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This past weekend, the merger of the parishes of Sacred Heart and St. Francis of Assisi, both in Newburgh, was announced, as was the merger of the parishes of St. Mary-St. Joseph and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Poughkeepsie.
In Newburgh, Sacred Heart will be designated as the new parish church. Masses and the sacraments will continue to be celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi. The pastor, Father William Damroth, will, at this time, remain and reside at St. Francis of Assisi.
In Poughkeepsie, St. Mary-St. Joseph will be designated as the new parish church. Masses and sacraments will continue to be celebrated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
In both cases, the mergers will become effective July 1. They are part of the archdiocesan pastoral planning process known as Making All Things New.
The official decrees explaining the mergers were published on the archdiocesan website, archny.org, Feb. 25. Letters explaining the mergers were sent to the parishes involved by Auxiliary Bishop John J. O’Hara, vicar for planning. Auxiliary Bishop Peter Byrne read the letter Feb. 25 during Masses at the Poughkeepsie churches, and Eileen Mulcahy, director of planning, also was present. Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Walsh read the letter during Masses at the Newburgh churches.
