Archdiocese keeps two Mt. Airy parishes open

Two Catholic parishes in the city’s Mt. Airy section are safe from closure for now.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia recommended late last year that St. Therese of the Child Jesus and St. Madeline Sophie close as part of its Parish Pastoral Planning Initiative, a restructuring plan that looks to address financial woes, demographic shifts and declines in weekly Mass attendance, among other things.

The Archdiocese announced on Sunday that both parishes will remain open at least through part of 2013. Officials will further study St. Therese and St. Madeline beginning in September with a final decision scheduled for the spring of 2013.

All 267 parishes in the Archdiocese will continue to be examined with more announcements expected in the fall of 2012 and the spring of 2013 and 2014.

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