Archdiocese of New York shrinks

Reorganization will see 112 parishes merged into 55

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York presides at Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
(Photo: Gregory A. Shemitz / CNS)

Cardinal Timothy Dolan has announced that almost a third of the New York archdiocese's 368 parishes will merge or close in the near future.

"Let me be candid: there will soon be a real sense of grief at some of our parishes as we get set to announce publicly what we've been preparing for the last five years, namely, the merging of some of our beloved parishes. In a few places, there might even be a feeling that something has died."

One reason for the major reorganization was the archdiocese's budget, said Joseph Zwilling, communications director. Read more from the Catholic News Agency.