Citing a shortage of priests and a declining Catholic population, the Diocese of St. Cloud in central Minnesota is merging 131 parishes into 48 parish groups.
merger, reportedly biggest shortage The number of Catholic parishes in Minnesota’s history would influence many parishioners in the area.
There are only 62 priests for the original 131 parishes of the diocese. While across the US, the ratio of priest to parish is 1:1, in St. Cloud, it is 1:2.4, according to number of dioceses.
The Diocese of St. Cloud is home to approximately 120,000 Catholics and spans 16 counties in central Minnesota. As a point of reference, the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, is home to five times more Catholics and has 140 parishes. Diocese of Phoenix – one of the fastest growing dioceses in the US 94 parishes and 2 million Catholic.
Similar reorganizations have occurred in other American dioceses, both large and small, including the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa; St. Louis; Detroit; And Seattle.
Bishop Patrick Neri, who led during the planning of the reorganization in 2023, said the reorganization “is rooted in a desire to strengthen the mission of our parishes and ensure that our diocese remains vibrant and sustainable for generations to come.”
“This moment invites us to look honestly at our realities, our demographics, our resources and the needs of our people and respond with confidence, creativity and courage,” Neary told EWTN News.
“There are a number of factors that are motivating the restructuring process,” said Brenda Kresky, director of pastoral planning for the St. Cloud Diocese. Namely, he cited declining Catholic attendance, financial stability concerns, and a shortage of priests.
While the population in the St. Cloud Diocese has increased by 7% since 2019, the number of Catholic parishioners in the diocese has decreased by approximately the same percentage.
According to the diocese’s numbers, mass attendance, weddings, baptisms, first communions and confirmations have all declined significantly since 2010.
“Four out of five parishes are operating with persistent budget deficits from annual donations,” Crasky said.
St. Anthony Catholic Church, in the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota, is on the list of proposed churches that would be used “only occasionally.” | Credit: Dianne Towalski/Diocese of St. Cloud
Why are there fewer active Catholic parishioners?
Craisky said that “there are several interconnected reasons for the decline in Catholic participation.”
At the parish level, “there are challenges with engagement,” Craisky said.
“In our largely rural diocese, many communities are small and deeply rooted, which is a great strength, but it can be difficult for newcomers or young families to feel fully included,” Crasky said. “Change can be difficult, especially when long-standing traditions and roles are closely tied to personal identity and resistance to new approaches can inadvertently create barriers that make some people feel disconnected from parish life.”
He also said that “as people move toward urban centers, many rural areas in the province are seeing population decline and aging communities.”
“At the same time, families are smaller than in previous generations, which has long-term effects on parish participation and vitality,” Crasky said.
St. Thomas Catholic Church in Kent, Minnesota, “will be used occasionally” due to a parish merger in the Diocese of St. Cloud. | Credit: Dianne Towalski/Diocese of St. Cloud
“Some Catholics are turning to other Christian communities that emphasize strong relationships, engaging worship and openness about faith,” Craisky said. “This shift highlights a widespread desire for meaningful community and relevant faith experiences, leading many Catholic parishes to examine how they connect and engage with people today.”
“Many of these trends are reflected in the Diocese of St. Cloud and are also seen across the country,” Crasky said.
Craisky said, “Broader cultural changes have played a role as society has become increasingly secular; many people no longer view organized religion as central or essential in their lives.” “We are seeing an increase in people who describe themselves as ‘spiritual but not religious’, as well as a gradual decline in faith practice and a perception that the church is less relevant to daily life than before.”
Kreski also noted “the lasting impact of the clergy sexual abuse crisis,” citing abuse claims in the Diocese of St. Cloud.
Kresky said, “The abuses, as well as failures in leadership and accountability, deeply damaged trust in the church.” “Our diocese entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2020 related to more than 70 abuse claims, and the consequences of that history continue to impact participation, confidence, and engagement today.”
Kreisky also cited “growing differences between some Catholics and Church teaching.”
“For a variety of reasons, individuals may conflict or disagree with the teachings on issues such as marriage, sexuality, social questions or family life,” Craisky said. “In many cases, people leave quietly, sometimes because of disagreement and sometimes because of misunderstanding or lack of formation about what the Church teaches and why it teaches it.”
A December 2025 Pew Research The study found that the leading reasons American adults leave the Catholic Church include not believing in the church’s teachings, scandals involving religious leaders, and being unhappy with the teachings on social and political issues.
Other leading reasons cited by American adults were that faith was not important to their lives, or that their spiritual needs were not being met.
Pew Research also found that Gen Z is lowest church-attending generation In American history, only 17% attend weekly.
How is the church responding?
According to Craisky, the response of the Diocese of St. Cloud is more than just merging parishes.
This merger is a part of a larger pastoral planning initiative called “”.all things new“
“While restructuring is a visible result of the process, the overarching goal is renewal – to strengthen parish life by helping communities focus more intentionally on evangelization, discipleship, leadership development and stewardship,” Crasky said.
Parish merger is a major step Initiative Which started more than a decade ago.
According to the pastoral planning website, the bishop will lead a diocesan-wide prayer service to pray for unity for the newly-merged parishes on Sunday, May 3, at 7 p.m. local time.
“My hope is that this process will renew our sense of unity and deepen our commitment to being a missional church,” Neri said.
Bishop Patrick M. Neri serves as Bishop of St. Cloud in Minnesota. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of St. Cloud
“I believe the Holy Spirit is guiding us toward a future where our communities are more connected, our ministries are more focused, and our parishes are better equipped to make disciples,” Neary continued.
According to Craisky, the diocese hopes to “move parishes from the mindset of simply maintaining old structures to becoming vibrant centers of faith where people are welcomed, accompanied, formed and sent forward in mission.”
“This includes supporting parishes in developing strong leadership teams, fostering collaboration across churches, and using resources – human, spiritual and financial – more effectively so that ministry can thrive rather than merely survive,” Craisky said.
Craisky said, “Our hope is that, through this pastoral process, parish life will become more sustainable, more welcoming and more mission-focused.”
St. Thomas Catholic Church in Kent, Minnesota, “will be used occasionally” due to a parish merger in the Diocese of St. Cloud. | Credit: Dianne Towalski/Diocese of St. Cloud
Craisky said, “Although this process has included difficult decisions and real experiences of loss, the long-term vision of the diocese is one of hope: the church in central Minnesota will be well-positioned to serve future generations with vitality, authenticity, and fidelity to the gospel.”
Neri said, “Although change is never easy, I am confident that God is doing something new among us, and I am grateful for the openness and faith our people have shown as we walk this path together.”
