Financial difficulties force St. John Kanty to close, last mass September 8

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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- St. John Kanty Catholic church will have it's last mass this upcoming Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and the buildings on the property will be sold. 

The St. John Paul II oversees three churches St. John Kanty, St. Helen and St. Alexander. 

Back in April, St. John Paul II sent a letter to the parents informing them it was "experiencing financial difficulties" and they made the decision to sell the St. John Kanty property. 

St. John Kanty School will continue this school year. But in the 2019-2020 school year, St. John Kanty School will integrate with Holy Wisdom Schools to form the new school within the St. John Paul II merged Catholic community. After the last mass, parishioners can go to St. Helen or St. Alexander.

"We've been at the school for a long time from kinder to fourth, they are sad but we can do nothing," said Stephanie Lopez, mother, and parishioner. 

According to the letter, "This solution will allow St. John Paul II Parish to educate and serve our parishioners in the most fiscal and responsible manner."

There are five buildings on the property that are in need of more than $250,000 in upgrades and repairs. The buyer of the buildings is not official. 

“Our parish needs to choose people over property, the mission of our Church over bricks and mortar," said the parish. 

There will be an open house for both the parish and school starting at 2:30 on Saturday with a history display.

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