East Village church marks final evening mass before closing

EAST VILLAGE (WABC) -- Sunday marked the final evening mass for the Church of the Nativity on 2nd Avenue in the East Village.

Parishioners say they are frustrated because they were not allowed to appeal the church's closing.

As part of a large scale restructuring plan, Church of the Nativity will merge with Most Holy Redeemer Church on E. 3rd Street on Saturday, August 1st. In fact, 368 parishioners in the archdiocese will become 294.

The empty pews were self-evident on Sunday night. The Archdiocese is hoping the consolidations will make for more vibrant communities of worship.