Still Running Off at the Keyboard

Four Catholic parishes have moved ahead with decisions to close or merge even as the rest of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese is in the early stages of a regional planning process that could result in massive downsizing.

Bishop Richard Lennon gave St. Henry and St. Catherine parishes in Cleveland permission to merge with St. Timothy in Garfield Heights to create a new parish called Holy Spirit.

The final Masses at the three parishes will be held at the end of December. The first Sunday Mass of the new Holy Spirit church will be Jan. 6. The new parish will be housed in the St. Timothy sanctuary, but a new pastor will be chosen for the parish. The Archbishop Lyke schools at St. Henry and St. Timothy will be unaffected, a spokesman for the three churches said.

Meanwhile, St. Wenceslas in Maple Heights closed its doors. Lennon presided at the final Mass Oct. 28. Members responding to a survey said they planned to disperse among at least seven parishes.

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