The leader of the Dubuque Catholic Archdiocese says things are moving forward after 160 parishes were reorganized into 24 pastorates in July.
Archbishop Thomas Zinkula was asked about it after a ceremony at the Catholic elementary school in Webster City.
Some 75 to 80 of the churches ended weekend and/or Sunday Mass in July. Zinkula says the consolidation was needed because attendance at masses across the 30 counties in the archdiocese had fallen nearly 50 percent in the last two decades and there are fewer priests to conduct the services.
Zinkula says there are benefits for the priests.
He says the priests are also praying together and sharing meals together, and they smile when they tell him about that.
The churches that discontinued weekend or Sunday masses are still open for weekday services, funerals, weddings and baptisms.
story courtesy of Radio Iowa; image courtesy of Archdiocese of Dubuque