Bishop Joseph Cistone announces the Diocese of Saginaw's restructuring plan.
/ Andrew Fergerson
BAY CITY -- Catholics in Md-Mchigan are learning about the Diocese of Saginaw's restructuring plan that calls for merging some churches while ending regular services at others.
In a press conference Sunday afternoon, Bishop Joseph Cistone announced that all churches across the diocese will be given one of three designations.
Parish Churches will continue to serve as the main church in a parish community. Churches for Additional Use will be used for weekend masses and other services. Churches for Occasional Use won't technically close, but pastoral staff will determine the how the buildings will be used.
Barbara Walkley of Bay City said, "Something has to be done to be able to have more vibrant parishes and deal with the shortage of priests beyond what we've been doing."
The reorganization will affect more than 108,000 Catholics that count themselves members of the diocese, which oversees churches in Saginaw, Bay, Midland and eight other counties.
Last year, church leaders announced the reorganization plan in response to declining membership. The first changes are expected to take effect this July.
