To some parishioners' dismay, Most Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in South Yonkers will be merging with St. John the Baptist as a part of the restructuring process called "Making All Things New."
The church is about 2 miles from Trinity on Yonkers Avenue. Parishioner Stephen Kubasek, 70, called the move "a slap in the face."
"Maybe a merger was in order, but not out in left field. They put us out in left field," Kubasek said.
Kubasek has been a member of the church since 1943 and was married there in 1983.
The merger is part of Cardinal Timothy Dolan's announcement that one-third of all parishes will be merging across the state. More than 50 churches across the state have been affected, including 12 in Westchester.
Parishioners at St. John the Baptist said they were surprised about the merger.
Other churches affected in Yonkers include St. Peter's, which will be the parish church for St. Denis, and St. Vito's Church, which will become the parish church in Mamaroneck in a merger with Most Holy Trinity.
In Mount Vernon, Our Lady of Victory will become the parish church for Sacred Heart, which will close in August despite efforts by parishioners there to keep it open. Also, Saints Peter & Paul will be the parish church for St. Ursula.