By GAIL OBER, LACONIA DAILY SUNLACONIA — The pastor of St. Andre Bessette Parish is walking back his statements regarding the closing of St. Joseph's Church and its rectory and has cancelled the meeting scheduled for Sunday at noon. In a letter sent to all parishioners and copied by the New Hampshire Catholic Diocese to The Laconia Daily Sun, the Rev. "Bishop Libasci has requested that before I present a proposal to parishioner, we obtain a professional appraisal on the church, rectory and the parking lot of the St. Joseph's Campus," he wrote. The letter explained the St. Joseph's Church needs at least $500,000 in repairs but that the funds raised by the parish for any major repair has been exhausted. Drouin said he has received Libasci's permission to get the appraisal and develop a consolidation plan, but any meeting with the parishioners would come only after that.

Source: Daily Sun November 11, 2016 07:49 UTC