Parishioners of
Roman Catholic Church learned during Masses over the weekend that those weekend services will be moving to St. Bernard Church beginning Saturday.
Our Lady of Mercy, however, will remain open for certain liturgies throughout the year,
spokesman Matt Kerr said today.
Kerr said use of the South Side Easton church, formerly St. Joseph's, is being cut back
. The parish has been unable to raise the money toward the repairs.
Kerr said the Rev. Deogratias Rwegasira, church pastor, made a recommendation to
after Rwegasira consulted with the parish council. Barres granted the change in Mass schedule.
Beginning Saturday, weekend Masses will be held at the former St. Bernard’s, 132 S. Fifth St.
The former St. Joseph’s building will be used for baptisms, weddings and funerals, Kerr said. In addition, the parish plans to celebrate Masses during holy days and parish feasts, including Sept. 24 for Our Lady of Mercy and March 19 for St. Joseph.
Kerr said the former St. Joseph’s repairs were needed so the church could be “used to its fullest.”
He said damage to the church, principally water infiltration that is creating issues with the stone exterior, was not deemed unsafe by engineers.
Out of $3 million needed for repairs, parishioners had raised about $80,000 as of May. Kerr did not have an update on a fundraising amount.
Our Lady of Mercy was formed in 2008 after a consolidation involving St. Bernard’s, St. Michael’s in Downtown Easton and the former St. Joseph’s parish at 129 Davis St.
St. Joseph’s building was dedicated in 1918; the parish was started in 1852. St. Bernard’s, which opened in 1829, was considered the oldest church in the Lehigh Valley.