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Church Closings

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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

Final liturgy at SS Peter and Paul School

PLAINS TWP. – After 110 years of educating and instilling the Catholic faith in students, SS Peter and Paul School is closing its doors next week.

May 22, 2009

Church will bridge gap with walk

Sometimes a journey of faith takes a person across an ocean, or a continent. For one group of Wilkes-Barre worshippers, the trip will literally cross a bridge.

April 12, 2009

Bishop’s plan will close 39 churches in county

WILKES-BARRE – When all is said and done, Diocese of Scranton Bishop Joseph Martino’s “Called to Holiness and Mission” project will close 39 Luzerne County churches and make 12 others “Additional sites of worship” or leave them open pending further review.

April 12, 2009

A new church for Easter

SUGAR NOTCH – Following Polish tradition, Elizabeth Vrotkoski attended the annual blessing of the Easter food baskets Saturday at Holy Family Church on Main Street with her daughter, Liz Vrotkoski, and grandson 7-year old Scott Kemmerer.

April 8, 2009

Group joins network to keep churches open

WILKES-BARRE – Representatives from a group trying to stop the closing of local parishes held a news conference outside Sacred Heart Church in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday to give details about their latest efforts, hinting at a possible lawsuit.

April 7, 2009

Local parishes make case against closings, hint at lawsuit

Representatives from a group trying to stop closing of local parishes held a news conference at Sacred Heart Church In Wilkes-Barre to expand on the latest effort to stop church closings, including the possibility of a lawsuit. About 35 people prayed the Rosary after the announcement.

April 6, 2009

Parishes seek Vatican assistance amid closings

BOSTON - The leader of a Boston-based Roman Catholic advocacy group is in Rome to deliver a letter to the Vatican asking that bishops be instructed to enter promptly into mediation with 31 parishes that have closed or are slated to close.