Church Closings

SCRANTON - Holy Family Parish on North Washington Avenue ins Scranton is a located in what the Diocese of Scranton has termed 'North Cluster Five.'  It's also a church whose doors will close by July of 2010. 

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Holy Family Church, North Washington Avenue, Scranton

John Baldino/The Times Leader

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Holy Family Church, North Washington Avenue, Scranton

John Baldino/The Times Leader

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The closing of Holy Family is one of many closings and consolidations that are part of 'Called to Holiness and Mission: Pastoral Planning in the Diocese of Scranton' and were announced by a recorded message from Bishop Joseph Martino at each mass this weekend.

Parishioners at Holy Family were somber and saddened following the announcement during the 4 p.m. mass on Saturday. "We're behind the bishop," Eileen Woelkers said with tears in her eyes.  "Our hearts are broken, but we do the best we can."

E.J. Dougher has spent a lifetime at his parish in Scranton.  "I was baptized here, had my wedding here.  All my kids were baptized here," he said.  "It's just kind of sad."

Preceding its closing, Holy Family parish will consolidate with Saint Peter's Cathedral in downtown Scranton by July, 2009.

In Dunmore, the news was similar as parishioners heard the Bishop's recorded message.  The churches of Saint Mary of Mt. Carmel, St. Casimir and All Saints will consolidate by July of 2009 with St. Casimir and All Saints closing by July of 2011. 

St. Anthony of Padua and St. Rocco Parishes will consolidate by July of 2009 and St. Rocco will close its doors by July of 2011.

Stay with timesleader.com and scrantonedition.com for continuing updates as they become available.

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Video correspondent April Barton contributed to this report.