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Pocono News Section
Three Pittston Area Churches to Close
Three Pittston Area Churches to Close - Monday, October 22, 2007 at 5:34PM EST
Reported by: Joe Holden
Monday, Oct 22, 2007 @05:34pm EST
PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY- The process has been underway for months. One pastor oversees four churches and everything that comes with them. When it's all said and done, these parishes will all worship at St. John the Evangelist.
A meeting is scheduled for Monday evening to update parishioners on this tedious process. This spring will see the closing of three Roman Catholic parishes in the Pittston area.
The decision was made months ago to combine St. John the Baptist, St. Casimir and St. Joseph in Port Griffith with St. John the Evangelist.
For the last year, the four churches have existed as one community under one pastor. Monsignor John Bendik tells WBRE News 6 committees have been working through the details of historic preservation and transition.
St. Casimir's will close April 6, St. Joseph on May 18, followed by St. John the Baptist on June 29.
Each church is unique, with its own customs and each still identifies with the community it was founded by. St. Joseph, known as the ‘Pennies From Heaven’ church is Polish, St. John the Baptist – Slovak, and St. Casimir - Lithuanian.
Between the four parishes, there are 7 masses a weekend with three priests, an apparent overload that lead local administrators to consider the process of closing the churches.
Monsignor Bendik explains the process has included thorough input and oversight by members of each parish.
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