Parking Update

Gay Street will be closed from Matlack to Darlington Streets beginning Monday August 3rd to allow for businesses and restaurants to set up outside. This measure is intended to help businesses that have suffered as a result of the pandemic.
 
The reality is that this will have an impact on us at Saint Agnes, especially regarding parking and traffic flow around our church. We have been working with the Borough and the Police Department to come up with plans for our parish and school. Please keep reading below for more information on how this will affect us and what practical suggestions we have to help you participate in the life of Saint Agnes Parish.
 

What this Means for Saint Agnes

You may need to take a different route to get to church.
Traffic from Gay Street will be re-routed onto Chestnut Street. From High Street, take West Chestnut Street to N. New Street. Turn left on New Street and then left into the Saint Agnes Parking lot.
 
There will likely be more traffic in the area.
As with any road closure, we anticipate that there will be more traffic around Saint Agnes Church. We pray that this measure helps local businesses and our community, and so your patience is greatly appreciated.
 
Parking may be difficult.
Street parking around the church will likely be extremely limited.
 
Cars that are parked in the church parking lot for non-church related reasons will be towed.
We anticipate that with less street parking available, there will be an increase in people trying to use our parking lot for non-church related reasons. We want to preserve our parking lot for reasons associated with our ministry, especially for Mass, school, PREP, the Day Room, weddings, and funerals. For this reason, we will begin enforcing our policy that all cars in our parking lot must belong to someone currently attending a church or school function. Otherwise, they will be towed.
 

How to avoid being towed

While we have not often enforced our stated policy of towing cars that are parked for reasons other than church functions, we will begin doing so out of service to you, our parishioners, and in support of the ministry of Saint Agnes Parish. This is something that will be communicated thoroughly, as we do not want to tow anyone unless it is absolutely necessary.
 
Please only park in the church parking lot while you are attending a church or school function. If there is no church or school function currently in progress, there is a possibility that you will be towed. Please do not park in the church parking lot and go somewhere else, even if you go to church first.
 

We need your help!

We are looking for adult volunteers to stand at the entrance to the church parking lot on Saturday evenings before Mass and on Sunday mornings before and during all Masses. The role of these volunteers would simply be to stand by a sign that says "Church Parking Only" and to wave and welcome anyone pulling into the parking lot.
 
If you are able and willing to help with this important service, please contact Mrs. Carmen Lytle, our parish secretary, at [email protected].
 

Our Promise to You

While we hope that the upcoming Gay Street closure will help to support our community and its economic recovery, we also recognize that it brings some inconvenience to you, our parishioners and the people of our community whom we are called to serve. We promise that we will do everything possible so that our ministries can continue as usual at Saint Agnes Parish and School.
 
We are working to make sure that our parking enforcement is communicated clearly in multiple ways to everyone who may be affected by it. Please help us to spread to word among your neighbors and other parishioners. We really, truly, do not want to have to tow anyone.
 
If you anticipate that the Gay Street closure will affect you in ways not described in this announcement or if you have questions, please e-mail Cecilia Cicone, our Communications and Pastoral Assistant, at [email protected] so that we can work with you and continue to support your relationship with the Lord and our community.