What is the Parish and Deanery Situation in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati?
Friends, I have heard quite a bit of speculation, most of it feverish, about the possible, or even definite, closure of one, several, or all the parishes of our region. Such is not the case, but the time has come to start publishing information about how many parishes we have, and what the plan is for the Archdiocese moving forward. There have not been any talks about closing our parishes specifically, but there is most definitely a broader restructuring coming, with many priests set to retire and not as many to fill the need.
In the coming weeks we will publish more information about plans that the Archdiocese is making with our input, but in the meantime, I ask that you simply pray, remain open, and ask me any direct questions you have instead of continuing the spread of half-truths or rumors.
All for the greater Glory of God, Fr. McC
Scope & Definitions
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is made up of 19 counties in southwest Ohio, approximately 8,500 square miles.
There are 212 Parishes in the Archdiocese. A Parish is a certain community of the Christian faithful stably constituted in a particular church whose pastoral care is entrusted to a pastor as its proper pastor under the authority of the diocesan bishop. Generally, a Parish is territorial. (Can515§
1)
The Archdiocese also has schools, high schools, cemeteries, Seminary, and other institutions as well.
Parishes are grouped into Deaneries over which is the Dean. In the Archdiocese, the Dean is one of the pastors of a parish within that Deanery.
There are currently 12 Deaneries in the Archdiocese. They are: Cathedral, St. Lawrence, St. Andrew, St. Mary’s Dayton North, Dayton South, St. Martin, Hamilton, Sidney, St. Francis de Sales, Springfield, and St. Margaret Mary [ours].