PORTLAND — An appeal to keep St. Dominic’s Church open reportedly made it all the way to the pope. But the Vatican refused to intervene on the decision to close the 105-year-old church.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland will close the church next month because of needed repairs, a dwindling congregation and lack of money.

Rome’s decision was announced to parishioners at last Saturday’s worship service. “I saw some of the regular old-timers cry,” said Margaret Berry, a member of the church.

Some parishioners like David Cram viewed the latest development with defiance, with disappointment.

“We’re not giving up. The options are, we can re-appeal to Rome, which we’re looking into doing right now,” he said.

Cram belongs to the Associates of St. Dominic’s, while Berry is with Friends of St. Dominic’s Church. Both groups are made up of parishioners who opposed Bishop Joseph Gerry’s decision last year to merge their parish with the Sacred Heart Church parish next door. The merger reduced worship at St. Dominic’s to a weekly Saturday afternoon service.

According to the diocese, St. Dominic’s needs more than $1 million in repairs. The diocese does not believe the congregation at St. Dominic’s is large enough to raise the money on its own, and parishes must be self-supporting.

Berry said St. Dominic’s members want to draw new people to the congregation and to raise money on their own to make repairs.

She said the diocese has refused to let that happen. “We feel we’re done a great injustice, ” she said.

Gerry delayed closing St. Dominic’s when parishioners filed their appeal at the Vatican last fall. The Rev. John Skehan, who heads the diocesan office for parish planning, said the diocesan finance office now will look for potential buyers for the church.