Hundreds of people gathered at Assumption Church over the weekend.
An outdoor mass on the grounds of the church was held at 11am Sunday, followed by a barbeque. The doors of the church were then open to the public from noon to 5pm.
Expensive repairs caused the church to close its doors after 170 years in 2014.
Assumption Parish Pastor Maurice Restivo says opening the doors to the church is good for the parish, but also required under church law.
Restivo says the church may be closed, but the parish is alive and well.
The Our Lady of the Assumption Feast is on Tuesday, but since it's the patron Saint of the Parish, Restivo says the decided to have mass on Sunday at the Church as well.
"It's important to people to be able to do that and by canon law, a church that has not been canonically closed needs to at least open on it's patron feast," says Restivo.
He estimates close to 700 people showed up for mass and to spend time in the church.
"Pleasantly surprised by the people that are here today," says Restiov. "I was thinking we might have 300, we had 500 chairs and I thought they were overdoing it, as it turned out there were a lot of people standing."
Restivo says the church will also be open in October for the 250th anniversary of the Parish.
"In October of 1767, so all this year we're celebrating our 250th, culminating with a big celebration on October 1, which is the official day of the first sacrament, which was October 3," says Restivo.
Restivo says there's still hope someone will step forward to jump start a fundraising campaign to save the church.
The Our Lady of the Assumption feast day is on Tuesday, August 15, and the doors will open to the public from 9am to 6pm.