In order to achieve the vision and mission of our archdiocese, we must address the challenges facing our archdiocese today, which include regional and archdiocesan population shifts, a decline in the importance and practice of religion in our society, and too few priests to staff 160 parishes and 30 counties. The net result of these challenges is that we are limited in the time, energy, and resources we are able to allocate to current ministry needs associated with sustaining and growing our Church.  

The data is alarming. 

• In the last two decades:  
• Mass attendance is down 46% 
• Infant Baptisms are down 22% 
• Catholic Marriages are down 57%
• Funerals now exceed baptisms and is the only sacramental category that is growing.
  
  

Journey in Faith will examine the current organizational structure of parishes and schools to evaluate how they can best meet the needs of the faithful and address the challenges facing the Church today. It will be a discernment of how we will move from simply maintaining the parishes we have, towards a more mission-focused network of parishes.

Already, more than 22,000 parishioners have shared their wisdom, hopes and concerns through a comprehensive survey. But this is just the beginning.  You will be asked for your input. Your lived experience of faith, your dreams for the Church, your honest feedback — all of this is essential as we shape a pastoral plan that reflects our shared mission and responds courageously to the demands of our time. Check back often for those opportunities.