Members of St. Patrick's Church in Chicopee want to follow in another parish's footsteps. Immaculate Conception Church in Springfield has been granted a seven-month extension to boost membership. St. Patrick's parishioners are hoping for the same.

Mary Lempke and her husband Todd turned to their faith for a second chance. Their beloved parish, St. Patrick's Church in Chicopee, is slated to close its doors on Nov. 27. The Diocese plans on closing five parishes in Chicopee, St. Patrick's being one of them.

The Lempkes are holding out hope they will have a second chance the way Immaculate Conception Church in Springfield has. On Sunday, Bishop Timothy McDonnell announced that the Immaculate Conception will stay open until July.

Parishioners were given seven months to boost membership and get more cash flowing. The Lempkes now want the Bishop to also reconsider his decision about St. Patrick's.

"We think we are raising valid points. We want them to reconsider the closing and the closing dates so we can fully explore all the options we have open to us," Mary Lempke said.

Bishop McDonnell said an extension at St. Patrick's will never happen.

"There was a special circumstance at Immaculate Conception, and I don't see it any of the others," the Bishop said.

McDonnell said the reason is simple.

"They are showing increases the others are not, " McDonnell said.

The Lempkes said members of St. Patrick's will not go down without a fight. They have formed the group Friends of St. Patrick's and have planned up coming vigils to spread the word.

They are hosting a vigil Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. at their church. Everyone is invited to attend.