“We used to have 250 people come for a novena,” said Aleida Lopez, who spent almost 50 years worshiping at nearby St. Emeric’s Church until it closed and merged last year with St. Brigid’s, forming the parish of St. Brigid-St. Emeric. “The whole parish used to show up. But people get turned off by the closing of parishes. They get cold hearts and lose the faith. Or they move away.” MORE