1) Many of the people who are upset about their church closing ATTEND every week.

2) Their ancestors [parents, grandparents] laid the bricks for the church, did the art-work on the walls, cooked meals to feed the workers who were building the church.  This was back in the days before building contractors build the churches.  There was a sense of 'ownership' that was encouraged by priests who were encouraging the building.

3) The church was a place where one generation after another came for marriages, baptisms, communions, confirmations, funerals.   It was a 'spiritual home'.
 
4) The parish was the heart of the social life of the people when people lived in ghettos.  Dances, socialization occurred at the church.  Different groups had dinners there, meetings were there, 40-Hours, important seasons of the year were there.

5) If people feel that they can't take 'ownership' of their churches----they aren't going to attend or be involved EVER!