HATFIELD – After nearly two years of debates, two local parishes have agreed to join together under the name of Our Lady of Grace and adopt St. Joseph Church as their home church.



In one of the first rounds of church closings in Western Massachusetts, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield announced St. Joseph Church and Holy Trinity Church would each close and two would together create a new parish, Mark E. Dupont, diocesan spokesman said.



Parish councils worked together but could not agree which building to use. They finally asked Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell to look at both churches and make a recommendation.



"When two parishes have to join together, both have strong feelings for their church but sometimes factors make it an easier decision," he said. "In this case it was a toss-up."



Typically members look at size, location, parking, condition of the buildings and other factors, he said.



While McDonnell recommended St. Joseph's Church be used for the new parish, he advised the parish consider keeping Holy Trinity and use it as a parish center, Dupont said.



A parish center is typically used for sizable church gatherings and special events. In some occasions it can be used as a community center or for regional gatherings for the diocese, he said.



With the decision made in Hatfield and this weekend's announcement that the Immaculate Conception parish in Indian Orchard will be allowed to remain open, the diocese is taking another step toward sorting out church closings that have been carried out throughout Western Massachusetts for a decade.



Faced with a shortage of priests, a shrinking congregation and financial troubles, the diocese has closed 65 churches in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties over the past decade. Some of the church buildings have remained open as two or more closed churches join together to create a new one.



One of the largest closings took place when 18 were shuttered this winter in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.



Eight of the 18 appealed to the Vatican and are still waiting to hear if they can stay open, he said.



"It leaves the Holyoke consolidations, which are scheduled to play out over the next year. There are discussions that are actively happening," Dupont said.



There may also be a merger of churches in South Hadley in the future, he said.



In Holyoke, Holy Cross and Mater Dolorosa are to join together and Our Lady of Guadeloupe is to merge with St. Jerome's Church. The parishes are still discussing which churches the new parishes will be used.