The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has announced the relegation of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Chester, Delaware County. The church will no longer serve as a worship site of Saint Katharine Drexel Parish and will close as a Roman Catholic church.

The decision was made by Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez, who issued a Canonical Decree stating that the church building will be designated for profane but not sordid use, effective March 1, 2024. This means that it will no longer be used for worship and will be closed as a Roman Catholic church.

The announcement was made to Saint Katharine Drexel parishioners at all Masses over the weekend. The official canonical decree can be found on the website of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

The request to close the worship site followed the procedure outlined in Canon Law. It originated from the pastor of the parish, along with the parish pastoral and finance councils, after a period of study and consultation. The request was then reviewed by the Archdiocesan Council of Priests and presented to Archbishop Pérez, who made the final decision.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary church building has not been regularly used for liturgical purposes since 2002. In recent years, it has only been utilized for worship on two occasions. Requests for baptisms, weddings, and funerals at the church have significantly diminished, with no baptisms being celebrated there since 2017.

Saint Katharine Drexel Parish has made efforts to maintain the church building, but the costs of ongoing and deferred maintenance have placed a significant financial strain on the parish. The roof of the building is damaged, and other structures on the property have mold and water damage. The parish cannot afford the necessary repairs without jeopardizing its own solvency.

The future disposition of the Immaculate Heart of Mary church building will be determined by the pastor in consultation with the parish pastoral and finance councils. The goal is to ensure the continued viability and sustainability of the parish.

For further information, please contact the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Source:

- Archdiocese of Philadelphia