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AUSTINTOWN -- The two Roman Catholic churches in Austintown have been instructed to begin discussions on merging, according to a letter from Youngstown Diocese Bishop David Bonnar that was read before the start of Mass on Saturday evening.
Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Joseph Catholic Church parishes are two churches among a number of others in the diocese that will begin merger discussions, which are to be finalized within one year, stated the letter that was read Saturday to the congregation at St. Joseph Church. There was no further discussion.
When asked for confirmation or more details late Saturday, Public Relations and Media Specialist for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown Dennis Biviano stated "Everything is preliminary at this point."
"I can confirm we have parishes who are working together toward a merger," Biviano stated via email. "We have no formal release at this time. That will come in the months that follow after parishes make internal decisions."
As a part of his parish letter, Bishop David J. Bonnar stated "One of my priorities as Bishop of Youngstown has been to walk with our parishes as we explore new ways of living parish life.
"I am more committed than ever to the parish as a wellspring of hope, and yet I know that people are struggling to find hope in parish life itself because it is not what it used to be," Bonnar stated. "As a church, we must discover anew that Christian hope is not fixed; it is dynamic not static, not nostalgic but forward thinking. Ultimately, our deepest hope is in a future beyond our imagination and beyond our time, with the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God. But even in our own finite lifetimes, our hope is in where God is leading us as Church here and now."
The two parishes have shared a pastor for several years. The parochial elementary schools affiliated with each of the parishes closed in past years.
It is unclear at this time what, if any, other parishes in the diocese might also be exploring mergers. The Youngstown Catholic diocese covers six counties: Mahoning, Trumbull, Ashtabula, Columbiana, Portage and Stark.
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