The Catholic community in Plum, Pennsylvania, is witnessing the closure of a longtime place of worship, the St. Januarius Catholic Church. Set to close its doors on September 23, as part of the Holy Family Parish, the church is succumbing to the financial strain of its needed repairs, as confirmed in a letter from Bishop David Zubik. According to a report by CBS News Pittsburgh, a new roof, boiler, and gas line with a combined price tag of around $250,000, exceed the parish's budget constraints.
Prioritizing the preservation of history, Bishop Zubik detailed that significant artifacts, including stained glass windows and sacred items, will be removed from the building. After being established in 1925 and standing as a beacon since its completion in 1959, this decision, as explained in a TribLive article, comes after discussions and a pastor's recommendation following assemblies in June. Despite the closure, the care of souls is expected to continue unhindered, as the parishioners will gather at neighboring churches within the Holy Family Parish.
The first mass echoes back to November 1952, forging a history, that isn't merely constructed of mortar and stained glass, but also of the lives it has welcomed through its doors. The sacred ground has witnessed baptisms, marriages, and farewells. St. Januarius merged with several other churches to form the Holy Family Parish back in July 2020, showcasing an evolution of faith communities adapting to changing times.
Regular churchgoers and the wider community in Plum are now set to distribute themselves among the remaining avenues of worship within the parish, such as St. Irenaeus in Oakmont and St. John the Baptist, among others listed in the decrees.
