List of local parishes to merge
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has announced a list of parishes to merge in the City of Philadelphia as well as Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks Counties. These will take effect on July 1st.
Bucks County -
Saint Mark and Saint Ann Parishes
Saint Mark (Bristol) and Saint Ann (Bristol) Parishes will merge at the location and keep the name of Saint Mark Parish. The two parishes are located .49 miles from each another. The Saint Ann church building will become a worship site of the newly formed parish.
Saint Charles Borromeo and Our Lady of Fatima Parishes
Saint Charles Borromeo (Bensalem) and Our Lady of Fatima (Bensalem) Parishes will merge at the location and keep the name of Saint Charles Borromeo Parish. The two parishes are located 2.78 miles from each other. The Our Lady of Fatima church building will become a worship site of the newly formed parish.
Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parishes
Saint Thomas Aquinas (Croydon) and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (Bensalem) Parishes will merge at the location and keep the name of Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish. The two parishes are located 1.2 miles from each other. The Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton church building will become a worship site of the newly formed parish.
Saint Frances Cabrini and Saint Joseph the Worker Parishes
Saint Frances Cabrini (Fairless Hills) and Saint Joseph the Worker (Fallsington) Parishes will merge at the location and keep the name of Saint Frances Cabrini Parish. The two parishes are located 3 miles from each other. The Saint Joseph the Worker church building will become a worship site of the newly formed parish.
Queen of the Universe and Immaculate Conception Parishes
Queen of the Universe (Levittown) and Immaculate Conception (Levittown) Parishes will merge at the location and keep the name of Queen of the Universe Parish. The two parishes are located 3 miles from each other. The Immaculate Conception church building will become a worship site of the newly formed parish.
Free Standing Parishes in Bucks County:
As a result of the Parish Area Pastoral Planning initiative, the following will remain free standing parishes in Bucks County at this time:
Our Lady of Grace (Penndel), Saint Michael the Archangel (Levittown) and Saint Ephrem (Bensalem).
Delaware County -
Saint George and Holy Spirit Parishes
Saint George (Glenolden) and Holy Spirit (Sharon Hill) Parishes will merge at the location and keep the name of Saint George Parish. The two parishes are located 1.3 miles from each other. The Holy Spirit church building will become a worship site of the newly formed parish.
Saint Gabriel and Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parishes
Saint Gabriel (Norwood) and Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (Essington) Parishes will merge at the location and keep the name of Saint Gabriel Parish. The two parishes are located 2 miles from each other. The Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque church building will become a worship site of the newly formed parish.
Our Lady of Peace and Notre Dame de Lourdes Parishes
Our Lady of Peace (Milmont Park) and Notre Dame de Lourdes (Swarthmore) Parishes will merge at the location and keep the name of Our Lady of Peace Parish. The two parishes are located 1.4 miles from each other. The Notre Dame de Lourdes church building will become a worship site of the newly formed parish.
Free Standing Parishes in Delaware County:
As a result of the Parish Area Pastoral Planning initiative, the following will remain free standing parishes in Delware County at this time:
Sacred Heart (Clifton Heights), Saint Eugene (Primos), Saint Joseph (Collingdale), Our Lady of Perpetual (Morton), Our Lady of Fatima (Secane), Saint Rose of Lima (Eddystone) and Saint Madeline (Ridley Park)
Montgomery County -
Sacred Heart, Saint Augustine and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parishes
Sacred Heart (Swedesburg), Saint Augustine (Bridgeport) and Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Bridgeport) Parishes will merge at the location and keep the name of Sacred Heart Parish. Sacred Heart is located less than a half mile from the other two churches. The Saint Augustine and Our Lady of Mount Carmel church buildings will become worship sites of the newly formed parish. When this merger becomes effective, Sacred Heart Parish will no longer be a personal parish but become territorial parish
Saint Matthew, Saint Gertrude, Saint Mary and Saints Cosmas and Damian Parishes
Saint Matthew (Conshohocken), Saint Gertrude (West Conshohocken), Saint Mary (Conshohocken) and Saints Cosmas and Damian (Conshohocken) Parishes will merge at the location and keep the name of Saint Matthew Parish. Saint Matthew is located less than 1 mile from the other three churches. The Saint Gertrude, Saint Mary, and Saints Cosmas and Damian church buildings will become worship sites of the newly formed parish.
Queen of Peace and Saint John of the Cross Parishes
Queen of Peace (Ardsley) and Saint John of the Cross (Roslyn) Parishes will merge at the location and keep the name of Queen of Peace Parish. The two parishes are located 1.6 miles from each other. The Saint John of the Cross church building will become a worship site of the newly formed parish.
Free Standing Parishes in Montgomery County:
As a result of the Parish Area Pastoral Planning initiative, the following will remain free standing parishes in Montgomery County at this time:
Saint David (Willow Grove), Saint Luke the Evangelist (Glenside) and Mother of Divine Providence (King of Prussia).
City of Philadelphia-
Saint Monica and Saint Edmond Parishes
Saint Monica (South Philadelphia) and Saint Edmond (South Philadelphia) Parishes will merge at the location and keep the name of Saint Monica Parish. The two parishes are located less than one mile from each other. The Saint Edmond church building will become a worship site of the newly formed parish.
Saint Richard and Holy Spirit Parishes
Saint Richard (South Philadelphia) and Holy Spirit (South Philadelphia) Parishes will merge at the location and keep the name of Saint Richard Parish. The two parishes are located one mile from each other. The Holy Spirit church building will become a worship site of the newly formed parish.
Free Standing Parishes in the City of Philadelphia:
As a result of the Parish Area Pastoral Planning initiative, the following will remain free standing parishes in the City of Philadelphia at this time:
Saint Charles Borromeo (South Philadelphia), Saint Gabriel (South Philadelphia), Saint Rita of Cascia (South Philadelphia) and Saint Thomas Aquinas (South Philadelphia).
It is expected that additional parishes will be part of future mergers beginning in the Fall of 2015 with decisions expected in the Spring of 2016. The Archdiocese says announcements will be made this September in those parishes that will take part.
