PARISH PRESSURE: Archdiocese mandates consolidation of North Shore congregations in key test for Cardinal Cupich's renewal campaign

The consolidation will be a high-profile test of Renew My Church, Cardinal Blase Cupich's multiyear plan to restructure and reanimate the Archdiocese of Chicago after a decades-long decline in Mass attendance and the ranks of ordained priests. Unlike past closures and mergers that affected Catholic churches in less affluent city neighborhoods, this one involves two relatively strong suburban parishes that each boast stable balance sheets and steady numbers of registered parishioners, if not increased Mass attendance. Before Watts' arrival, both were run by pastors nearing retirement, and priest vacancies play a role in the timing of Renew My Church decisions. [...]by including North Shore parishes in a pilot round of consolidations that also affects churches in the city's Humboldt Park neighborhood, the archdiocese is "making a statement that no matter where we are, whether we're affluent or not affluent, everybody needs renewal and we can all benefit from this process," Watts says.