Sad, Reflective Goodbye From Closing Manayunk Churches

Local historian Sylvia Myers should know a lot about St. Lucy's Church in Manayunk—at age 88 she's spent a bulk of her life coming to the corner of Green Lane and Smick Street for Sunday service.

On July 1, Myers and many parishoners at , and Catholic Churches gathered for the final time to say goodbye to their closing churches. Myers baked a cake to honor the church's passing.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia had decided financially or through attendance, and Sunday marked the final services before the churches merge into and .

Each of three churches was founded more than 100 years ago as ethnic parishes for Polish (St. Josaphat), Italian (St. Lucy) and German (St. Mary) immigrants. Although the final mass certainly stirred somber feelings for Myers, she said she knew the time would eventually come when the churches would close.

"Yes, I'm sad. I helped build this church. I came here with my husband every week. To see it close is sad," she said. "But progress and time never stop."

Tom Taylor may lack the tenure at St. Lucy's as the octogenarian, but his family has a long-time background at the church. He grew up at St. Bridget's in East Falls, and joined the Manayunk parish five years ago. 

"It's been a long time coming, but I've been so impressed with the happy spin our church has put on this—especially the seniors," said Taylor, who is studying with the archdiocese's permanent deacon program.

"It's sad, but we're mindful of the reality that five churches in this neighborhood don't work anymore... Thank God this isn't the last church closing, and we still have places to worship Jesus—which is the ultimate point," he said.

Taylor, like a few others interviewed Sunday, indicated he would join Church in Andorra—not the remaining Manayunk parishes. Living in Roxborough, Taylor's choice revolved around proximity.

Others, like Bill McDevitt from St. Josaphat's, preferred IHM for its easy parking. Without the historical ties to his native church, Zinni didn't see the point in struggling to mass.

After the Polish church's last mass, he described the service as "beautiful."

"It's just so sad. This church has kept updating. It doesn't seem fair," he said.

Like McDevitt, Bob Zinni's kept St. Josaphat's part of his life for a half century. He summed up the closings of all three churches.

"I married my wife here 50 years ago, and many people came and went. It was certainly packed today. But if there were this many people here every week, it wouldn't be closing," Zinni said.

The churches have a last hurrah Wednesday when members from all three parishes . In addition, St. Mary's will host its annual picnic July 7—read more about it here.