In 2008, a diocesan coordinating commission appointed by Bishop Carl Mengeling examined the pastoral and sacramental needs of the diocese, then made recommendations regarding how these needs might be met over the next several decades. Ten years later, those recommendations have been enacted. Here is an update on parish statistics.

Clustered Parishes

• St. Robert, Flushing and Good Shepherd, Montrose
• Sacred Heart Parish, Hudson, and Saint Mary on the Lake, Manitou Beach
• Sts. Charles & Helena, Clio, and Saint Francis, Otisville
• Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish, Jackson, and Our Lady of Fatima, Michigan Center
• St. John Vianney, Flint; St. Matthew, Flint; and Our Lady of Guadalupe, Flint
• St. Mary, Mt. Morris and Holy Rosary, Flint

Parish Mergers

• St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish, Jackson, and St. Stanislaus Kostka Oratory, Jackson
• St. Elizabeth Parish, Tecumseh, and St. Dominic Oratory, Clinton
• St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, East Lansing, and St. John the Evangelist Church and Student Center, East Lansing
• St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Blissfield, and St. Alphonsus Parish, Deerfield, to Light of Christ Parish
• St. John the Evangelist Parish, Jackson, and St. Joseph Oratory, Jackson
• St. John the Evangelist Parish, Davison, and Blessed Sacrament Oratory, Burton
• St. Mary Parish, Charlotte, and St. Ann Oratory, Bellevue
• St. Mary Parish, Durand, and St. Joseph Oratory, Gaines, to St. Mary and St. Joseph Parish
• St. John Vianney Parish, Flint, St. Mary Oratory, Flint; and St. Michael Oratory, Flint*

*The Catholic Community of Flint is an example of a cluster of parishes formed as a result of the 2008 restructuring. Here, St. Michael, St. Matthew, St. Mary and St. John Vianney are served by one pastor, Father Tom Firestone.

Mergers in process

• St. Isidore, Laingsburg and Holy Family, Ovid
• St. Paul, Owosso, and St. Joseph, Owosso
• St. James, Mason and Ss. Cornelius & Cyprian, Leslie
• St. Joseph, Adrian and St. Mary, Adrian

Parish Closings

• Sacred Heart Parish, Flint
• St. Agnes Parish, Flint
• St. Luke Parish, Flint
• St. Leo the Great Parish, Flint
• Holy Cross Parish, Lansing
• Transfiguration Parish, Ypsilanti
• Holy Trinity Parish, Ypsilanti, to oratory status; September 22, 2014 – decree of relegation for profane, but not sordid use
• All Saints, Flint, to oratory status; June 25, 2017 – relegated to profane, but not sordid use (closed)

Parishes without a resident priest

• St. Joseph, Adrian
• St. Joseph, Ypsilanti

Terminology:

Closed parish: A canonical declaration by the bishop of Lansing, in consultation with the Presbyteral Council, that a parish ceases to exist. Parish members join one of the neighboring parishes.

Cluster: A grouping of two or more parishes served by one or more priests. The parishes retain separate identities, but collaborate in the sharing of ministers and resources.

Merged parish: A parish joined with two or more parishes into a single new or consolidated parish. A merged parish may have two or more worship sites.

Who will serve the people of the Diocese of Lansing over the next 10 years?

2018 Diocesan Priest Statistics

Current number of priests:

71 priests for 77 parishes

Pastors: 56 | Pastoral Administrators: 2 | Parochial Vicars: 13

Number of priests eligible to retire in next 10 years (2018-2028): 39

Number of candidates for priesthood in major seminary (graduate program) over next four ordination years (2018-2021): 6

Number of men in undergraduate college level of seminary (2022-2026): 14

Priests by age:

• 20-29: 6
• 30-39: 10
• 40-49: 13
• 50-59: 19
• 60-69: 20
• 70-79: 3