CLEVELAND (AP) — This weekend has been long coming for some of the closed Cleveland Catholic Diocese churches spared by the Vatican.

The first of the spared churches will reopen on Sunday, some after being padlocked for three years.

The openings will continue over the next few weeks. In all 11 churches are reopening and one merged church is reclaiming its original name with Rome’s blessing.

The churches were among 50 closed or merged by the Cleveland bishop because of declining congregations, finances and priests.

Some of the reopening churches will share pastors.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.