ST. LOUIS — The final restructuring plan of St. Louis area Catholic parishes and schools will be announced Saturday evening, May 27, at Cardinal Rigali Center by Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski.

Over the past 10 years, Archdiocese officials have noticed a decline in the number of priests in St. Louis, a decline in the number of Catholics attending Masses, a decline in available resources, a shift in where Catholics live and an increase in need for evangelization and social outreach, according to a press release.

In response, the Archdiocese started a restructuring initiative called “All Things New” in 2021. Parish workbooks were made available online that include demographic, ministerial and financial data for each parish from the last 20 years.

Last fall, parishioners had the chance to share their thoughts during listening sessions at their parish.

After gathering feedback from communities and religious leaders through surveys and listening sessions, the Archdiocese released a draft proposal that would merge about half of its 178 individual parishes. 

Fifteen draft models show consolidating 178 parishes into 88 pastorates, a community that is under one pastor and pastoral team. Much of the consolidation of parishes is in north and south St. Louis City and north St. Louis County. 

In late March, former Missouri state senator Bob Onder sent a letter to Archbishop Rozanski asking to halt the plan. Onder is representing the supporters of Save Our St. Louis Parishes, the group in opposition to the All Things New initiative.  

In a letter dated Mar. 27, 2023, Onder states he and the people he is representing have “not been treated well” and “All Things New has not advanced a collaboration with those most affected by the planning.”

In a typed response sent to Spectrum News, Fr. Chris Martin, who is a vicar for strategic planning, outlined the efforts made by the Archdiocese within the last year from surveys and listening sessions, to meetings with stakeholders and those at the deanery and parish levels.

For more information on “All Things New” click here to visit the Archdiocese site.