In the face of declining membership and fewer men entering the priesthood, Catholic parishes in Pierce County and across western Washington will merge in 2024, the Seattle Archdiocese announced Sunday morning to its members.
After the mergers are complete, the Seattle Archdiocese estimates it will have 66 parishes, down from its current 174.
“We fully anticipate people are going to be very shocked,” said Seattle Archdiocese spokesperson McClenahan. “Grieving … anytime there’s changes, these are natural feelings. And if they didn’t have them, I think we should be worried because they don’t care.”
Why merge?
“We have fewer registered households, fewer Catholics going to mass, fewer Catholics celebrating the sacraments,” McClenahan said. “We have fewer people going into the priesthood, and fewer lay leaders.”
Those factors lead to financial constraints, particularly…
