Three Springfield parishes are the latest in a series of Roman Catholic parishes directed by officials in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to engage in “self-studies” that will determine their futures. In the last two years, eight Delaware County parishes have been closed and their members have been directed to attend or “merge with” nearby parishes.
On Sunday, archdiocesan officials announced that the Delaware County parishes currently under study in “Parish Planning Area 330” as part of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Parish Planning Initiative are St. Francis of Assisi Church, Holy Cross Church and St. Kevin Church, all in Springfield. St. Kevin Parish Grade School was closed in 2011 because of declining enrollment and increasing debt, according to archdiocesan officials.
One persistent rumor for the 54-year-old school’s closure was that archdiocesan officials wanted to sell or lease the property to Crozer-Keystone Health System, which owns the neighboring Springfield Hospital and Healthplex exercise facility on busy Route 320.
“It is a rumor and there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to substantiate it. There have been no discussions or meetings regarding the sale and/or rental of the building and/or property at all. This issue is not on the table,” said archdiocesan spokesman Kenneth Gavin in June 2011.
St. Kevin students were directed by archdiocesan officials to attend St. Francis of Assisi Grade School. Holy Cross Parish Grade School also remains open.
Forty-seven out of the archdiocese’s 266 parishes in its five-county region have closed in the three years since the parish sustainability self-studies began as a result of a 2010 proposal by former Philadelphia Archbishop Cardinal Justin Rigali.
“It involves a review of information related to demographic, financial and spiritual activity followed by consultation with parish leadership, parishioners and the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee. Finally, recommendations are made for the future. In some cases, these recommendations may involve parish mergers. In other cases, there may be no change in parish structures, but would include a plan to assure future sustainability and pastoral vibrancy,” said archdiocesan officials in a prepared statement.
Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput is expected to deliver his decision on the parishes’ fates next spring. Decisions for Delaware County parish mergers in 2013 and this year were both delivered the last weekend of May.
Since 2013, Delaware County parishes that serve nearly 208,600 Roman Catholics have been reduced from 46 to 38. For now, Chaput is allowing the church buildings to be used as worship sites, but the former parishes’ assets, debts, property and sacramental records are being managed by the parishes with which they merge.
Parishes that Chaput directed to be closed as of July 1, 2013, were St. Louis Church in Yeadon, St. Alice Church in Upper Darby, St. Cyril of Alexandria Church in East Lansdowne, Immaculate Conception of Lourdes Church in Marcus Hook and Holy Saviour Church in Lower Chichester. Chaput directed St. Louis to merge with Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Darby, St. Alice with St. Laurence Parish in Upper Darby, St. Cyril of Alexandria with St. Philomena Parish in Lansdowne, and Holy Saviour and Immaculate Conception with St. John Fisher Parish in Upper Chichester.
Parishes closed as of last July 1 were: Notre Dame de Lourdes in Ridley Township, whose members were directed to attend Our Lady of Peace Church in the Milmont Park section of Ridley Township; St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish in Tinicum, whose members were sent to St. Gabriel Church in Norwood; and Holy Spirit Parish in Sharon Hill, whose members were sent to St. George Church in Glenolden.
The studies are led by the pastors in conjunction with parish leaders, parishioners, and the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee. Factors considered include shifts in Catholic populations, concentrated density of parishes in a limited geographic area, history of declining Mass attendance and receiving of the sacraments, economic challenges, facilities and availability of clergy.
“It is hoped that the end result will be the strongest possible parishes that are poised for stability, growth and service to God’s people now and far into the future throughout the five-county archdiocese,” said archdiocesan officials.
In the majority of cases, the regional bishop and the dean meet with the pastors, as well as their pastoral and finance councils to hear their concerns and receive their recommendations, according to archdiocesan officials. The Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee shares all final proposals with the Council of Priests and the College of Consultors for their review before final approval by the archbishop.
Members of Notre Dame Church have appealed the closure of their 3,527-member parish to the Vatican, citing the facts that, unlike Our Lady of Peace, the parish is financially solvent and has a thriving grade school. Also, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Catholic Social Services built and opened a Don Guanella residence for eight developmentally disabled men on the Notre Dame campus in June. In the summer, archdiocesan officials had proposed tearing down the Notre Dame rectory and building three more Don Guanella residences on the property, but apparently abandoned the idea when they met resistance from Ridley Township commissioners.
The closures of Holy Saviour and Immaculate Conception at the end of June 2013 eliminated the remaining industrial riverfront parishes between Chester and the Delaware state line.
