STEUBENVILLE, Ohio -- Parishioners in Steubenville churches will attend a final Mass this weekend at three churches in the diocese.

St. Anthony, St. Pius the X and St. Stanislaus will officially close on Sunday.

This is all part of a diocesan plan for members to merge into the Triumph of the Cross parish.

While they're looking to embrace a change to the future cathedral, some people told NEWS9 on Friday that it will be hard to say goodbye to churches they spent a lifetime in.

Donna Iachini and her family grew up attending St. Anthony Parish.

Her sons Angelo and Anthony have been alter boys there since they were children.

"It's kind of sad," said Angelo Iachini. "Because I've been going there my whole life. I've been baptized and confirmed there."

The Iachini's told NEWS9 that the hardest part about saying goodbye to their church is saying goodbye to the people there.

"A sad day because it's kinda like losing a friend," said Donna Iachini. "Because everybody is going to be mixed up and you won't see the same people."

"I know mostly everybody there," said Angelo Iachini. "Everybody's real friendly. I don't know if I'll have the same response at the cathedral with the new crowd."

Parishioners from St. Anthony, St. Pius the Tenth and St. Stanislaus will now choose between Holy Name Cathedral and Holy Rosary until the new Triumph of the Cross is built.

This weekend the Diocese plans on celebrating this next chapter for the churches.

On Sunday, after an 11:30 a.m. Mass at St. Anthony, parishioners will process with a statue of St. Anthony to the former school next door for lunch.

On Saturday, after the 4 p.m. Mass at St. Stanislaus, parishioners have the option of attending a dinner.

Also on Sunday, a final Mass will be held at St. Pius' final mass at 9:30 a.m.

As for why the closures are happening, the diocese cites a decline of population, a shortage of priests, and a lack of funds for day-to-day operations.