Guardian Angels Not Affected by Archdiocese of Detroit Reorganization Plan

and are not included in a list of closures and consolidations recommended Wednesday by the Archdiocese of Detroit as a strategy to address a shortage of priests, parishioners and financial challenges.

In the plan, called Together in Faith, lay leaders and volunteers recommend nine area churches close and 60 of the archdiocese’s 270 parishes merge down to 21 within five years. Archbishop Allen Vigneron will study the recommendations and make his decisions on the plan by February.

"I know the focus is on reorganizing parishes, but this is a pastoral plan," Vigneron said during a news conference Thursday, according to the Detroit News. "We have some parishes in very great financial condition, and we have some that can't pay their bills."

The recommendations varied for other groups in the South Oakland Vicariate Planning Group Two with Guardian Angels. For example, the plan calls for is Royal Oak to merge with St. Vincent Ferrer in Madison Heights, St. Mary Magdalen in Hazel Park and St. Justin in Hazel Park.

The report said Guardian Angels, of Royal Oak, and in Royal Oak could stand alone because they are "each sustainable, strong sacramentally, and are strategically located within the community."

This isn't the first time the Archdiocese of Detroit has called for churches to close because of priest shortages. In the past 10 years, 40 parishes have closed or merged in the area, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The Archdiocese of Detroit said Thursday at a news conference that officials are still gathering the names of the parishes that may close. Those interested can go to the archdiocese’s website www.aodonline.org  to view documents pertaining to the future of their individual churches.