Hundreds attend final Mass at 129-year-old Immaculate Conception Church

By SEAN BARRON

news@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

After 128 years, Immaculate Conception Church has closed its doors for good, but its heart and congregation will have a new home.

“It’s difficult, but we knew it was inevitable,” Julia Palazzo, a 61-year member, said after the 10 a.m. and final Mass on Sunday at the church, 811 Oak St., on the city’s East Side.

“It’s very difficult to do this.”

On Jan. 9, Immaculate Conception and Sacred Heart of Jesus Church merged as part of the Diocese of Youngstown’s Parish Reconfiguration and Implementation Plan. The plan was developed last year to consolidate or close certain Catholic churches that had been losing parishioners, money or both.

The result is the newly merged Immaculate Conception-Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, which will celebrate its first Mass at 8:30 a.m. next Sundayat the new location, 400 Lincoln Park Drive on the East Side.

Palazzo served about 32 years as a secretary for the Immaculate Conception school across the street from the church. Palazzo also organized and hosted card parties and other events to raise money for the church, she fondly recalled.

The Boardman woman said she has bittersweet memories related to Immaculate Conception, established in 1882.

Her three children were baptized and received their first confirmations there. On the other hand, her husband, Nick, died in 1982 during the church’s 100-year anniversary, she explained.

All three children live out of town but attended Sunday’s final liturgy, said Palazzo, adding that she plans to go to Sacred Heart next weekend but is keeping her options open.

Palazzo was one of hundreds of people who filled the pews for the one-hour service. Looks of sadness and resignation seemed to be on the faces of most in the standing-room-only crowd, many of whom dabbed at tears.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.