Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church will reopen for a special Mass next month.
The church, located at 1676 Ruan St. in Frankford, closed on July 1 after 102 years.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia closed the parish and merged it, along with St. Joachim and St. Joan of Arc, into Holy Innocents. The stated reasons included Catholic demographic shifts, a history of declining Mass attendance and sacramental activity, increasing economic challenges and a decrease in clergy.
The church will reopen for a 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Sept. 14, in celebration of Mater Dolorosa’s feast day.
The Rev. Thomas Higgins, pastor at Holy Innocents, is expected to celebrate the Mass. Light refreshments will be served afterward in the parish hall.
DVDs of the June 30 closing Mass will be for sale for $10. To pre-order a DVD, call Lou Altomari at 215–285–2067 or Rose Flemming at 267–934–3287. ••
