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14 Catholic parishes to close in Greensburg diocese
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Bishop Lawrence Brandt announced today a sweeping reorganization that will affect 42 of the current 100 parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Greensburg.
Fourteen parishes will be closed, two parishes will merge into one new parish, and 26 parishes will become part of new or modified partnerships in which they will share a pastor.
The reorganization grew out of a three-year planning process that involved more than 9,000 parishioners and clergy, Bishop Brandt said. The main reason for the reorganization is the declining number of priests, he said.
All changes will go into effect Oct. 30, at which point the number of parishes in the diocese will be reduced from 100 to 85. Free counseling will be available through Catholic Charities of the diocese for parishioners who have difficulty coping with the loss of their parishes.
The parishes to be closed are:
All Saints, Arnold; St. Boniface, Penn; St. Mary, Our Lady of the Snows, Parker; St. Bede, Brovard; St. Mary, Forbes Road; Holy Spirit, Fayette City; St. Timothy, Smithton; St. Charles Borromeo, Sutersville; Forty Martyrs, Trauger; St. Stanislaus, Calumet; Holy Trinity, Connellsville; St. Vincent de Paul, Leisenring; St. James, Maxwell; and St. Albert, Palmer.
Merged will be St. Francis, Coral, with St. Louis, Luceremines, to become Our Lady of the Assumption.
First Published October 6, 2008 12:06 pm
