Parishioners eager for meeting with Bishop Richard Lennon about Lakewood's closed St. James Church

LAKEWOOD, Ohio - Joe Dwyer's breath is taken away when he thinks about getting back inside St. James Catholic Church. It's been closed for nearly two years, and it's the place he feels closest to God.

"There's a divine presence in that church that I haven't felt in other churches," Dwyer said. "I need that to focus in on feeling the presence of God. It helps me focus on prayer."

Dwyer is on the Save St. James Committee. He confirmed Bishop Richard Lennon will be meeting with four members of his committee at 3 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the reopening of the church. Dwyer will not be at the meeting, but said he is grateful it's happening.

Meetings with parishioners of closed churches reportedly began with the bishop this week. After a fight over closed churches led all the way to the Vatican, it's time to set plans for the reopenings.

The Diocese is not revealing details about when individual churches will open doors. And time has changed things. Some parishioners have found other churches to attend. In the case of St. James, Dwyer said the pastor has retired.

None of that matters though, to faithful people like Dwyer. He has fought for a long time to see that St. James reopens.

It's not just the beautiful and historic building on Detroit Avenue at Granger Road. It's the community, Dwyer said.

"I've been very fortunate to have met so many people throughout this ordeal," he said. "They have given me light through a lot of days of darkness

"I'm so grateful," Dwyer said through tears. "To anyone who doubts the power of prayer - it works."