GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Bishop David Walkowiak has announced a reorganization plan for the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids and some of its church buildings.
In a message posted on social media, Walkowiak said the trend of priests retiring is outpacing the rate of new priests being ordinated. He mentioned the diocese hired the consulting firm Meitler to help design a data-driven pastoral plan.
"I am grateful for our pastors, who have generously taken on the responsibility of shepherding two or three parish communities. But this is not a realistic expectation for more and more priests," Bishop Walkowiak said in the video statement.
He noted that there is a shortage of priests currently compared to the number of church buildings.
"The trend of priest retirements outpacing ordinations is expected to continue over the next decade. While I am edified to have more than 20 men in seminary formation, they are still discerning God's will and whether they are being called to the priesthood," Walkowiak said.
Our media partner, WOOD-TV 8, posted an online article on this matter, as well.
###