the diocesan Office of Fiscal Affairs.
Some of the money is to be used this summer for projects at St. John’s, including resetting a granite wall, Father Madden said.
The official seller of the property was the legal owner according to Massachusetts law: Roman Catholic Bishop of Worcester, a Corporation Sole, Mr. Schasel said. The buyer is listed as Worcester Kidist Kidane Meheret Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
Father Madden and Bishop McManus made this place a church again, the Orthodox congregation’s leader, Komo Abba Teklehaimonant Aschane, said through a translator. That translator, Tewodros Girmaiy, said he was vice president of the church for six years, until last month.
He and Abba Teklehaimonant said they wanted to thank Bishop McManus, Father Madden and others involved in selling them the property, but couldn’t find the words. They said they pray for their benefactors and will keep the name of the Tinsley Center.
“How much we appreciate the Catholic Church, especially Father Madden,” Mr. Girmaiy said. He built “our community” by letting the community use the church.
He said this is the ninth Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the area; the other eight are in the Boston area.
This one started about seven years ago with 10-15 members, and met in a home and at the Friendly House neighborhood center, Mr. Girmaiy said. Now they have more than 150 members, 30 or 40 of whom joined since they bought Ascension, he said. For holidays, 500-700 people have come, some standing outside or watching the service on a screen in the center, a space they also used for meals, he said.
About five years ago a member asked Father Madden about using Ascension, Mr. Girmaiy said.
“Father Madden right away gave us the key,” he said, adding that a priest’s job is to “bring the people to the religion,” to worship. “We believe in the same Mary; we believe in the same God,” he noted. (Like Catholics, they honor the Blessed Mother.)
Mr. Girmaiy said they did not have much income, but gave St. John’s $200-300 a month in support.
“They’re a wonderful group of people,” Father Madden said, and he was happy to help them. But paying for insurance, utilities and maintenance cost St. John’s about $50,000 annually, he said. Selling the property was their solution.
The Orthodox Church could not afford the assessed value of $845,000, according to minutes from a June 17, 2021, meeting of Father Madden and the Diocesan Finance Council. Father Madden told The Catholic Free Press a “lease to buy” plan was developed, with the Orthodox taking over expenses, but later it was decided to just offer them the property for $250,000.
Mr. Girmaiy said they’d saved enough contributions from members and other churches to pay the $250,000.
With new owners, a homeless shelter and clothing distribution center are vacating the property.
Hotel Grace, the homeless shelter in the center, closed Sunday, said Richard Gonzalez, executive director of Net of Compassion, which runs the shelter. The shower trailers will be moved to St. John’s and reopened on Monday, so people can still bathe, he said. He said he is looking to rent or buy another place to house the homeless, many of whom are elderly or handicapped and cannot find affordable housing.
Sister Patricia Murphy, a Sister of St. Joseph who organized St. John’s distribution of free clothing and household items in Ascension Church, said they’re closing the program and donating their items to other organizations.  
St. John’s May 22 parish bulletin says donations can be brought to the rectory, to be given to Net of Compassion.  
Mr. Girmaiy told The Catholic Free Press, “We’re going to renovate the whole church and the hall.”
Orthodox leaders offered their thanks at the Chancery this month.
In St. John’s May 15 parish bulletin, Father Madden described that get-together: “The meeting was filled with gratitude and without regret; conducted with respect and without conflict; concluded with rejoicing and without rancor. The Bishop displayed a true knowledge of the Ethiopian Orthodox faith.  … They displayed and expressed their profound pleasure in having their own worship space.”