Shenandoah PNCC to Close Doors After Decade-Long Decline (Shenandoah, Pennsylvania)

The Shenandoah Polish National Catholic Church, a 91-year-old congregation, will close its doors after a final Mass on Sunday morning. The service, attended by fewer than 20 people, marked the end of an era for the community. Reverend Robert P. Plichta, the pastor, announced the decision, stating that the parishioners, who had long cared for the church, determined it was necessary to take action due to the increasing burden of maintaining the building.

The bishop of the Central Diocese of the Polish National Catholic Church, The Most Rev. Dr. Anthony A. Mikovsky, is set to deconsecrate the church on Tuesday at 11 a.m. This step follows a decision made by the parish committee last year to close the church in 2014. According to committee chairman Joseph Petrusky, the parishioners own the church, and it is their decision to sell the property. The congregation has faced declining numbers, with Petrusky estimating only five individuals regularly paying dues, which he said is insufficient to sustain the church.

Petrusky noted that the parishioners have been working to prepare for the closure, with plans to sell the building to the Shenandoah Mennonite Church. The Mennonite representatives were not available for comment. The sale includes the removal of all interior elements, with the hope of completing the process by the end of March or early April. Petrusky mentioned that statues and icons will be donated to other Polish National Catholic churches nationwide, though recipients must arrange for and cover the cost of shipping.

As an example, Plichta cited the main altar, side altar, and high-relief icons depicting the Stations of the Cross, which will be donated to the Guardian Angel Polish National Catholic Church in Los Angeles. The church’s history dates back to the early 1920s, when residents sought guidance from Most Rev. Franciszek Hodur in Scranton. An organizational meeting was held in May 1922, with the presence of Reverend Leon Grochowski and Reverend Jan Gritenas, who helped establish the Holy Ghost Polish National Catholic Church.

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