Future of Beloved Catholic Church in East Lansdowne Uncertain

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Image of St. Cyril's Roman Catholic Church via Amanda Lynch Titerence.

St. Cyril’s Roman Catholic Church in East Lansdowne is facing uncertain times, since the cost of the urgent repairs it needs exceeds the means of its congregation, writes Katie Park for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

In a recent memo to parishioners, Rev. Paul Castellani notified them that leaks have damaged the interior, preventing entry to the church through the main entrance.

While he did not specify the repair costs, he said it was prohibitive. As a result, he said the church would hold its last Mass on Christmas, but he stopped short of saying the church would shut down.

According to Ken Gavin, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, any decision on closing the church after Christmas Mass would depend on a “request for relegation,” which has not yet been initiated.

In response, current and former parishioners, many from the thriving Haitian community in the borough, are banding together to save the church.

“It’s the pillar, the backbone of East Lansdowne,” said Amanda Lynch Titerence.

Now they have two months to find a way to sustain it.

“For it to fall apart in shambles like this,” she said, “it’s just heartbreaking.”

Read more about St. Cyril’s Roman Catholic Church in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.

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