Seven Catholic churches in northwest Minnesota will no longer celebrate Sunday Mass as the Diocese of Crookston moves to address a declining number of priests and changing demographics across the region, according to the Irish Star and a statement from the diocese.
Bishop Andrew Cozzens described the decision as one of the most difficult responsibilities of his ministry.
“The decision to cease celebrating Sunday Mass at a church is among the most difficult decisions a bishop must make,” he said. The bishop began meeting with parishes in the fall to develop a long-term pastoral plan for the diocese, which will reduce its number of parishes from 65 to 58.
Reflecting on the significance of parish life, Bishop Cozzens emphasized that church buildings are far more than physical structures.
“Our parish churches are not simply buildings. They are sacred places where generations have gathered to celebrate the Eucharist, the source and summit of our life,” he said. He noted that these churches have long been places where Catholics have celebrated baptisms, weddings, confirmations, funerals, anniversaries, and countless Sunday Masses.
According to the bishop, the changes are being driven by both population decline and the realities facing many rural parishes.
“Throughout this whole area of our diocese the population has been decreasing,” Bishop Cozzens said. He added that some small parishes now have very few young people participating in religious formation and often rely on only a handful of volunteers to continue parish life.
The diocese is also preparing for a significant wave of priest retirements.
“We also continue to experience a shortage of priests,” Bishop Cozzens said. “While our priests serve generously, there are limits to the number and locations of Masses they can celebrate on any given weekend. We must ensure that they can provide sustainable pastoral care and remain true spiritual fathers to the communities entrusted to them.”
According to the Irish Star, Bishop Cozzens told WDAY that half of the diocese’s 32 priests will be eligible for retirement within the next decade, making additional changes possible in the years ahead.
The churches affected are St. Philip in Falun, St. Mary in Badger, St. Francis Xavier in Oklee, St. Ann in Goodridge, St. Francis of Assisi in Fisher, St. Mary in Euclid, and St. Joseph in Oslo.
Some parishioners have expressed sadness over the announcement. According to the Irish Star, Ashley Solem of St. Joseph Parish in Oslo said, “I think everybody is shocked,” adding, “The church is supposed to be the soul of the community; it’s supposed to bring people together and make the community a better place to live.” Parishioner Steven Dahlin recalled that St. Mary’s Church in Euclid was once filled to capacity during Mass.
Despite the painful changes, Bishop Cozzens encouraged the faithful to remain hopeful, drawing on Christ’s teaching in the Gospel of John.
“Throughout this process, I have often reflected on Jesus’ words in John 15 about pruning,” he said. “Pruning is difficult, but if it is done well, more fruit is produced. While these decisions are painful, they are intended to help position our parishes for a hopeful and fruitful future.”
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