Aug 4, 2004 / 22:00 pm
As the population continues to dwindle, the Diocese of Fargo plans to close five small rural parishes in the coming months. The closures were announced after a yearlong demographic study.
A report by The Associated Press stated that Bishop Samuel Aquila had announced more than a year ago that parishes with 30 or fewer families within 25 miles of a larger parish would be considered for consolidation.
The five parishes being closed are St. Anthony in Bathgate, St. Joseph in Osnabrock, St. Clotilde in Milton, Our Lady of the Lake in Lake Williams, and Sacred Heart in Fried.
Fr. Joseph Goering, chancellor of the diocese, told the AP that more parishes likely will be closed.