Church Closings

Several changes have been announced regarding Back Mountain Roman Catholic churches.

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St. Francis Cabrini Church in Caverton, above, will consolidate with St. Therese in Shavertown, but will remain open for one Mass per weekend and occasional weddings and funerals.

CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST

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St. Francis Cabrini Church in Caverton, above, will consolidate with St. Therese in Shavertown, but will remain open for one Mass per weekend and occasional weddings and funerals.

CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST

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St. Frances Cabrini, in Carverton, will consolidate with St. Therese, in Shavertown, but St. Francis will remain “as an additional worship” site for one Mass per weekend and occasional weddings and funerals. Gate of Heaven will link with Our Lady of Victory at Harveys Lake, sharing one pastor. Blessed Sacrament in Centermoreland will close by July and consolidate at Gate of Heaven. Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Lake Silkworth will partner with the consolidated parish at Gate of Heaven.

In January 2008, Luzerne County Roman Catholic churches were grouped into 19 clusters to evaluate what to do in response to shrinking attendance and monetary woes. News for each cluster was publicized by Bishop Joseph Martino of the Scranton Diocese via a recording following Masses last weekend.

Recordings were individualized by cluster so that parishioners only heard news regarding their church and several others nearby. Back Mountain churches made up Cluster One.

There are 90 Roman Catholic churches in Luzerne County, half of which are expected to close within two years.