A historic church in Mamaroneck held its first mass in six years on Sunday, after it was nearly closed for good.

Most Holy Trinity Church has been part of the Westchester community since the late 1800s.

In 2018, the Archdiocese of New York ordered the closure of the Roman Catholic Church due to declining finances and enrollment. However, several dedicated parishioners appealed to the Vatican and won.

“For a very long time we thought it would be sold or demolished or something like that,” said David Burns, the church’s former music director. “My heart really sang. I was so full of joy today.”

“It has been six years of continuous work, pain, stress, tears and anything you can imagine,” said parishioner James Maver, who led the fight to save the church. He returned to church on Sunday with his wife and eight children. “I think it’s symbolic. You have people coming back to church for the first time in a year. Now they’re coming back to this church for the first time in six years.”

The church will only be open for special occasions like this weekend’s Memorial Day celebration, but faithful members of the congregation are hoping it will have weekly Mass again soon.