Bronx Church, in Latest Round of Closures, Holds Final Mass

By
Sean Carlson
WNYC News | Jul 27, 2015

Hundreds of parishioners attended the final mass at the Our Lady of Grace Catholic church in the northeastern Bronx Sunday.

During his sermon, Father Rudy Gonzalez said he was "thrilled" to see the church so full, adding it reminded him of what the parish once was.

The closure is one of seven announced in May by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. The churches are set to officially close their doors this Saturday, Aug. 1.

The latest round of church closures is in addition to the 30 announced in November of last year. The archdiocese says the closures are necessary due to lagging attendance and a shortage of priests, among other reasons.

The Our Lady of Grace church was in operation for 91 years.

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