Detroit — Parishioners of St. John Paul II Parish in Hamtramck were informed the weekend of July 26-27 that two of its worship sites, St. Ladislaus Church in Hamtramck and St. Louis the King Church in Detroit, would be closed as a result of financial struggles at the parish.

Fr. Andrew Wesley, the parish’s pastor, made the announcement at weekend Masses and in the parish’s bulletin. “I know this decision is not an easy one to accept,” he said. “There are so many memories and family ties that are associated with these buildings. But the parish family will remain intact — only our place of worship and fundraising will be relocated. Reality tells us it cannot be any other way.”

The parish’s Transfiguration Church will remain open as the parish’s main site.

Fr. Wesley wrote that after meeting with archdiocesan officials, a financial report showed that the parish could not continue to operate all three worship sites “probably for more than another year” and continue to pay utility bills, maintenance, assessments, insurance and salaries for parish staff members.

Fr. Wesley said both St. Ladislaus and St. Louis the King will remain open until final Masses can be scheduled.

“After that, the religious items will be removed before the buildings can be sold,” Fr. Wesley wrote.

He added that “a lot of prayer as well as data” went into the decision, including questions and comments from parishioners at a town hall meeting this summer.

Blessed John Paul II Parish was formed in 2012 after the merger of St. Ladislaus, St. Louis the King and Transfiguration-Our Lady Help of Christians parishes. Its name was changed to St. John Paul II Parish earlier this year after the canonization of its namesake pope.