The sanctuary at St. Joseph’s in Summit Hill was so full this past Sunday that the Rev. James Burdess remarked that there were probably more people than at the church’s Christmas Eve service.

But the faithful who had to stand through services would arguably have rather been attending their own parish. Sunday marked the first week since the Diocese of Allentown officially closed St. Katharine Drexel in Lansford and St. Francis of Assisi in Nesquehoning, merging them into St. Joseph’s.Meanwhile, the members of those two parishes continue to appeal to the Catholic church to keep their two schools open — using a nun who is also an attorney.Members of St. Katharine’s, which was also home to the last Catholic elementary school in the Panther Valley area, are working on an appeal to Rome to ask the Vatican to overturn Bishop John O. Barres’ decrees — the documents making the closures official. They already asked Barres to rescind the decrees himself, which he replied to on July 5 and said that he would not.St. Francis of Assisi is still waiting for a response from Barres.“We’ve taken exception to all the points he has made in the decree,” parishoner Steve Behun said. “We’re working with our canon lawyer — preparing counterarguments to the clergy in Rome to try and appeal.”Once they’ve completed their submission to the Vatican, parishioners will send it to Rome via the Apostolic Nunciature of the United States, essentially the Vatican’s ambassador.The appeal process should protect the church from being demolished, or having any items removed by the diocese. But the lawyer, Sister Kate Kuenstler, has concerns that the diocese will begin selling off artifacts from the church during the appeal process. She warned the diocese of such in a letter.“It is unlawful to enact your decree until the Congregation for the Clergy issues a final decision,” she wrote. “It is also unlawful to sell property while litigation at the Vatican is in process.”In the meantime, church members are trying to raise money to help fund the appeal effort. They will be represented at this weekend’s Ethnic Festival in Lansford. The former cooks from the church will have food for sale to help save the church.“Stop on out, meet the group, eat and socialize and support the appeal process to try and save the church and the schools,” Behun said.Direct donations are also being accepted. Checks can be mailed to Coal Region Catholics for Change, c/o Lisa Stefanick, 616 E. Front St., Lansford, PA, 18232.