Parish merger

The Latest

The dome of St. Casimir Church in Buffalo, New York

Diocese of Buffalo to merge a third of its parishes

May 29, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

Buffalo Bishop Michael Fisher said in a May 28 video statement that 34% of its parishes — about 55 —... Read more

Bishop Louis Tylka.

Peoria Diocese to reduce the number of parishes in the diocese by half

May 20, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Bishop Louis Tylka announced on Saturday that between now and May 2026, the diocese will be reshaped from 156 parishes... Read more

St. Vincent de Paul Church, the oldest Catholic parish church in continuous use in Baltimore, which was dedicated in 1841, is among the churches slated for closure.

Baltimore Archdiocese announces major restructuring that will merge dozens of parishes

Apr 15, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The plan, detailed on the archdiocese’s website, would reduce the total number of “worship sites” in the city from 59... Read more

Seattle Archbishop Paul Etienne.

Seattle Archdiocese announces plan to merge parishes

Feb 5, 2024

By Daniel Payne

A shortage in priests and resources compelled the archdiocese to restructure. Read more

St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

New Orleans Archdiocese to close 10% of parishes, merge others

Nov 1, 2023

By SueAnn Howell, O.C.D.S.

This consolidation is the archdiocese's largest restructuring plan since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Read more

CNA

One-third of St. Louis Catholic schools face possible closure 

Sep 28, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The schools being considered for closure were chosen based on enrollment numbers, demographic trends, financial strength, and other factors. Read more

St. Matthew the Apostle church in St. Louis, is one of the parishes slated for merger that is appealing to the Vatican.

St. Louis parishes dodge closure by appealing to the Vatican

Aug 1, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Seven parishes plan to send appeals to the Vatican, putting the mergers planned for the parishes on hold until the... Read more

Parishioners at Sacred Heart parish in Valley Park, Missouri, part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, listen to a presentation about parish mergers at an October 2022 listening session.

St. Louis Archdiocese reorganization will cut parishes from 178 to 134

May 30, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The plan, called “All Things New,” closes 35 churches, merges their parishes into neighboring parishes, and merges 15 others into... Read more

A bridge over the Mississippi River near St. Louis

St. Louis Catholics petition archbishop to halt diocese-wide parish merger plan

Apr 9, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

A group of over 3,000 Catholics in the Archdiocese of St. Louis hopes to stave off the merger of numerous... Read more

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Decline in vocations to the priesthood is worse where priests serve larger flocks, report says

Mar 3, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

The study found that there are fewer new vocations in large dioceses where priests do not have a chance to... Read more

St. James Cathedral, Seattle.

Seattle archdiocese says parishes must merge due to decline in number of Catholics 

Jan 24, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

“With all of the changes that we’re facing today — globally, culturally and within the Church — it’s very clear... Read more

Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago

Chicago archdiocese announces new groupings from parish mergers

Feb 10, 2022

By CNA Staff

As part of its “Renew My Church” initiative the Archdiocese of Chicago recently announced 12 new parish groupings. By July,... Read more

Credit: Unsplash.

Black parishes in Chicago closing disproportionately due to low attendance, official says

Mar 31, 2021

Amid a plan to merge and close dozens of parishes, the Archdiocese of Chicago has disproportionately closed parishes that minister... Read more

St. Paul's Cathedral, Pittsburgh.

Diocese of Pittsburgh announces its third round of parish mergers

Nov 30, 2020

The Diocese of Pittsburgh has announced that it will initiate its third round of parish mergers early next year, reducing... Read more

St. Paul's Cathedral, Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh diocese announces first wave of parish mergers

May 20, 2019

The Diocese of Pittsburgh has announced the first results of a sweeping reorganization of its parishes, creating five new parishes... Read more

Church steeple in Hartford, CT.

Hartford archdiocese works to guide faithful through parish merger

Jun 15, 2017

Important decisions loom ahead as the Archdiocese of Hartford preps its reorganization plan, a reconstruction and consolidation of parishes throughout... Read more