BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON - The Diocese of Covington has announced the parishes at St. Ann and St. John, both in Covington, will merge by July 1, illustrating demographic changes and the need for more priests.
"What is happening is we're having population shifts. The deployment of our resources is being watched," Bishop Robert Muench said.
"The St. John parish will be the parish that will serve also for St. Ann. But St. Ann will continue as a mission, and it will continue with services. . . . There have been meetings about this and the people have been understanding."
Diocesan spokesman the Rev. Tom Sacksteder estimates St. Ann has 40 to 50 families, and St. John has 200 to 300.
Father Sacksteder said the priest at St. Ann has retired, and the "unavailability of personnel has necessitated the move for the merger."
Father Sacksteder said it's hard to estimate the impact on parishioners. Both churches already share their elementary schools with other parishes.
"People have been very understanding. And in many respects, they have welcomed the challenge and responded positively," he said.
The diocese has a shortage of priests.
Earlier this year, the Rev. Jim McHugh at St. James Church in Brooksville retired. Because he has not been replaced, a priest from Augusta is celebrating Mass on weekends and assuming other duties at St. James, while a permanent deacon is serving as administrator of the parish.
Several years ago, the diocese combined four parishes in Newport under Holy Spirit to deal with the shortage. Two of the four priests oversee the Holy Spirit parish.
Father Sacksteder said the diocese is placing resources in the suburbs, where many parishioners are moving.
For example, he said St. Timothy parish in Union was carved from St. Paul parish in Florence in 1991. St. Timothyopened the new church about a month ago.
At the same time, he said, remodeling at several parishes on Covington's east side has helped increase membership.
There are 86,000 Roman Catholics in the diocese, 48 parishes and 92 active priests. The number of retired priests has hovered at around 29 during the last five to 10 years, Father Sacksteder said.
