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Is your NJ parish closing? Cardinal Tobin issues a major update on the Newark Archdiocese merger plan

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Newark Archdiocese Hits ‘Pause’ on Massive Parish Merger Plan: What NJ Catholics Need to Know

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The landscape of Catholicism in North Jersey is at a crossroads. Facing a “stark new reality” of thinning pews and a shrinking number of priests, the Archdiocese of Newark—the largest in New Jersey—has been navigating a controversial roadmap toward consolidation.

Continue reading Is your NJ parish closing? Cardinal Tobin issues a major update on the Newark Archdiocese merger plan

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Fear and Faith: Why North Jersey Catholics are Wary of Mass Parish Mergers

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A Time of Anticipation: North Jersey Catholics wary of plan to merge dozens of parishes

OLMC in Ridgewood

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Archdiocese of Newark is facing a wave of uncertainty and apprehension as it moves forward with a sweeping plan to consolidate dozens of its parishes across Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties. While Catholic attendance and the number of priests continue a decades-long decline, the proposed mergers—part of the “We Are His Witnesses” initiative—are stirring deep emotions, from resignation to defiance, among lifelong parishioners.

Continue reading Fear and Faith: Why North Jersey Catholics are Wary of Mass Parish Mergers