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  Number of Registered Catholics Dropped 26,797

By Kathryn Marchocki
The Union Leader [New Hampshire]
November 2, 2005

The number of registered Catholics in New Hampshire dropped nearly 27,000 in the last two years despite an increase in the state's population, federal census and church statistics show.

The diocese attributes the decrease in large part to closures and mergers that resulted in 14 fewer parishes and 17 fewer missions since 2003.

The Manchester diocese reported 310,206 registered Catholics as of Dec. 31, 2004, a drop of 26,797 from the 336,803 recorded June 30, 2002.

The Rev. Robert E. Gorski, who heads the diocese's Long-Range Planning Commission, said the figures represent the "first decline I've seen" and occurred during a time the diocese was twinning, merging and unifying parishes.

Often parishioners either don't register with the new parish they've been assigned to or don't attend services there, Gorski said.

While a University of New Hampshire sociologist who studies religion said parish registers aren't accurate indicators of church participation, she also noted the decline in numbers coincided with the clergy sexual-abuse crisis, an event that particularly impacted the Manchester diocese.

"The Diocese of Manchester really has caused a lot of bitterness and just pure disappointment with church officials," said Michele Dillon, UNH professor of sociology who studies religion and has written extensively on the Catholic church.

"I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of good Catholics kind of detached themselves from the church," Dillon added.

Gorski said he can't dispute this, but "I can't verify it either."

While some parishioners have asked to be dropped from registries since the clergy-abuse crisis became public in 2002, "to expect that we have 26,000 people asking . . . to be removed from our census rolls just isn't realistic," Gorski said.

Dillon agreed shifting demographics could account for some of the decline in registered Catholics. And she noted the rate of growth in the Catholic population nationally has not kept pace with their numbers and fertility rates.

Clustered parishes to share priests

All parishes and missions in the Diocese of Manchester have been grouped into 31 clusters by region (or deanery) to plan for reconfiguration.

Today's chart shows the clusters in the three largest deaneries — those in the Manchester, Nashua and Salem-Derry areas.

The chart shows:

The number of priests each cluster is projected to share in 2012 (additional weekend help may be available to clusters with a proven need), The parishes that compose the cluster, and Those parishes' current total of weekend Masses, other liturgical services and registered families.

AMOSKEAG DEANERY

CLUSTER 1:

Priests in 2012: 3
Parishes: Manchester — St. Joseph Cathedral, St. Anne-St. Augustine, Blessed Sacrament, St. Hedwig
Current totals: 16 weekend Masses, 78+ funerals, 110+ baptisms, 20+ weddings, 3,000+ families

CLUSTER 2:

Priests in 2012: 3
Parishes: Manchester: St. Catherine; Hooksett: Holy Rosary; Suncook: St. John the Baptist
Current totals: 12 weekend Masses, 103 funerals, 132 baptisms, 30 weddings, 3,444 families.

CLUSTER 3:

Priests in 2012: 3
Parishes: Manchester: Sacred Heart, St. Mary, St. Raphael, St. Patrick, Transfiguration
Current totals: 20 weekend Masses; 185 funerals; 103 baptisms; 89 weddings; 5,070 families.

CLUSTER 4:

Priests in 2012: 2
Parishes: Manchester: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Anthony, St. Pius X.
Current totals: 14 weekend Masses; 106 funerals; 105 baptisms; 19 weddings; 3,718 families .

CLUSTER 6:

Priests in 2012: 2
Parishes: Auburn, St. Peter; Candia, St. Paul; Epping, St. Joseph.
Current totals: 12 weekend Masses; 47 funerals; 119 baptisms; 10 weddings; 2,400 families.

ROCKINGHAM DEANERY

CLUSTER 16:

Priests in 2012: 4
Parishes: Salem: Mary Queen of Peace, St. Joseph; Pelham, St. Patrick; Windham, St. Matthew.
Current totals: 16 weekend Masses; 136 funerals; 341 baptisms; 60 weddings; 8,269 families.

CLUSTER 17:

Priests in 2012: 4
Parishes: Litchfield, St. Francis Assisi; East Derry, Holy Cross; Derry, St. Thomas Aquinas; Londonderry: St. Jude, St. Mark.
Current totals: 16 weekend Masses; 79 funerals; 315 baptisms; 26 weddings; 7,548 families.

CLUSTER 18:

Priests in 2012: 2
Parishes: Newton, Mary, Mother of the Church; Kingston, St. Frederick (mission); Hampstead, St. Anne; Plaistow, Holy Angels.
Current totals: 10 weekend Masses; 58 funerals; 132 baptisms; 16 weddings; 4,499 families.

SOUHEGAN DEANERY

CLUSTER 5:

Priests in 2012: 3
Parishes: Bedford, St. Elizabeth Seton; Milford, St. Patrick; Brookline, Infant Jesus (mission); Merrimack: St. John Neumann, Our Lady of Mercy.
Current totals: 19 weekend Masses; 112 funerals; 377 baptisms; 69 weddings; 9,268 families

CLUSTER 24:

Priests in 2012: 2
Parishes: Hudson: St. Kathryn, St. John; Nashua, Infant Jesus.
Current totals: 13 weekend Masses; 104 funerals; 175 baptisms; 20 weddings; 3,979 families.

CLUSTER 25:

Priests in 2012: 2
Parishes: Nashua: Immaculate Conception, Resurrection, St. Christopher, St. Joseph.
Current totals: 15 weekend Masses; 136 funerals; 262 baptisms; 136 weddings; 7,908 families.

CLUSTER 26:

Priests in 2012: 2
Parishes: Nashua: St. Aloysius, St. Patrick.
Current totals: 12 weekend Masses; 142 funerals; 73 baptisms; 25 weddings; 2,527 families.

Source: Diocese of Manchester

 
 

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