By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Ten Catholic parishes and four schools will close in South St. Louis.
Archbishop Raymond Burke's decision was announced Friday in the Archdiocesan newspaper following an 18-month study that began before his tenure.
Spokesman Jamie Allman says the number of Catholics in the city is half what it was in 1970.
"How do you deal with that? You have to consolidate parishes and have to consolidate schools, otherwise you're just keeping parishes open to watch them die and that was something we're not going to do," Allman said.
He says a shortage of priests also contributed.
The parishes include Holy Family, St. Boniface, Sts. Mary and Joseph, Holy Innocents, Immaculate Conception/St. Henry, Resurrection of Our Lord, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, St. Hedwig, St. John Nepomuk, and St. Mary of Victories.
Holy Family will lose both its parish and school. Father Rickey Valleroy says it was not a surprise because of dwindling membership, but he says it's still sad.
"We're 108-year-old parish and it's an awesome parish," Valleroy said. "I love it here; it's been an awesome experience and just love being here, but yet I always keep my heart open to what God's calling us to."
The priest says he's sees it as an opportunity to revitalize the church. Valleroy says parishioners from Holy Cross will now consolidate with St. John Baptist. The closings are expected to take effect July first.
The other schools that will close are Resurrection, St. Anthony, and St. Mary Magdalen.