Detroit Archdiocese Restructures, Closing Churches Amid Declining Attendance

In November 2025, the Archdiocese of Detroit announced a two-year restructuring process that will significantly impact the region's Catholic community. According to Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger, the changes are necessary due to a decline in the number of Catholics, participation in sacraments, and the availability of priests.

The Archdiocese, which once served over 1.5 million Catholics, now has a population of around 900,000, with fewer regularly attending Mass. This has left the Archdiocese struggling to maintain its current infrastructure of buildings, ministries, and structures. As a result, the Archdiocese will be closing some parish churches and reassigning priests to a new "pastorate" model, where a single pastor will oversee one or more churches.

The restructuring process, which began in March 2025, is expected to be completed by the end of June 2027, with implementation taking about a year. The Archdiocese has identified three key pillars to guide the changes: creating "vibrant parishes" where people can encounter Christ, supporting and freeing priests to focus on their core duties, and realigning resources to bring the "joy of Christ to the next generation."

The Archdiocese has invited all Catholics in the region to participate in the process, with each parish hosting two public listening sessions in the spring of 2026 to gather feedback and input.