Archdiocese of Detroit Announces Parish Restructuring Initiative

November 16, 2025

At Masses this weekend, Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger announced the launch of a two-year restructuring and renewal initiative for the Archdiocese of Detroit, a process that will engage all parishes in southeast Michigan.

In a video shown in parishes and a letter distributed to the faithful, Archbishop Weisenburger extended an invitation to every Catholic in southeast Michigan to join in this process of renewal.

“I believe with all my heart that God is inviting us to reimagine parish life, priestly ministry, and our mission with new creativity and deep faith, to build something that will last—something vibrant, sustainable, and full of hope,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “This is why I’m inviting every Catholic in our Archdiocese to join me in a two-year process of renewal. In the effort before us, every voice matters, just as every prayer matters.”

The restructuring effort is guided by the pillars of vibrant parishes, flourishing priests, and a mission-ready Church and encompasses priest assignments and archdiocesan administrative structures. Through listening sessions, data analysis, and consultation with clergy and lay leaders, each parish will develop a plan to realign resources and ministries in light of current demographic, pastoral, and financial realities. The process of discernment will conclude and shift toward implementation in 2027, with the goal of fostering long-term health and missionary vitality throughout the Archdiocese.

It is expected that the process will result in a reduction in the number of Catholic parishes and churches across southeast Michigan, as some parish communities merge and/or close worship sites. These decisions have not been made in advance; they can only come about through a process of prayer, conversation, and discernment.

On Monday, members of the media are invited to a media availability with Archbishop Weisenburger to learn more about the initiative and its next steps:

• WHEN: Monday, November 17 at 1:30 p.m. (Please arrive by 1:15 p.m. to ensure preparedness ahead of the Archbishop’s arrival.)
• WHERE: Conference Room A at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 9844 Woodward Avenue in Detroit
• WHO: Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger, Archbishop of Detroit
• WHAT: Media availability to discuss the Archdiocesan restructuring initiative

More information and resources, including the letter and video from Archbishop Weisenburger, a set of Frequently Asked Questions, and Glossary of Terms, are available at restructuring.aod.org.

Please RSVP to the media availability and direct other questions to:

Angela Coletti Brown
Director of Communications
brown.angelacoletti@aod.org
(313) 799-1162

Holly Fournier
Associate Director of Communications
fournier.holly@aod.org
(313) 237-5802

About the Archdiocese of Detroit
The Archdiocese of Detroit encompasses six counties in southeast Michigan: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, St. Clair, and Monroe. It is home to 900,000 Catholics and 209 parish communities. With a Catholic presence dating back to 1701, the Diocese of Detroit was established in 1833 and elevated to an archdiocese in 1937.

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