UPDATED: Archdiocese of Philadelphia Announces Parishes to Merge

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will close and merge 16 area churches, according to media reports. After the closures, the archdiocese will have 219 parishes, down from 266, the Inquirer reported.

Five of the affected Catholic churches are located in Lower Bucks County and six are located in Montgomery County. The Bucks County churches, located in Bristol, Bensalem and Falls, will merge with nearby parishes, the Bucks County Courier Times reported.

According to information reported by 6 ABC, the following changes in will take effect July 1:

Bucks County

Saint Mark and Saint Ann, both in Bristol, will merge and keep the name Saint Mark. The worship site will be the Saint Ann church building.

Saint Charles Borromeo and Our Lady of Fatima, both in Bensalem, will merge and keep the name Saint Charles Borromeo The worship site will be the Our Lady of Fatima church building.

Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton will merge and keep the name Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton church building will become the worship site

Saint Frances Cabrini and Saint Joseph the Worker will and keep the name of Saint Frances Cabrini. The Saint Joseph the Worker church building will become the worship site.

Queen of the Universe and Immaculate Conception, both in Levittown, will merge and keep the name of Queen of the Universe. The Immaculate Conception church will be the worship site.

Delaware County 
Saint George and Holy Spirit will merge and keep the name of Saint George Parish. The Holy Spirit church building will be the worship site.

Saint Gabriel and Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque will merge and keep the name of Saint Gabriel Parish. The Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque church building will be the worship site.

Our Lady of Peace and Notre Dame de Lourdes will merge and keep the name of Our Lady of Peace Parish. The Notre Dame de Lourdes church building will be the worship site.

Montgomery County 
Sacred Heart, Saint Augustine and Our Lady of Mount Carmel will merge at the location and keep the name Sacred Heart Parish. The Saint Augustine and Our Lady of Mount Carmel church buildings will become worship sites.

Saint Matthew, Saint Gertrude, Saint Mary and Saints Cosmas and Damian will merge and keep the name of Saint Matthew Parish. The Saint Gertrude, Saint Mary, and Saints Cosmas and Damian church buildings will become worship sites.

Queen of Peace and Saint John of the Cross will merge and keep the name of Queen of Peace Parish. The worship site will be Saint John of the Cross church.

Philadelphia
Saint Monica and Saint Edmond will merge and keep the name of Saint Monica Parish. The Saint Edmond church building will be the worship site.

Saint Richard and Holy Spirit will merge and keep the name of Saint Richard Parish. The Holy Spirit church building will be the worship site.