The Diocese of Allentown has announced a pastoral plan for the Panther Valley in Carbon County, which will result in the consolidation of three parishes into one and the closing of an elementary school.

The Diocesan Pastoral Planning Commission was asked in January to do an evaluation of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Nesquehoning, St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Lansford and St. Joseph Parish in Summit Hill.

Because of the parishes' role in supporting Our Lady of the Angels Academy in Lansford, it too was to be part of the plan. The aim of the evaluation was to balance all variables and create a sustainable Catholic parish in the region.

The plan, announced this weekend at all Masses in the three parishes, calls for the July 1 consolidation of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Katharine Drexel parishes into St. Joseph Parish, Summit Hill. St. Joseph Church will be retained as the site of the parish. Father James Burdess will be the pastor of the consolidated parish. The Diocesan Shrine of St. Therese of Lisieux in Nesquehoning will continue to be used as it is currently.

This process took into account the financial situation of the three parishes, the relationship of the parishes to the school, the demographic information about the region, the number of priests available for parish ministry, the physical condition and size of the church buildings, and most importantly, the need to provide for the spiritual care of the faithful.

The interconnection between the consolidated Saint Joseph Parish and Our Lady of the Angels Academy then also had to be assessed. While the school enrollment has remained stable for a number of years, the financial forecasts for both the parish and school found insufficient financial resources to maintain both the school and the parish. The loss of over $100,000 in current subsidy from the parishes would have necessitated significant increases in both school tuition and/or fundraising that would not be sustainable each and every year. The tuition increase that would have been necessary to sustain the school without increased parish support would simply have been too cost prohibitive.

These financial concerns along with the loss of the use of the adjacent Saint Katharine Drexel Church, hall, and other facilities were all important considerations. Thus, it was also announced that Our Lady of the Angels Academy will close at the end of the current school year.

The families of the 112 students at the school have received a list of all Catholic elementary schools in Carbon and Schuylkill Counties. Current students of Our Lady of the Angels Academy in Grades K-7 will be eligible for the Catholic Education Continuation Grant of up to $1,500 ($1,000 in 2016-17 and $500 in 2017-18 for first child in the family) for use in elementary schools in the Diocese of Allentown. Second and third children in the family who are currently enrolled at Our Lady of the Angels Academy will be eligible for the Catholic School Continuation Grant at half of the first child grants ($500 in 2016-17 and $250 in 2017-18).

In his letter announcing the pastoral plan, Diocese of Allentown Bishop John Barres said of the school closing, "This decision has not been made easily or without extensive deliberation. This decision is most painful because it affects the most precious gifts that have been entrusted to us, our children. Such feelings truly are understandable. "

And of the consolidation he wrote, "While difficult, this process offers the means to maintain the presence of the Catholic Church in the Panther Valley, and the opportunity to grow and meet the challenges facing the Church in the 21st century."

The pastoral plan was developed by the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Commission and submitted to the Council of Priests and the Diocesan Board of Education for consideration. Both consultative bodies recommended the plan to Bishop Barres who accepted the recommendation.