Lights go out on longtime Girardville church
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - The lights remain on as the final mass wraps up at St. Vincent de Paul in Girardville on Jan. 5, 2026.
GIRARDVILLE – For the final time in more than 100 years, the bells tolled and the lights went out at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Girardville, ending the Catholic Church’s brick-and-mortar presence in the community.
Just over two decades ago, the borough was home to two parishes and an elementary school. A sprawling, overgrown cemetery for one of those parishes remains overlooking the north side of town.
The school closed as all parochial elementary schools in northern Schuylkill County merged into Shenandoah’s Trinity Academy, which closed in 2021.
The parishes — St. Vincent de Paul and St. Joseph’s — merged with the other Catholic parishes in Ashland and Gordon in 2015, creating the Ashland-based St. Charles Borromeo Parish. That merger came as part of a trend in the Anthracite coalfields, spurred by decrees from the Diocese of Allentown.
St. Vincent de Paul was retained as a worship center, though regular masses ended in 2021.
Monday night at 6pm, Catholic faithful gathered one final time for mass at the 1925-built church at 2nd and C Streets.
Around 7pm, the bells tolled for the final time. Parishioners slowly made their way out and, at 8pm, the lights went out for the final time.
In justifying the closure, the Diocese of Allentown cited “financial and structural challenges” in a statement to ShenSentinel.
The building requires $20,000 a year to operate and needs about “$250,000 needed for exterior repairs, along with unsafe interior conditions and aging roofs,” the Diocese said.
“Regular weekend Masses ended in 2021, and the Church has seen very limited use since then,” the Diocese said in their statement. “All liturgies previously held at the site can be accommodated at the main church in Ashland. Both the Finance and Pastoral Councils of St. Charles Borromeo Parish voted to support closure of the Church.”
“The Diocese recognizes the emotional significance of Saint Vincent de Paul Church for the Girardville community and is grateful for all who worshipped and celebrated the Sacraments there,” they continued. “The Diocese remains committed to serving the faithful of Schuylkill County and strengthening its support to the community during this time of transition.”
St. Vincent de Paul Parish was of Lithuanian heritage and began in 1906, when church members purchased the former Armory, renovating it into a church.
That building was demolished to make way for the current building on the same site in 1923. It was consecrated in November 1925.
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