Archdiocese merges three parishes in Germantown

When Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput’s announcement that a dozen parishes will be merged into five went public at masses this weekend, Catholics in Germantown learned they had been affected.

“Restructuring our parishes will be a challenge for many families and individuals. Change is rarely easy. But we do need to take these steps to help every parish more effectively promote the Gospel and strengthen the future of our Catholic life together,” said Chaput in the statement.

As of July 1, Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Immaculate Conception Parish and Saint Vincent de Paul Parish will merge and keep the name of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, according to NewsWorks content partner NBC10.

“The Archdiocese says that with the exception of Saint Francis of Assisi and Immacuate Conception in Gemantown, all the churches will be maintained as worship sites,” according to the report. “In the case of the two Germantown churches, the Archdiocese cites the need for ‘serious physical improvements [to both buildings] for which the parishes have no funds.'”