Philadelphia Archdiocese Announces Several Church Closures
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Several Catholic churches in the Delaware Valley, serving as worship sites for existing parishes, will soon close their doors for good.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced the closure of Saint John of the Cross Church in Roslyn, Mater Dolorosa Church in Philadelphia and Saint Cecelia Church in Coatesville.
They are set to officially close as Catholic Churches on September 16, 2016.
Formerly, the churches had served as worship sites for Queen of Peace Parish in Montgomery County, Holy Innocents Parish in Philadelphia and Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Chester County.
The churches had been former parishes that merged in recent years as part of the Parish Area Pastoral Planning Initiative. According to the Archdiocese, after the merger they were available for only occasional celebrations of Mass, as well as weddings and funerals.
The Archdiocese cites financial troubles as the main reason for the closures.