Volunteers advocate for St. Mary’s Health Center

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — We continue to follow the ongoing dispute between the St. Mary’s Health Center and the Basilica of St. Mary’s, where the center operates.

On Sunday, volunteers gathered to inform churchgoers about the situation and how they can help. They distributed information sheets to parishioners before Mass. The materials explained the clinic’s history and its important role in the community.

As we’ve reported previously, this dispute centers around space and timing. The Basilica wants the clinic to move after it has been operating there for 30 years.

Joe Sweeney, an advocate for the clinic and a parishioner of the Basilica for six years, shared his thoughts on the situation.

“It’s understandable if they have to move, but the way it’s been handled—especially toward the clinic’s staff and the people who rely on it—wasn’t fair. There’s a lack of information, and that’s why we’re here today—to make sure the community understands the full story.”

Volunteers hope that with enough support, the church will reconsider its approach to the situation.