DETROIT – Fewer people are attending Mass across Metro Detroit, and the Archdiocese of Detroit has announced it is launching a two-year plan to restructure parishes, consolidate some churches, and realign resources to strengthen remaining communities.
Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger said the plan is the result of prayer, consultation, and growing concern about the ability of some parishes to sustain themselves.
The announcement, delivered via video and a letter read at Masses, reaches roughly 900,000 Catholics in the archdiocese.
“I am inviting every Catholic in our Archdiocese to join me in a serious two-year restructuring,” Archbishop Weisenburger said, describing the effort as a proactive path forward for the local church.
According to the archdiocese, weekly Mass attendance across Metro Detroit has fallen to about 150,000 people.
At the same time, maintaining buildings across the archdiocese’s 209 parishes has become a financial challenge.
“With fewer priests and fewer parishioners, we’re feeling strained of maintaining more buildings and sites and ministries than we can realistically sustain,” the archbishop said, noting that restructuring is already occurring in other dioceses nationwide.
The archdiocese said the restructuring will be guided by three key pillars:
- Vibrant parishes
- Flourishing priests
- Being mission-ready
Officials say the goal is to realign clergy and financial resources so parishes can better evangelize and serve the next generation.
That may mean consolidating some parishes and, in some cases, closing church buildings that cannot be supported.
“When we are right sized, I believe that we will be able to really put our assets, especially our personnel assets, and our financial assets to the best work to evangelize,” Archbishop Weisenburger said.
The archdiocese is asking members to pray and participate in the process.
Next spring, each of the 209 parishes will host two listening sessions where parishioners and community members can share their ideas and feedback.
Archdiocesan officials emphasized they plan to be transparent throughout the restructuring and will post information and updates online.
The archdiocese has set up a dedicated site for the effort at https://restructuring.aod.org.