Posted December 12, 2022

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced Dec. 11 that Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, Archbishop of Philadelphia, has approved the relegation of the Sacred Heart, original Saint Philip Neri, Holy Trinity, and Saint Peter Claver church buildings to profane but not sordid use effective January 23, 2023.

These formal, canonical designations mean that these buildings will close and no longer be designated as Roman Catholic churches.

Sacred Heart Church (Phoenixville) will no longer serve as a worship site of Saint Ann Parish (Phoenixville) and will close as a Roman Catholic church; the original Saint Philip Neri Church (East Greenville) will close as a Roman Catholic church; Holy Trinity Church (Old City) will no longer serve as a worship site of Old Saint Mary Parish and will close as a Roman Catholic church; and The Saint Peter Claver Church building, which has not been a parish church since 1985, and has not served as an active worship site since 2014, will close as a Roman Catholic church.

A copy of the official canonical decrees regarding the relegations can be found at the links below.

https://archphila.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Sacred-Heart-Church-Phoenixville-Signed-Updated-Decree-of-Relegation.pdf

https://archphila.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Former-Saint-Philip-Neri-Church-East-Greenville-Signed-Decree-of-Relegation.pdf

https://archphila.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Holy-Trinity-Church-Philadelphia-Signed-Decree-of-Relegation.pdf

https://archphila.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Saint-Peter-Claver-Church-Philadelphia-Signed-Decree-of-Relegation.pdf

The formal request to close a worship site typically originates from the pastor of the parish, together with his parish pastoral and finance councils after joint study and consultation. The requests are then reviewed by the Archdiocesan Council of Priests and presented to Archbishop Pérez, who, after a careful review of all supporting factors, makes the final decisions.

The formal request to close the former Saint Peter Claver worship site originated with the Archdiocesan Secretariat for Evangelization.  The request was then reviewed by the Archdiocesan Council of Priests and presented to Archbishop Pérez, who, after a careful review of all supporting factors, made the final decision.

For contextual background and additional information on the announcement, please visit here.

For additional information on the Parish Area Pastoral Planning Initiative in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit here.