Philly archdiocese to merge 29 parishes into 13
Notice: Undefined variable: article_ad_placement3 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/single.php on line 128
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has announced that 29 parishes will be merged into a total of 13 parishes in Philadelphia and its suburbs.
The closures reflect the latest efforts to cut costs at the archdiocese by closings schools and parishes and selling off real estate.
The archdiocese cited shifting Catholic populations, high density of parishes in a small area, and declines in Mass attendance and the number of available priests.
The announcement said parishioners will attend daily and Sunday Mass at the church of the new parish, with the old parish churches becoming worship sites.
The archdiocese has closed 31 parishes since 2012, and has 235 still in operation.