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Church Closings

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

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Church Closings

Latest Headlines

June 6, 2010

St. Stan’s is Nanticoke’s 5th recent closing

NANTICOKE – Another church closed as the consolidation of the Catholic Community of Nanticoke continued. The Church of Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr conducted its closing liturgy on Sunday afternoon. It was the fifth church to close in the Nanticoke area with the last one, Holy Child in Sheatown, closing next week.

June 6, 2010

Last Mass held at St. Boniface

WILKES-BARRE – Clutching her songbook in the choir loft, Amy Saraka leaned over and whispered, “Could you pass me a tissue?”

June 1, 2010

Closing of historic Polish church nears

NANTICOKE – It was founded by Polish immigrants fleeing a Prussian occupation that barred them from speaking their own language.

May 23, 2010

Nanticoke’s St. Mary’s holds final Mass

NANTICOKE – On Sunday St. Mary of Czestochowa joined the list of Catholic parishes closed by the Diocese of Scranton, which began a restructuring initiative a few years ago.

May 17, 2010

First of five church closings in Nanticoke

NANTICOKE – Members of St. Joseph’s parish gathered one last time Sunday afternoon in a commencement ceremony to say goodbye to their parish before the churches’ doors were closed for good.

May 2, 2010

A year of tears amid the prayers

It is almost as subtle as a bulb burning out every month in a house full of chandeliers. Someone who uses the room where the latest bulb darkened may sense it’s a bit dimmer, but the majority of life goes on with no notice.

December 24, 2009

Final Christmas upsets W-B church members

WILKES-BARRE – Father Raj says a church is a living and dynamic organism that adapts and never closes.

November 30, 2009

‘Blended family’ celebrates

KINGSTON – “This is the first Sunday we are together as a blended family,” the Rev. John Lapera said as he welcomed families from the former Saint Hedwig’s and Saint Mary of the Annunciation churches during the 10:30 Mass at Saint Ignatius. The three West Side churches merged as part of the Scranton Diocese consolidation plan.

November 22, 2009

Emotional final Mass

KINGSTON -- It was a moment that tied generations together as little Isabel Shoemaker’s first memories of St. Mary’s Annunciation Church twined together with memories of her great-grandmother on the day the family church closed its doors for good.

November 18, 2009

Old faith, new home

KINGSTON – Mae Perles is 98 years old, and St. Mary’s Annunciation Church is the only church she has ever known.

November 7, 2009

Closed churchs to be taxed

Closed churches and religious schools will likely be taxed in Luzerne County next year, county Assessment Director Tony Alu said Friday.

October 26, 2009

Bittersweet bash for St. Casimir’s

HANOVER TWP. – Celebration of the 120th anniversary of St. Casimir’s Church in Lyndwood on Sunday was bittersweet, as parishioners knew it likely would be the church’s last anniversary celebration.

August 3, 2009

Holy Cross demolition plans put on hold

SCRANTON – Plans to demolish a former West Scranton church are on hold.

July 27, 2009

St. Nazarius Church hosts final Mass

HAZLE TWP. -- In 1893, Italian immigrants brought their faith and a bit of home with them to Hazle Township. They established a church and named it after the patron saint of their hometown, St. Nazarius.

July 24, 2009

St. Joseph’s Church will hold final liturgy Sunday

WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Parishioners will attend the final service at St. Joseph’s Church Sunday, and for Nancy Snee, her 33 years of making music at her parish will end.

July 20, 2009

Final Mass at Sacred Heart Church marked by sadness, celebration

PLAINS TWP. -- When it was his turn to kiss the altar after the closing of Mass of Sacred Heart Church on Sunday, Albert Vannucchi broke down and sobbed.

July 10, 2009

Wyoming church will not be closed

WYOMING – The mandate from Bishop Joseph Martino to close scores of churches throughout the Diocese of Scranton may not be as irrevocable as some thought.

June 28, 2009

Bazaar marriage

Given the recent closings and consolidations of numerous parishes as part of a diocesan restructuring, this year’s church bazaar season is an emotionally difficult one for people in many parishes, including longtime St. Hedwig’s parishioner and volunteer Gerry Dicton.

June 6, 2009