Saint John Vianney

St. John Vianney was established in 1994 as part of the diocese's reorganization and revitalization program.  The parish was formed by merging St. Canice, Knoxville; St. George, Allentown; St. Henry, Arlington; and St. Joseph, Mt. Oliver.  At first all four churches remained open and served the new parish.  As time went by, however, the population of the area continued to decline.  In 2004, St. John Vianney parish initiated a pastoral planning committee to study whether the parish needed to keep all its churches open.  The committee recommended that the parish only keep one church open.  St. George was identified as the church to remain open.  On August 7, 2005, the final Mass was celebrated at St. George Church before it was closed for liturgical upgrades.  The other three were closed in 2005.  The final Mass of St. Joseph was celebrated on August 14, 2005.  The final Mass of St. Canice was celebrated on August 21, 2005.  The final Mass of St. Henry was celebrated on August 28, 2005.  On September 3, 2005, the former St. George Church was rededicated as St. John Vianney Church.