WELLSVILLE, Ohio - Outspoken members of a Wellsville Catholic parish say they won't give up on efforts to keep their church open.

The merger of Immaculate Conception with St. Anne's and St. Aloysius parishes in Columbiana County was part of the Diocese plan of reconfiguration. That fact is included in a five page letter that Bishop Murry has sent to the church members.

However, some members of Immaculate Conception say they were not made aware of a 2010 deadline for objections or recommendations for changes in the plan. They say if they had been aware of the deadline they would have acted much faster.

A Diocese spokesman, who worked closely on the reconfiguration, says the Diocese went to great lengths to publicize the plan. He says it was mailed to every Catholic Church in the Diocese as well as publicized in a Catholic publication and The Vindicator.

Father Nick Shori also points out that leaders of all three churches were part of the planning process. "They all had representation in the group that worked with me when it came time to implement the plan that was promulgated in May," Father Shori said.

The members also complain that some items have already been removed from their church. Father Shori believes that the local church leaders would have been consulted on those decisions.

But the Immaculate Conception members are not giving up that easy and say they will come to Youngstown to picket the Diocese. "Our signs will say please don't take our fellowship away from us," said Beverly Hentzell.

Bishop Murry says he hopes the group will understand and embrace the goals of the reconfiguration.