Parishioners holding a 24-hour vigil to protest the closure of their church in Holyoke have offered to buy the building from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield.

Peter Stasz, a lawyer and an organizer of Friends of Mater Dolorosa, says he met with diocesan officials and a church lawyer last week and brought up the possibility of buying the building.

The diocese turned him down.

Monsignor John Bonzagni, head of the pastoral planning committee, tells The Springfield Republican the offer was turned down because the diocese wants the appeals process of those opposed to the church’s closure to run its course with the Vatican.

The church is assessed for $1.6 million.

Protesters have been in vigil since June. The church wants them out because it says the steeple is unsafe. (AP)