<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0xRqtv_1GqpKILd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0xRqtv_1GqpKILd00" width="922" height="519" ><figcaption>St. Anne Catholic Church, 825 S. Ortonville Road. Photo: Provided.</figcaption></figure>Brandon Twp. — St. Anne Catholic Church, a parish that serves approximately 750 households, was recently flagged for a proposal that could end its weekend Masses and force a merger next summer.The decision, announced Oct. 19, marks a shift for the community. During the first round of draft restructuring models completed in spring 2026, St. Anne was excluded from the possibility of change. Under the new proposal, St. Anne would lose weekend Masses and merge with another parish in the pastorate on or after July 1, 2027. St. Anne is a member of the Northwest Oakland Lakes family of parishes in that group include St. Daniel, Clarkston St. Rita, Holly and Our Lady of the Lakes, Waterford which would continue weekend Masses.However, church leaders emphasize that no final decisions have been made, as the archdiocese is still gathering information.“This is only the second round of feedback,” said Fr. John Chen, St. Anne pastor since 2023. “There is only a potential for this change. A lot more churches were flagged due to a shortage of priests. We are still in the process of seeking feedback.”The roots of St. Anne trace back to 1949, when a dedicated group of about 60 families gathered under the guidance of Father George Ging to establish a local mission. In the early days, the growing congregation met for Mass at the old Grange Hall before breaking ground for a permanent house of worship on M-15, situated on the Kruchko farm. The mission officially transitioned into an independent parish on Sept. 17, 1957, serving roughly 300 families under Father John Hardy, its first resident pastor whose tenure lasted until 1981. To accommodate a continuously expanding congregation, the parish constructed a new, modern church facility in 1990. Today, about 68% of its parishioners live within the parish boundary.The threat of closure comes as a shortage of priests and declining membership prompt the Archdiocese of Detroit to consider restructuring 209 parishes across the region. Final decisions on any changes are expected in the summer of 2027.Currently, there are only 25 priests assigned to the planning area. Registered Catholic households in the area declined by 7% during the past decade, and 138 area parishes have fewer than 600 regular Mass attendees. While the archdiocese included 1.5 million Catholics at its peak, that number has dwindled to about 900,000.“The situation that unfolded in the last 50 years has left us stretched — sometimes stretched too thinly to serve as well as we want,” Detroit Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger said in a message to parishes. “Moreover, as we struggle to care for buildings and parish structures where there are very few people, we are also seeking to ensure the presence of the Church as we follow the Catholic population in those areas where the Church is growing. This is why I am inviting every Catholic in our Archdiocese to join me in a serious two-year process of Archdiocesan restructuring. It will be a journey of discernment that I believe we can accomplish only together — a time for us to chart the best path forward for each of our parish communities and regions.”Weisenburger noted that the transition will require difficult choices.“It is important to be honest about what this restructuring may bring,” he said. “We know that we cannot maintain the same number of parish buildings that we have today. Some parish communities may see changes in how or where they gather, while others may be called to see church buildings closed – structures that have been dear to their hearts for generations.”</div></body>

Block Source: thecitizenonline.com

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

Brandon Twp. — St. Anne Catholic Church, a parish that serves approximately 750 households, was recently flagged for a proposal that could end its weekend Masses and force a merger next summer. The decision, announced Oct. 19, marks a shift for the community. During the first round of draft...

Archdiocese gathers feedback regarding St. Anne future

NewsBreak

Brandon Twp. — St. Anne Catholic Church, a parish that serves approximately 750 households, was recently flagged for a proposal that could end its weekend 

Archdiocese gathers feedback regarding St. Anne future

Comments