Even though St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Lansford has closed, members have not stopped their fight to reopen its doors.

The group recently got word that the Vatican is looking into their case after they hired a lawyer to represent them.The Diocese of Allentown consolidated St. Katharine with two other churches in the Panther Valley at the end of July, ending Masses after 125 years.But members of the parish didn't agree with Bishop John O. Barres' decision, and sent a petition to the Vatican asking them to take up their case.In late August, they received a letter from the cardinal who leads the Congregation for Clergy.Beniamino Cardinal Stella wrote that his office will review their petition.The petition is part of an effort by Catholics in the Panther Valley to oppose the diocese's plan to close St. Katharine Drexel's, St. Francis of Assisi in Nesquehoning and Our Lady of the Angels Academy."They have accepted our appeals," Steve Behun, a St. Katharine's member, said. "They're saying, 'we agree you did everything correctly to move your recourse forward.' "The decision doesn't mean that the Vatican is leaning one way or the other regarding the petition. The actual appeal could take some time to hear.Behun said that the diocese attempted to have the petition thrown out because it wasn't submitted on time, but they were unsuccessful.The group has hired a canon lawyer - a lawyer who deals with the regulations of the Catholic church.She told the group that appeals can take as little as a year, and as long as seven years to be completed."The bishop is trying to support the decision he's made - we're showing our counterarguments," Behun said.The diocese also received a letter from Rome regarding the appeal, spokesman Matt Kerr said."The diocese received a similar letter from the Vatican Congregation for Clergy. We will be presenting material to the congregation for its review. We then await the Vatican's eventual ruling," Kerr said on Thursday.In the meantime, the former members of the parish are trying to keep its memory alive even though they aren't allowed inside the building. The parish was officially consolidated into St. Joseph's Parish in Summit Hill. Many parishioners have joined that congregation, while others have gone to other area churches.Members of St. Katharine's are planning a prayer service on Sept. 25.That is the 125th anniversary of St. Michael's, the parish that gave way to St. Katharine's during the last consolidation in 2008. The site of the prayer service hasn't been finalized.Behun said that former St. Katharine's members will also have a food stand at Lansford Alive's Fall Festival, scheduled for Sept. 24. St. Katharine's members will be cooking ethnic food including halupki and halushki.They also continue to meet weekly to discuss fundraising to help save the church.To learn more about the group, look up SOS Coal Regions Churches and Schools on Facebook.