By The latest update follows the completion of 400 listening sessions at parishes across the Archdiocese of Detroit amid its two-year restructuring process.
Weekend Masses could be suspended at a total of 90 parishes across southeast Michigan, according to plans revealed by the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Previously released models identified 58 parishes for potential stoppage of weekend Masses. An additional 32 parishes could see a suspension in weekend Masses.
The models released June 18 cover several planning areas across parts of metro Detroit and nearby counties including Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb.
The latest update follows the completion of 400 listening sessions at parishes across the archdiocese amid its two-year restructuring process. While the listening sessions are complete, parishioners are invited to share feedback through an online form available until July 31.
Archbishop Edward Weisenburger announced the restructuring and renewal initiative for the archdiocese on Nov. 16, 2025, saying: “I believe with all my heart that God is inviting us to reimagine parish life, priestly ministry, and our mission with new creativity and deep faith, to build something that will last — something vibrant, sustainable, and full of hope.”
Weisenburger said at the time that a reduction in the number of parishes and worship sites was expected and that implementation of the plan would take place in 2027, “with a goal of fostering long-term health and missionary vitality throughout the archdiocese.”
A similar suspension of weekend Masses at more than 80 parishes across northeastern Iowa will also take place this summer as a part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa’s reorganization plan that began in September 2024.
Like the Archdiocese of Detroit, the Archdiocese of Dubuque cited a declining Catholic population, lower participation in the sacraments, and a continuously shrinking number of priests as reason for its restructuring.
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But all is well…synodalism will surely fix this? Just like Vatican II was going to “fix” whatever they said they were going to remedy?
Either clueless or malevolent.
Rose-colored glasses serve no purpose at this moment in history.
Our Lord, Jesus Christ, gave us a commission to go and teach all nations [Matthew 28:19]. For going on the last sixty years we’ve been unable [or unwilling?] to teach the catechism to our own children. Once having been a high school religion teacher I can attest to the ignorance of students entering high school in the 1970’s and to the resistance of Catholic high school administrators [women religious] to remedying the problem. There is no evidence that that has changed.
Collapsing parishes?
We’ve seen nothing yet. We witness presently the commencement of a collapsing Church, and the civilization that Church built.
Despite recent events in the Church, nothing is changing, its only accelerating.
Let’s shed the shades and put on our hard hats.
We’re quick becoming a desolate Sahara of the faith. A place of spire monuments to the past mark where Christ was revered.
What of the few remaining? Like mission outposts in Africa, New Guinea, the Amazon. Weisenburger’s policy of missionary status cannot be written off, unless the sacrament of reconciliation and Masses are planned on a missionary basis to regularly occur on Sunday in locales that can be reasonably reached.
Mass and sacraments furtively existed conferred in hidden places in family homes during post Reformation England. Ewtn offered the wonderfully acted life of martyr Edmund Campion. While we’re not at that persecution point, at least not yet, Mass and sacraments can be offered similarly in these abandoned parishes relieving financial maintenance of churches and rectories.
Our challenge should be included in seminarian training. A call to true surrender of a comfortable life of priests living alone in huge, expensive rectories. Missionary priests can live together in centralized locales.
Should read: Mass and sacraments can be offered similarly [in homes] in[stead] [of] these abandoned parishes relieving financial maintenance of churches and rectories.
Not good!
Please rid us of these foolishly arrogant shepherds who refuse to acknowledge the failure of the unleashing of modernity in the church 60 yrs ago – the Barque must be turned!