Parishioners of several Catholic places of worship in the Levittown area will learn the fate of their churches this weekend.
Officials from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia told LevittownNow.com that parish consolidations will be announced at masses Saturday and Sunday.
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The consolidation comes after a self study of 46 parishes throughout the region – 9 in the Levittown area.
The study by the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee was part of an effort to measure if parishes had “the resources necessary to accomplish their roles in the mission of Christ while remaining sustainable and vibrant faith communities.” The archdiocese said the study looked at demographic, financial and spiritual activity followed by consultation with parish leadership and parishioners. Over the past decade, many area Catholic churches have been faced with declining donations and attendance.
Below is a list of the local Catholic parishes that were part of the review:
- Saint Ann, Bristol
- Saint Mark, Bristol
- Saint Thomas Aquinas, Croydon
- Immaculate Conception BVM, Levittown
- Our Lady of Grace, Penndel
- Queen of the Universe, Levittown
- Saint Frances Cabrini, Fairless Hills
- Saint Joseph the Worker, Fallsington
- Saint Michael the Archangel, Levittown
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Recommendations by the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee show Saint Ann parish in Bristol could merge with nearby Saint Mark. It also showed Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in Bensalem could merge with St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Croydon and Saint Joseph the Worker in Falls could merge with Saint Frances Cabrini. There has also been talk that Immaculate Conception in Bristol Township could join with Queen of the Universe in Middletown.
Sources close to the church say Saint Ann would remain open as a place for traditional festivals, weddings, funerals and similar events.
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Earlier this year, the archdiocese sold a portion of land at the Saint Joseph the Worker property. The sale price, exact amount of land, buyer and settlement date are currently unknown. It is not clear if that move will play a role in the committee’s reccomondation.
The archdiocese said on their website that ““no parish merger is identical.” They added that a team will help parishes merge and develop a plan that addresses the needs of each church community.
The Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee was made up of lay persons, priests and church staff.
