TRI-STATE (WFIE) -
The Catholic Diocese of Evansville is facing a priest shortage, and now there's talk of merging and linking parishes and schools. Some members are worried some churches may have to close.
The diocese told 14 News Friday, they are still in the planning stages of what could be a merging and linking of several parishes and schools. We spoke with members of the diocese who say they're worried about the future of their parishes.
The Catholic Diocese in Evansville serves 69 parishes, but, currently only has 46 priests.
Many of those priests are nearing retirement age, forcing the diocese to look at restructuring many parishes and schools.
A decline in mass attendance is also a big factor.
"You used to see cars lined up, all up and down Herndon as well as the parking lot," said Ron Unfried, a former member of the Catholic Diocese. "You barely get them past my driveway anymore, so what used to be a packed street is no longer a packed street"
Unfried lives across the street from St. Theresa Catholic School. With only 125 students, it has the lowest enrollment among the 28 catholic schools in the area.
"I'm not really surprised, the last couple years as I have talked with neighbors and seeing if you will the enrollment for St. Theresa has been down for quite a long time," Unfried said.
The diocese has formed core groups, one from each of the seven deaneries.
These groups will meet in the coming months and decide which parishes and schools will be merged and linked. The diocese says at this point anything is possible and several parishes could be absorbed into others.
As Ron says, sometimes life takes a precedence.
"There's a movement if you will to have a life outside the church."
Now, those core groups have until March to make their recommendations to the bishop. Plans will be approved by the bishop.
Changes in the parishes could come as early as July.
And for a look at their strategic plan, click here and here.
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