DUBOIS - The final plans of parish restructuring in the Northern Vicariate of the Catholic Diocese of Erie will take effect this month in 13 northwestern Pennsylvania counties.
In DuBois, the last Sunday Mass at St. Joseph's Church will be on Feb.19, Father Richard Siefer said.
The parish has merged into St. Michael Archangel Catholic, making St. Joseph's a secondary church.
"We don't use the term closed because even though there will be no Sunday Mass, people can have a wedding or funeral there and the church will be open for private prayer," Siefer said.
The final restructuring plan comes after a two-year study of the 116 parishes in the diocese. 19 parish communities throughout the Diocese of Erie will cease to exist. That number includes five in the Northern Vicariate, seven in the Western Vicariate, and seven in the Eastern Vicariate.
The diocese said the dwindling number of priests and the rise in their age was a factor in the decision.
"Right now, the Diocese of Erie has 116 active priests," Siefer said. "Within 8-10 years, we're going to have 79 and in 18-20 years, we're going to have 36."
Since the final plans were released in Sept., Siefer said transition teams have been working wth parishioners to bring people together and seek their advice on Mass schedules.
The decrees for parish restructuring take effect Feb. 13, but parishes have until June 30 to implement the plan fully.
The reconstruction also will affect parishes in Cameron, Elk and Jefferson counties. For the full list, click here.
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