Local News Reports on Possible Church Closings in Phoenixville

Local news station FOX29 reported Monday that two churches in Phoenixville, Sacred Heart on Church Street and Holy Trinity on Dayton Street, may close.

A reporter interviewed two parishioners from Sacred Heart and noted that a letter (attached above) from the Rev. Michael W. Rzonca appeared in a Nov. 13 bulletin. In the letter, Rzonca said he received notice on Oct. 18 that the parishes will close. He cited priest shortages and changing demographics as the reasons for the closures. The letter goes on to say:

When the parishes will close is still unknown, so until then we expect to continue having Masses, baptisms, weddings, funerals and fundraisers as usual. Once the closing date arrives, no church services would be permitted, except for funerals, weddings already scheduled, and possibly for a Patronal Feast of the Church. However, once closed there will be no Masses, baptisms, First Communions or confirmation.

In the FOX29 report, parishioners complained that they can’t get a straight answer from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia concerning the possible closures. The reporter stated that the news station contacted a representative from the Archdiocese who said, “There are no concrete plans to close either church,” and said a study is underway to look at the effects of priest shortages and demographic changes.

All area churches are part of the Archdiocese’s Parish Pastoral Planning. To view 2010 reports for both Sacred Heart and Holy Trinity, visit the Pastoral Planning website. For both churches, the reports from 2010 show that while overall registered population increased in the parishes, weekend attendance in particular dropped at both churches by 16 percent from 2006 to 2010. Other measured areas, like infant baptism and funerals, were also down during the four-year period.

To view the full video and story from FOX29, visit the station’s website.