Archdiocese looks to consolidate another 38 parishes

Merging of administrative regions would close 11 churches

From left: Church of St. Thomas More and Timothy Dolan
From left: Church of St. Thomas More and Timothy Dolan

After announcing the merger of 55 parishes earlier this fall, Cardinal Timothy Dolan is proposing to consolidate  another 38 to create 16 new parishes.

The merging would effectively close 11 churches, the New York Times reported, leaving the remaining 27 churches open for mass after the parishes merge.

All mergers and closings are expected to take place on August 15, unless the cardinal changes his plans. The reorganization of the parishes was triggered by financial trouble, a shortage of priests and a decline in weekly church attendance.

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Dolan initially announced the decision in a column in Catholic New York. The archdiocese currently has 368 parishes in the city. New York City has too many parishes at the moment, Dolan wrote. 

The parishes have until March 1 to respond with concerns. While Dolan already said additional parishes could be consolidated, the new proposal has come as a shock to many parishioners, the newspaper reported. [NYT]Claire Moses