CLEVELAND -- For 139 straight Sundays a dedicated group of parishioners at St. Casimir on Cleveland's east side held vigils outside their church. They prayed the doors would reopen after being closed by the Diocese in 2009.
The group held their final outdoor vigil on July 8. Next week they will be able to worship back inside St. Casimir.
The group says it never gave up hope. Each and every Sunday, the group prayed outside the locked doors and chain link fence. Along the way, the group inspired others.
"The Irish, the Hungarians, the Slovenians and Slovaks came together for a common cause to save the Cleveland churches," said John Niedzialek, a parishioner.
In March of this year, the Vatican determined that a dozen churches closed in the 2009 downsizing should be reopened. The Diocese agreed.
WKYC-TV