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

The archdiocese’s strategic planning course of, referred to as Companions within the Gospel, is “a plan for the way we embrace these realities with hope and confidence,” the archbishop stated.

Below the planning course of, most parishes will mix right into a “new household construction.” Two or extra parishes will turn into a single canonical parish below the management of 1 pastor and a number of parochial vicars. The pastor, parish leaders, and parishioners will then decide questions reminiscent of how one can share sources, employees, ministries, outreach efforts, and services.

The Seattle Archdiocese has fewer sources, together with clergymen, lay leaders, and monetary property. There are 80 diocesan pastors for 174 areas, nevertheless it predicts it is going to have solely 66 pastors in 2036.

“We have to adapt to occasions,” stated Jesús Gómez Sánchez, a member of the archdiocesan pastoral council. “The worst we might do is stay not doing something about it and simply seeing the numbers in our Church lower.”

The archdiocese’s 2021 annual report stated it had about 600,000 Catholics in its territory. There have been about 182 diocesan clergymen, together with 81 retirees, 118 everlasting deacons, 17 non secular brothers, and 292 non secular sisters. That yr there have been nearly 3,200 toddler baptisms, 4,700 confirmations, and 849 whole marriages.

Caitlin Moulding, chief operations officer for the Archdiocese of Seattle, stated the scenario of Catholicism within the area has modified.