This weekend, a significant shift is taking place in Baltimore’s Catholic landscape as twelve churches get ready to say goodbye. In response to declining congregations and the costs associated with maintaining older structures, the Archdiocese of Baltimore is reportedly systematically combining 61 parishes into 30 locations for worship and outreach, as reported by WBALTV.
The archdiocese has been compelled to frequently reassess its infrastructure due to the city’s declining population, which is currently fewer than 570,000 compared to its peak in the 1950s. By the time the first Mass is celebrated at the merged locations on December 1, the start of the liturgical new year, many parishioners will have to deal with a significantly altered landscape as a result of these closures, which are expected to alter the physical footprint of the Catholic Church in Baltimore. Archbishop William Lori emphasized the choice to “allow our parishes to focus on mission and ministry” in a statement that was carried by CBS Baltimore.
Worshippers at places like Our Lady of Pompei, which was founded by Italian immigrants, are feeling both sadness and nostalgia. According to WBALTV, Joseph Diseta said, “This church has been my family’s church for five generations.” His wife, Theresa, shared the experience, saying, “I feel like my heart’s being ripped out of me.”
Over the weekend, the last Masses are planned. Many churches, including famous ones like the Church of the Annunciation, Our Lady of Pompei, St. Mary, and Star of the Sea, end their services with moving expressions of gratitude and remembering.
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