7 Crookston, Minnesota, parishes to lose Sunday Masses in reorganization plan citing priest shortage

The Diocese of Crookston in Minnesota announced that seven parishes will cease celebrating Sunday Mass in the coming months due to factors including a shortage of priests, lack of young people in religious formation, and trouble finding parish volunteers.

“The decision to stop having Sunday Mass at a church is amongst the most difficult decisions that have to be made,” said Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston in a video announcement.

“The parish church, as we know, is the center of life — the center of our faith life for so many people, often for generations,” he said. “Itʼs the place where we most frequently live our relationship with God. Itʼs the place where the Mass is celebrated, especially on Sundays.”

Four parishes in the Northeast Deanery of the diocese, including St. Francis Xavier in Oklee, St. Ann in Goodridge, St. Philip in Falun, and St. Mary in Badger, will celebrate their final Sunday Masses in August and September.

In October, parishes in the Northwest Deanery, including St. Mary in Euclid, St. Joseph in Oslo, and St. Francis of Assisi in Fisher, will hold their final Sunday Masses.

While the parishes will soon halt Masses, Cozzens explained the diocese…