Posted on 04/29/2026 11:21:51 PM PDT by thecodont
OAKLAND, Calif. - More than a dozen places of worship in the East Bay belonging to the Diocese of Oakland will close due to a lack of parishioners, priests and funds to keep the institutions afloat.
Not enough priests or parishioners
What they're saying:
Bishop Michael Barber said in a statement that the decision to close the 13 churches comes as part of the diocese’s Mission Alignment Process (MAP), which seeks to engage clergy and parishioners "in a process of self-reflection and renewal" by consolidating worshippers from churches with low attendance or staffing to refocus on missionary work.
"We must focus on the activities that foster prayerful celebrations of the Mass, prioritize works of mercy, and form missionary disciples," Barber said. "The status quo is not sustainable nor is it serving God’s people."
The churches being closed are:
Mary Help of Christians, Oakland Our Lady of Guadalupe site at Blacow Road, Fremont Our Lady of Lourdes, Oakland Sacred Heart, Oakland St. Albert the Great, Alameda St. Andrew Kim Korean Pastoral Center, Oakland St. Augustine, Oakland St. Barnabas, Alameda St. Paschal Baylon, Oakland St. Patrick, Oakland St. Rose of Lima, Crockett St. Stephen, Walnut Creek Transfiguration, Castro Valley
Adapting to new trends
Dig deeper:
Barber said the MAP was undertaken in response to diocesan-wide trends in declining Mass attendance, participation in the sacraments and Catholic school enrollment that began in the early 2010s.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktvu.com ...
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From the east bank of the Bosporus: Kyrie eleison x 40!
This action contradicts the handful of articles I have come across that was saying that there is a surge from younger people flocking to the Church?
I thought all those illegals would keep the churches solvent. At least, that’s what Pope Bobby Franny said about illegals.
A lot of restaurant chains have shut down locations in Oakland too...I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a huge exodus of people and families moving to greener, safer, cleaner AND more affordable pastures.
Those are two parallel events and both are true.
The Oakland Diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023.
Also, the San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most secular regions in the United States. Attendance has been declining there for decades. and we must remember the Diocese owns many aging buildings that require millions in maintenance.
In contrast, the traditionalist surge among Gen Z and millenials is more quality. We are seeing a “sorting” with young people who are religious are traveling past their local, neighborhood parish to attend a specific “destination” parish that offers the community or liturgy they want.
The Oakland closures are a “cleanup” of the 20th-century institutional model, while the “young surge” is the attempt to build a 21st-century model. They are two different ships passing in the night.
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