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Closure Of Church Serving Deaf Community Saddens Parish - Local News Story - WCAU | Philadelphia
The planned closures of dozens of churches in South Jersey have Catholics at a church serving the deaf and hearing-impaired community reeling.
Last week, the Diocese of Camden announced plans to shut down nearly half of its parishes. In the next two years, 124 parishes will combine to form 66 parishes.
Parishioners at St. Gregory's Catholic Church in Magnolia said they do not know what they will do. For about six years, the church has focused on serving the deaf and hearing-impaired community.
"We're real upset," said Kathy Phillips, whose child is deaf. "This is deaf and hearing together here. This is the ultimate world for us."
She has been a parishioner for 24 years.
St. Gregory's holds special CCD classes and has a dedicated Mass once a week. It is the only Catholic church that holds a weekly service for the hearing impaired. Other parishes may have dedicated Masses once a month or so.
"I just don't want to move again," Steve Finneran, a parishioner for 20 years, said. "I prefer to stay right here. But I don't know where we will go as a deaf community."
Deanna Phillips, a parishioner for five years, said she is disappointed and depressed by the closing of St. Gregory's.
"So I would rather stay here and continue to use this place as our deaf community," she said.
Some people travel nearly an hour every Sunday for Mass.
Some parishioners said they will miss the special attention the most.
"This is their home; this is where they come for support," Patty Caccese said. "They learn values. They learn things they wouldn't get in just a regular hearing church. They wouldn't understand. They have their own culture where it's very important that they stay together."
Caccese, who has a deaf child, said she has belonged to St. Gregory's for six years.
Parishioners will have to travel to Mary Mother of the Church in Bellmawr when the consolidation happens.
A complete list of the churches closing or merging can be found by clicking here.
The planned closures of dozens of churches in South Jersey have Catholics at a church serving the deaf and hearing-impaired community reeling.
Last week, the Diocese of Camden announced plans to shut down nearly half of its parishes. In the next two years, 124 parishes will combine to form 66 parishes.
Parishioners at St. Gregory's Catholic Church in Magnolia said they do not know what they will do. For about six years, the church has focused on serving the deaf and hearing-impaired community.
"We're real upset," said Kathy Phillips, whose child is deaf. "This is deaf and hearing together here. This is the ultimate world for us."
She has been a parishioner for 24 years.
St. Gregory's holds special CCD classes and has a dedicated Mass once a week. It is the only Catholic church that holds a weekly service for the hearing impaired. Other parishes may have dedicated Masses once a month or so.
"I just don't want to move again," Steve Finneran, a parishioner for 20 years, said. "I prefer to stay right here. But I don't know where we will go as a deaf community."
Deanna Phillips, a parishioner for five years, said she is disappointed and depressed by the closing of St. Gregory's.
"So I would rather stay here and continue to use this place as our deaf community," she said.
Some people travel nearly an hour every Sunday for Mass.
Some parishioners said they will miss the special attention the most.
"This is their home; this is where they come for support," Patty Caccese said. "They learn values. They learn things they wouldn't get in just a regular hearing church. They wouldn't understand. They have their own culture where it's very important that they stay together."
Caccese, who has a deaf child, said she has belonged to St. Gregory's for six years.
Parishioners will have to travel to Mary Mother of the Church in Bellmawr when the consolidation happens.
A complete list of the churches closing or merging can be found by clicking here.