ST. LOUIS — Queen Esther Frazier, 87, has been a proud parishioner at St. Elizabeth Mother Of John The Baptist Parish for more than 60 years. Now, she's excited about some major news.
"I am very happy," Frazier said.
That's because her parish at the corner of Shreve and Carter avenues in north St. Louis now has the attention of the Vatican in Rome.
"I am so glad to hear that they took it under advisement," said Frazier.
The St. Louis Archdiocese on Monday announced the Vatican is now reviewing requests from parishioners at St. Elizabeth Mother Of John The Baptist and Saints Phillip and James Parish in Ste. Genevieve County to keep their parishes open under the All Things New Restructuring Plan.
The plan consolidates 178 parishes into 134.
According to the Archdiocese, after the plan took effect in August, St. Elizabeth Mother Of John The Baptist merged with other parishes into a yet unnamed parish.
Parishioners there and at several other parishes appealed to the Vatican against the closures of their parishes.
"I'm pleasantly surprised that we got the response that we did," said Jason Bolte, the founder of the non-profit Save Rome Of The West in St. Louis.
The group helped Queen Esther Frazier and other parishioners at St. Elizabeth file their appeal to the Vatican.
"With them putting it on hold, it shows that we have a solid case. It gives them something to review. They just didn't throw it out like we're seeing with some other cases," Bolte said.
Meantime, as she waits for the Vatican's final decision, Queen Esther Frazier remains positive and prayerful.
"I think we have a good chance of being opened and used. I love my parish and I love this community," Frazier said.
"When it's in God's hands, you never know what could happen," Bolte added.
The Vatican rejected petitions from parishioners at Blessed Teresa Calcutta in Ferguson and St. Matthew The Apostle in St. Louis.
It's unknown when the Vatican will release its decision.