JAMESVILLE -- After a long battle, the doors of St. Mary's church remain closed tonight...but parishioners say they're not giving up the fight to save the church.

About eighty supporters of St. Mary's showed up, sang songs and prayed tonight for a Christmas celebration.

They gathered outside the church in the rain because the doors were locked and papered with "no trespassing" signs. Earlier this week, they say, the vatican issued a second decree showing the diocese had no valid reason to close the church, and parishioners say they're going to do whatever they can to hold on to what they call a loving church community. Frank Nelson of St. Mary's said the church "brings people in, it brought people in, it still does. It's part of my life. It's part of my soul to come to St. Mary's"

The Syracuse Diocese had a different interpretation of the vatican's decree. They believe the decree upholds the decision of the diocese to merge St. Mary's with Holy Cross Church in Dewitt, and officials say St. Mary's will not reopen.