It was the final day of mass for two local churches that are set to merge.
Saint Joachim in the Frankford section of the city as well as Holy Savior Church in Linwood, Pa. are both merging with other parishes due to dwindling finances and poor attendance. Back on June 2, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced they would merge more than two dozen parishes in Philadelphia and Delaware County.
The mergers are based on several factors, including demographic shifts in Catholic populations, declining Mass attendance and economic challenges.
Holy Savior, founded in 1914, was just six months shy of its 100th birthday prior to the announcement. Many parishioners are heartbroken.
“It means a lot to me because my children went to school here next door,” said Dominica Sennette. “I’ve been going to it for many years. So it’s really a sad thing.”
Holy Savior is slated to merge with Immaculate Reception Parish and John Fisher Parish in Boothwyn.
St. Joachim was the first Catholic Church in Frankford and has been around for 168 years. It’s set to merge with Holy Innocents in the Hunting Park section of the city.
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“When Church is closed, it does destabilize the communities,” said one parishioner.
The final mass for Saint Joachim took place at 10:30 a.m. today while Holy Savior’s took place at 11 a.m.
