News Summary
In a move to address a severe shortage of priests, the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids plans to merge and close several churches. This decision aims to strengthen parishes and reduce administrative burdens, as only one priestly ordination occurred recently. Thirteen parishes will merge, while eight others will cluster under shared leadership. A proactive strategy developed with a consulting firm outlines the adjustments needed to adapt to dwindling clergy resources, ensuring the community remains vibrant.
Grand Rapids, MI – In a significant restructuring move, the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids has announced plans to merge and close several of its churches due to an alarming shortage of new priests. This decision was revealed by Bishop David Walkowiak in a pastoral plan titled “Rooted in Christ,” which aims to strengthen parishes by reducing the number of church buildings and alleviating administrative burdens.
The diocese has been facing an issue where the number of retiring priests is greatly outpacing the ordinations of new priests. This trend is expected to persist over the next decade, with statistics showing that just one priestly ordination took place in 2024. For 2025, seven pastors are either being reassigned outside the diocese or granted senior status, resulting in no new ordinations, thus intensifying existing challenges.
In response to these staffing shortages, many pastors have taken on the daunting task of overseeing multiple parish communities; however, this arrangement has been deemed unsustainable in the long run. To create a data-driven strategy addressing these issues, the diocese enlisted the help of consulting firm Meitler, which has been instrumental in formulating a pastoral plan that optimizes both personnel and financial resources.
The plan outlines specific merging, clustering, or closure of parishes, affecting the 79 parishes spread across 11 counties in West Michigan. As part of this plan, thirteen parishes are set to merge by the end of the year. Church mergers can happen in two ways: either by combining a parish with an existing one or by merging several parishes to form a new entity.
Additionally, eight parishes will be grouped into new clusters, which means they will share a pastor. The decision-making process involved an analysis of attendance and financial data submitted by the parishes, as well as a thorough review of Census data and local population forecasts. Members of the diocesan leadership team, clergy, and parish laity participated in reviewing recommendations for closures and mergers.
A notable aspect of the pastoral plan is the decision to sell the Mary Queen of Apostles facilities located in Sand Lake, which will merge with St. John Paul II in Cedar Springs. On the other hand, St. Joseph the Worker in Wyoming is set to expand its facilities to accommodate a new site aimed at providing additional worship space and promoting ministry growth.
Among the highlights of the pastoral plan is the proposal for the establishment of two new parishes to respond to projected population growth. One of these new parishes will be located between Robinson and West Olive on land already owned by the diocese, while another is intended for the area between Zeeland and Hudsonville, with plans to purchase the necessary land for this purpose.
The diocese has made detailed information regarding these planned mergers and clusters available on pages 51-52 of the pastoral plan. Furthermore, an FAQ section addressing various concerns has been posted on the diocese’s website to keep parishioners informed about the changes.
This proactive approach from the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids reflects an effort to adapt to the ongoing challenges posed by dwindling clergy resources, ensuring that the faith community remains vibrant and equipped to serve its members effectively in the years to come.
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- MLive: Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids to Merge, Close Some Churches
- NY Times: Rev. Lord Dies Minister
- Times Union: As 2 Churches Merge
- Julie Roys: Two Detroit Churches Merge
- MSN: Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids Plans Closures
- Wikipedia: Catholic Church
- Google Search: Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids
