Archdiocese makes two Philadelphia parish closures official
Cardinal Justin Rigali has accepted recommendations to close two Philadelphia parishes that have already been sharing pastors with adjacent churches.
Effective last Friday, Immaculate Conception Parish in Northern Liberties and St. Casimir Parish in South Philadelphia merged into nearby parishes due to a decline in registered parishioners.
Immaculate Conception, with a 54 percent parishioner decrease between 2009 and 2010, has merged with St. Michael Parish at Second and Jefferson streets. St. Casimir has merged with St. Andrew at 19th and Wallace streets after the South Philly parish saw a 7 percent decline in membership.
The closing parishes have shared their pastors with St. Michael and St. Andrew for more than a decade, and both closing parishes will continue church services.
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