During the Jubilee Year 2025, the Diocese of Gaylord embraced pastoral planning as an opportunity to grow together in hope. Throughout 2025, Bishop Walsh, together with our priests and leaders from every parish, have been discerning a path forward based on current realities. In February 2026, Bishop Walsh will present the final plan, centered on our mission of bringing Christ to every heart and cultivating vibrant communities of faith that will flourish for generations to come.
The Need for Pastoral Planning
Pastoral planning helps us look honestly at our current realities and prepare for the future. Across the United States and in our diocese, Catholic life is changing:
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Mass attendance has declined significantly since the 1970s.
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Sacramental practice – including weddings and baptisms – has dropped sharply.
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Priests: Nationwide, the number of priests has fallen by more than 40% since 1970.
In our diocese, most priests serve multiple parishes. The US is now considered a missionary territory where international priests come to help serve in the US from around the world.
These realities call us to move from maintenance to mission.