61 parishes to merge into 30 worship, ministry sites in Baltimore

The Archdiocese of Baltimore released its final realignment plan to close and/or merge parishes across the city and immediate suburbs.  The archdiocese announced on Wednesday that it will merge 61 parishes into just 30 as part of a two-year process called "Seek the City." The archdiocese told 11 News that 30 churches, the physical buildings, will remain open and that seven parishes will have two worship sites.  "We are going from 61 parishes down to 23 parishes, but when we count actual church campuses and buildings, it's 30," Auxiliary Bishop Bruce Lewandowski told 11 News.  Many of the Catholic churches in Baltimore are more than a century old. The archdiocese said the expensive upkeep of the buildings is part of the reason for the downsize, along with decreasing attendance in the city. Properties will eventually be sold with funds following the parish.

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