LYNN — St. Michael’s Hall, a popular meeting place in the Polish community, has been sold to the owners of La Iglesia De Dios de la Profecia de Lynn, who plan to use the building as the church’s official headquarters and center of Adoration to God and Service to the Community in Lynn.
The church officially purchased the Elmwood Avenue building from the Trustees of the St. Michael Archangel Society, Lodge 630, Polish National Alliance of the United States of North America trust on February 1.
Property records list the sale price as $1.3 million.
“All of the church is excited and grateful to God for this important step in the mission,” the Lynn church said on Facebook. “God always surprises us.”
La Iglesia De Dios de la Profecia de Lynn was established in the city on April 7, 2006, and is led by Pastor Eduardo Cáceres. His mission is to help people develop their faith, with the support and appreciation of his wife, Estela, and a team of leaders, workers and members.
Ward 6 Councilor Fred Hogan is pleased that the sale went through, and that the property will not fall into disrepair.
“Obviously, St Michael’s Church and St. Mike’s Hall have been the center of the Lynn Polish community for many decades and to see them leave is extremely sad,” he said. “Following the closure of the church and with the COVID-19 pandemic shuttering the hall, I was concerned that the building and parking lot would fall into disrepair and become a blight to the neighborhood.”
General Electric still owns the property’s adjacent parking lot on West Neptune Street.
The church has been renting in the neighborhood since 2019, so the area is well-known, said Pastor Cáceres, noting that “some of the neighbors are members of our church, others are members of Hispanic churches in the city and others are well-known to our families.”
La Iglesia De Dios de la Profecia de Lynn belongs to the worldwide organization with churches in more than 135 countries. The regional headquarters is in Cranford, N.J., and the international headquarters is located in Cleveland, Tenn.
Since its establishment in the city in 2006, the organization has worked on integrating into the community. La Iglesia collaborates with the Hispanic population on issues regarding education, health and immigration and provides assistance in times of need, such as the current pandemic.
“Iglesia de Dios de la Profecia is made of tremendous parishioners with a proud history in Lynn for community service,” said Hogan. “I know that they will be a great addition to the Elmwood Avenue neighborhood and will carry on the tradition of the property being a place of devotion, prayer and worship. I welcome the church to Ward 6 and wish Pastor Cáceres and his faithful congregation nothing but the best in their home.”
La Iglesia was closed for two months due to the pandemic but reopened on May 18, 2020 with a COVID-19 plan in place. That plan includes wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, sanitizing hands, taking temperatures, cleaning shoes, and shortening services. There is also a reduced capacity to 40 percent and chairs are placed six feet apart.
“The church has been a point of sharing resources and developing links with the Lynn community in various areas of daily life in the city,” said Pastor Cáceres. “Since 2012, our young people have done street cleaning activities in the city and parks, and on other occasions they have joined activities of other churches or social organizations.”
The church is still in the planning phase and does not have an official opening day for its new headquarters. La Iglesia is aiming for April 7, its 15th anniversary in the city.
The church is open to new members and encourages people with recommendations or in search for help and support to reach out to the pastor at [email protected].
Allysha Dunnigan can be reached at [email protected].
