The building for St. John the Evangelist Church in Girard will soon be able to be used for non-religious purposes and is no longer reserved for divine worship, according to the Diocese of Erie on Friday.

Bishop Lawrence Persico changed its status to “profane but not sordid use” effective Sunday, July 17.

It comes after Father Scott Detisch appointed a task force to study the long-term feasibility of parish finances and facilities, given the parish's significant debt, according to the diocese.

The task force concluded the parish could not afford to maintain both its parish center on Main St. and its church and former school building on Olin Ave.

A group of professionals, including a real estate appraiser, a civil engineer and a liturgical design consultant, then recommended the parish center become the seat of the parish, the diocese said.

A majority of parishioners at public meetings supported moving to the parish center and changing the status of the current church, according to the diocese.

The parish center has been used for worship in order to comply with COVID-19 restrictions since early 2020.

The sacred furnishings from the parish church will be moved to the parish center. Additional improvements are also planned.