LITTLE VILLAGE — More Catholic parishes are set to merge in Little Village as the Archdiocese of Chicago continues to consolidate churches across the region.
On Thursday, the archdiocese announced Epiphany Roman Catholic Church, 2524 S. Keeler Ave., and Good Shepard Catholic Church, 2735 S Kolin Ave., would merge into a single parish.
Effective July 1, the new parish will be led by Father Orlando Flores Orea. Both churches will be used for mass, but Epiphany will serve as the designated the parish church, according to the archdiocese.
The united parish will be known as the Good Shepherd and Epiphany Parish until a permanent name is decided, archdiocese officials said in a statement.
The Epiphany or St. Agnes of Bohemia schools will remain open.
St. Agnes of Bohemia Catholic Church, previously considered for the merger, will remain a separate parish, the archdiocese said.
The archdiocese has previously cited demographic changes, morphing views on religion and a shortage of available priests as reasons for the mergers and church closings.
In 2019, the Archdiocese of Chicago consolidated three other Little Village churches into one parish. St. Roman Church and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, 2434 S. California Ave., closed and merged with Our Lady of Tepeyac parish and school at 3047 W. Cermak Road.
RELATED: Little Village Parishioners Mourn Church Closings As Archdiocese Plans To Merge 3 Parishes Into 1
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