Priest: St. Rita closing, but church is the people, not the building

As Jeff Stanisławski walks between the pews at St. Rita Catholic Church in West Allis, he gazes at some of the iconic features that have defined this sacred space for decades — from the stained glass windows to the organ to the altar.

These are all things that Stanisławski, a longtime and active parishioner, will deeply miss when the church closes its doors for the final time.

READ ALSO | The first American pope grew up just outside Chicago

“We’ve had the luxury of worshiping in a very beautiful building,” Stanisławski said.

St. Rita recently merged with Holy Assumption and St. Augustine to become St. Barnabas Catholic Congregation. But with dwindling attendance numbers and high costs to maintain the buildings on the property, difficult decisions had to be made…

Story continues

TRENDING NOW

LATEST LOCAL NEWS