The fighting faithful of St. Ann parish in Bristol packed the pews, the side aisles and the vestibules Sunday for what the Archdiocese of Philadelphia decreed would be the final Mass before the church merges with St. Mark, just blocks away.

About 250 worshiping warriors, many wearing battle “uniforms” of white T-shirts emblazoned with the traditional Trinitarian symbol, a red and blue cross usually fronting priest vestments and nun habits, attended the 10 a.m. Mass.

The Rev. Tom Morris, pastor of St. Ann, read his farewell remarks, written in what he called a “love letter” to his flock.

“I consider myself a married man, married to the church and to you, the members of St. Ann,” Morris told the congregation. “My hands will miss holding, touching, washing of your feet (emulating Jesus’ washing of the feet of his apostles at the Last Supper, and emulated today at Holy Thursday services). These hands will miss baptizing, distributing the Holy Eucharist, the anointing of the sick and dying.”

He received a standing ovation as he told the crowd that he and his parochial vicar, the Rev. Gerard Lynch, would not say goodbye but would instead keep the parishioners in their prayers “until we meet again.”

Since the parish will now be what the archdiocese calls a worship center, St. Ann will still be permitted to hold a 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sundays, and the church will be open for funerals, weddings, and baptisms. The Rev. Dennis Mooney, pastor of St. Mark, will also allow the parish to hold its annual novena to St. Anne, a tradition at the church for more than 100 years.

Such concessions were little comfort to descendants of parish founders. St. Ann was formed at the turn of the last century to minister to the influx of Italian immigrants.

“Our family had nine children and we were poor, but every week, even if we had one cent or nine cents, my father gave it to us to put in the collection basket. That money came from us, not the archdiocese,” said lifelong parishioner Dominick Sottile. “Now they tell us they’re closing our church?”

Sottile’s wife, Mary, said she believes the closing is written in stone, but she clings to hope that a planned appeal will succeed.

“I’m going to support Ralph (DiGuiseppe) because if there’s any hope for us, he can do it,” Mary Sottile said.

Barbara Allen, a parishioner for 33 years, will support the appeal, but is comforted by the fact that there will be at least one Sunday Mass.

“I understand change but I think things could have been handled better, done differently. With God’s help, we’ll get through this,” she said.

Parishioners have mounted a campaign to keep the parish open under the banner, St Ann Strong. Led by DiGuiseppe and other lifelong parishioners, the group has already reached out to attorneys in Rome. Di Guiseppe said there has been no response so far to a written appeal sent to Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput.

“If we get no answer, or if we are turned down, our next move will be a direct appeal to the Vatican,” DiGuiseppe said.