Downtown Churches Without Parishioners
A survey by the daily Spanish newspaper La Nación reveals that seven downtown area Catholic churches have gone years without a baptism or confirmation due to the few families left behind following the escape from growing downtown commercial core.

The report says that the Catedral Metropolitana has not had one single wedding in the last four years. La Dolorosa, a few blocks south of the Catedral, has not had a wedding in the last two years. At the El Carmen, the last baptism was seven years ago.

For the San José Archdioses the results are clear: seven of the 10 downtown parishes are without parishioners. The church activities are limited to hold mass and confession.

In a typical church, religious life includes baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and social and juvenile activities for the parishioners led by the clergy.

Some say that besides the low number of families in the downtown area, many churchgoers stay away because of the number of criminals and indigents in the areas surrounding the downtown churches. The La Nación interviewed Florita Fernández, a frequent churchgoer at the El Carmen, who said that "in this church they even steal the flowers. People have to pray with one eye open, because they can be an easy victim of an assault".

The low participation also means no money coming into the church. Few people attend church, meaning fewer people to offer donations during masses.

Elena Ulate, parroquial secretary for the El Carmen, says people have moved outside of the city, attending church outside of the downtown area, mainly due to the high crime, as living in downtown San José "is not secure anymore".

The situation has the Catholic church worried, as San José archbishop, Monseñor Hugo Barrantes, said he recognizes that the downtown parishes no longer have a "pastoral" life.

The Monseñor added that the problem extends past the low turn outs but also to find the altar boys and faithful to assist in the masses.

To keep the churches alive, without having to close down, Monseñor Barrantes said the church is moving into a new direction, saying the churches will be offered for activities to business, public institutions and schools.

Another action by the Catholic church is to build more churches to where the people have moved to. The first of these new churches will be located in Montes de Oca (San Pedro) and Alajuelita, south side of San José.