Pocono News Section

Catholic Church Closes in Throop

Catholic Church Closes in Throop - Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 3:17PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Sunday, Nov 15, 2009 @ 03:17pm EST

THROOP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Throop held its first mass in 1918 and its final mass Sunday morning.

"I'm going to miss getting up in the morning and opening the door," said Ruth Miklus, who lives next door and opens the church every day. "Isn't that nice to be able to start your morning that way, to go in and say 'hello' to God?"

Miklus has been doing so for at least 50 years, when she went with her mother to unlock the doors.

The people of St. Bridget will join with St. John's and St. Anthony's to become the Blessed Sacrament Parish.

"And it's a community that's already been together. They're neighbors, and they work together, and their kids go to school together," said Fr. Jeff Walsh. "So, I think it's going to be a merger that'll be well received."

"Everybody was married here, and buried from here," said Sam Runco, who's gone to church here for 89 years. "Very tough, it's all my life."

Even tougher, says Ruth Miklus, was locking the door for the last time.

"I am devastated," she said. "That's the only thing I can tell you about that. It's the hardest thing I've ever done."

She placed a purple ribbon on the church. It's a sign of hopefulness, and of a new routine with Blessed Sacrament. The inaugural liturgy will be held December 13th at the St. Anthony's site.