The Archdiocese of Chicago is facing some serious issues: Fewer parishioners, churches in need of repair and an ever-dwindling number of priests to name a few.
All the turmoil is expected to force some parishes to close down in the coming years. It’s also spurred Archbishop Blase Cupich to take a proactive approach to planning for the future of the Catholic Church in and around Chicago.
Cupich has distributed a survey called “Renew My Church” to parishioners across Cook and Lake counties. He says he’ll use the responses to inform his long-term planning.
Morning Shifttalks with the Archbishop about the survey, the challenges that lie ahead and whether bringing more millennials into the fold could invigorate an ailing institution that serves 2.2 million Catholics in the region.