Task force recommends Toledo Diocese close 33 parishes

Published: 2004-09-21

TOLEDO, Ohio (CNS) -- Toledo Bishop Leonard P. Blair announced Sept. 17 that a task force has recommended the diocese close 33 of its 157 parishes. The six-member Parish Futures Task Force, which has been working on the issue for more than two years, recommended the diocese suppress 17 parishes and merge each one into another parish and reconfigure 16 parishes to create six new parishes. A diocesan-wide consultation process called "Embracing our Faith, Envisioning our Future" runs through November, when suggestions from each parish will be examined at the deanery level and sent to the pastoral planning office. The planning office will give Bishop Blair its final report at the end of the year. The bishop, who will hold a series of town hall meetings at various parishes, said he will make final decisions in March 2005 with changes to take place in July 2005.

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