In letters to four pastors, Bishop Richard G. Lennon conveyed decisions of Archbishop O’Malley granting delays in the original closings dates of several parishes.

In Quincy, two parishes slated to be closed on Dec. 31 will now close on Jan. 31, 2005. Most Blessed Sacrament and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parishes will close on the new date and new parish, yet to be named, will be created by joining the territory of these two parishes.

In the city of Lawrence, Sacred Heart, a French national parish staffed by the Marists, will close of April 5, 2005 instead of its previously announced date of Jan. 2, 2005.

St. Pius Tenth parish in Milton, which was to have closed on Dec. 29 will now close on July 1, 2005.

Each letter grants the delay with the understanding that the priests and people in the parishes need additional time to complete the process of closing the parish and, in the case of the Quincy parishes, to work toward the creation of the new parish.