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	St. Patrick Church in Clayville May Close; Bishop Must OK Making St. Anthony’s the Sole Worship Site By Renee Gamela Observer-Dispatch July 15, 2008 http://www.uticaod.com/news/x1346884694/St-Patrick-Church-in-Clayville-may-close-bishop-must-OK-making-St-Anthony-s-the-sole-worship-site A committee studying the merger of two churches in the Sauquoit Valley has decided that St. Anthony of Padua Church in Chadwicks will be the main place of worship. Parishioners from each church were on the merger committee, but at least one member said he hopes a different outcome can be realized. More than a year ago, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse announced St. Patrick Church in Clayville would merge with St. Anthony’s. The committee’s decision is pending approval by the Most Rev. James Moynihan, bishop of the diocese. Stephen Dudek, who is a trustee and member of the parish council at St. Patrick’s, said he’d like to see both churches share a priest. If that cannot happen, then St. Patrick’s should remain open, he said. "St. Patrick’s is the mother church of the Sauquoit Valley," Dudek said. "It is the first Catholic church of the Sauquoit Valley. We were the founders who established St. Anthony’s in Chadwicks." St. Patrick’s was founded in 1849 and the church was built in 1864, he said. St. Anthony’s was founded in 1907, according to the diocese Web site. The Rev. Edward Hayes, who just started his 15th year as pastor of St. Anthony’s, said it is anticipated the churches will merge in about a year, but that decision is up to the bishop. "It was a necessary decision to make, but everybody was saddened because they could appreciate that this would be heartbreaking news for the people of St. Patrick’s," Hayes said. Many angles of the merger are unknown until the bishop approves the plan, he said. The Rev. Joseph Moskal of St. Patrick’s could not be reached Tuesday night.
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