Joliet Diocese Announces Parish Restructuring Plan for Joliet Parishes
Citing changes including a reduced number of incoming priests, an aging population of priests, and costs associated with maintaining historic church buildings, Joliet Bishop announced a "targeted restructuring decision" for parishes in Joliet.
The decision grouped parishes and then determined which buildings would remain as worship sites and which building would close.
For the grouping consisting of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Joseph (in Joliet rather than Rockdale) St. Bernard, St. Mary Magdalene, and St. Anthony, it was determined:
-Our Lady of Mount Carmel will remain in its current structure.
-The remaining parishes will be merged into one with two worship sites, St. Mary Magdalene and St. Joseph.
-St. Bernard and St. Anthony will close.
A view of St. Joseph Church in downtown Joliet: https://youtube.com/shorts/6aLZFJvxVDU?si=ESw5nbVcM7Xg_IdT
For the grouping consisting of St. Paul the Apostle, St. Jude, St. Patrick, Sacred Heart and St. Joseph (Rockdale), it was determined that these parishes will be merged and that St. Paul and St. Patrick will be worship sites. St. Joseph in Rockdale will be a mission of the new parish. St. Jude and Sacred Heart will close.
A view of Sacred Heart Church:
For the grouping consisting of Cathedral of St. Raymond, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary Nativity, Holy Cross, St. Ambrose (Crest Hill) and St. Anne (Crest Hill), it was determined that:
"The Cathedral of St. Raymond will remain in its current structure.
St. John the Baptist will remain in its current structure. When the Franciscans can no longer staff St. John’s, the parish will be amalgamated into St. Raymond. At that time, a decision will be made as to whether St. John’s Church remains open as a worship site.
St. Mary Nativity will become a territorial parish, but otherwise will remain in its current structure. Holy Cross will be become a personal mission of St. Mary Nativity serving the Polish community.
St. Ambrose and St. Anne will unite in an amalgamation; St. Anne will be extinguished and the church will close."