To combat some of these issues, four Milwaukee parishes on the northwest side have decided to merge in July, the beginning of the archdiocese fiscal year.,”

As Catholic parishes around the country peer into the future, many are seeing problems – priest shortages, budget cuts and declining Mass attendance.

To combat some of these issues, four Milwaukee parishes on the northwest side have decided to merge in July, the beginning of the archdiocese fiscal year.

"We have seen a decline in membership in the parishes and we view the recommendation (to merge) as a way to strengthen community and outreach," said Chip Swearngan, spokesman for the Transitional Parish Council, a board of parishioners from all four churches.

Kathleen Hohl, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, said the Catholic community in Milwaukee has seen a change in demographics, especially parishioners moving away and aging.

"With Mass attendance, numbers have declined across the board," Hohl said.

Hohl also said the necessity in consolidating parishes shows bigger problems in the Catholic community.

"People have forgotton the importance of weekly Mass attendance," she said. "Maybe that points to a larger theological issue."

But not all Milwaukee congregations have been as deeply affected.

Gesu Church has steady Mass attendance although numbers are down from several years ago, according to the Rev. Peter Etzel, pastor at Gesu.

Etzel gave several reasons for high attendance, including the parish's connection with Marquette, the Jesuit community, the parish's urban environment and its strong social ministry programs.

"No. 1 is that people see us as connected with Marquette University," Etzel said. Contrary to popular belief, Gesu is not officially affiliated with Marquette.

Etzel said 95 percent of Gesu parishioners come from outside parish boundaries and the church has around 1,500 registered households, in addition to attendees who wish to remain anonymous.

"We draw from all over the county area. People make a choice to come to Gesu," Etzel said. "We have a solid base of parishioners but also a flow of people in and out, depending on their own circumstances in their own lives."

Both Etzel and Hohl mentioned the change in people's attitudes about which parish to belong to. A generation ago, most people went to their neighborhood church, regardless of Mass times and whether or not they liked the music and pastor.

"Now people shop around," Hohl said.

The combining four parishes – Corpus Christi Congregation, 8607 W. Villard Ave.; Mary, Queen of Martyrs, 5409 W. Villard Ave.; Our Lady of Sorrows, 4063 N. 64th St.; and St. Philip Neri Parish, 5566 N. 69th St. -have associated schools. When merged, the new parish will be called Blessed Savior Catholic Church and will operate out of Corpus Christi Congregation's location. The schools, however, will continue to operate at their four current locations under one government.

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee asked the four parishes to cluster in 2003. Clustered parishes work with others in the surrounding area on programming initiatives, such as sharing staff and planning joint retreats, according to Hohl.

The parishes presented a merger proposal to Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan in June 2006. Dolan accepted the proposal and will appoint the new parish's pastor in the spring.

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