Saint John Catholic diocese to shutter nine churches by September

The Saint John Diocese has announced plans to close nine of its churches by this September as part of a revitalization and realignment project.

Starting on Monday, parishes will begin clustering together to form new parishes — with them being declared newly merged parishes on September 1.

The decision caps off a planning process that has lasted nearly a decade and will see its 58 parishes be reduced to just 27.

READ MORE: Moncton’s Catholic churches face possible closures

Saint John is set to bear the greatest financial burden of the revitalization project. The 23 parishes in the region will merge into 13 parishes and five churches will be closed.

Those include:

• Holy Rosary Catholic Church
• Holy Trinity Church
• St. Peter’s Church
• Saint John the Baptist Church
• St. Augustine Church

In Fredericton, 19 parishes will be merged into eight and the Our Lady of Fatima Church will be closed.

In the Miramichi region 16 parishes will be merged into six. Three of the region’s churches will close as a result of the decision.

They are:

• Church of the Holy Family in Barryville
• ​Church of All Saints in Millbank
• Our Lady of Good Counsel in Millerton

WATCH: Catholic church in Moncton holds last mass on Easter Sunday

“Bishop [Robert] Harris recognizes that these proposals will not satisfy everyone and that some people may be upset and even angry,” the release read.

“Others will welcome with relief what they see as much needed measures.”