Since Road to Renewal began in 2019, we have measured and observed trends, including registered households per parish, sacramental events, operating balances of parishes, the number of available priests to lead in ministry, and the level of participation by parishioners, all of which significantly compound the issue. The statistics are telling. Nearly half of parishes throughout the diocese are seeing declines in registered households, while more than half of our parishes average just one Baptism per month. Only 12 percent of our parishes initiated new Catholics this past Easter Vigil.  

Our Diocesan Chapter 11 reorganization is also helping us to take a hard look at what properties and resources are really needed as the Diocese moves into the future. The infrastructure we have is not scaled appropriately to the current populations, trends or data we have for today moving into the future.

Parishes, legally, are not “closed.” Historically, when church buildings closed, the parish was absorbed by another existing parish, enlarging the latter.  

As explained originally by Road to Renewal, this program was designed to revitalize parish life by creating a parish family model. In our early communications it was stated that the Renewal was not about reducing parishes. When looking at our parishes today and the circumstances of our Diocese, it is apparent that changes need to be made. A process is now being put into place that will help families of parishes right–size and reshape appropriately for the future.  

Road to Renewal provided data (including numbers of registered households per parish, how many of those registered households are actively contributing, and numbers of sacraments and new Catholics initiated through faith formation) to priests, and offered recommendations for possible mergers. It is important to note that recommendations were not made exclusively by financial factors, but geographical considerations and strategy were also be part of the recommendations.  

When we first announced our initial recommendations in May, we welcomed parish families to present alternative plans to the diocese. We experienced open collaboration with parish families who presented variations from the initial proposals with the help of pastors, vicars, parish council leaders and parishioners. In all, 26 of 36 Families of Parishes realized changes from the initial recommendations to what we have presented today, with six of the Families of Parishes accepting the initial recommendations.

The Diocese, our faithful, our priests, deacons and religious will greatly influence our future. All of us have a role to play. Parish viability depends on spiritual renewal including participation in sacraments, parishioner engagement, welcoming new members into the faith and the availability of priests.

We are expecting that the mergers will be accomplished by June 2025.