March 23, 2008 Special Easter celebration held in East Boston Play video

(NECN: Boston, Mass.) - The celebration of Easter mass played out in thousands of catholic churches across the country, but at Our lady of Mount Carmel in East Boston, this was a mini-miracle.

The Boston archdiocese ordered the church doors shut in 2004. For three and a half years parishioners holding vigil, sleeping in the church and holding lay services. But on this Easter, the archdiocese sent Bishop Robert Hennessey to say mass.

After the decision to close the church this statue of Mary somehow fell backward, many here believe that was a sign to keep up the vigil.

Gina Scalcione's grandfather layed the bricks of the church. She is a key organizer of the vigil and asked the bishop to give mass.

NECN's Kristen Caira has more.