Demographics shape future of West Allis/West Milwaukee parishes

Brian T. Olszewski reported in our Catholic Herald on a recent "town hall" meeting at which Archbishop Dolan discussed the demographics driving likely closings and consolidations of West Allis parishes.

He noted, "Sixty to 70 years ago, and even before that, eight wonderful parishes sprang up in West Allis/West Milwaukee. Huge Catholic families were moving in in droves. We couldn't build parishes fast enough. We had a bounty of priests and a treasury of sisters that could staff our parishes and schools. We have to be realistic; that isn't accurate anymore."

It might be helpful to see just how many Catholics there were and are. Has that declined dramatically or just attendance and participation?

Archbishop Dolan said that the Catholic community was called to do more than maintain buildings and parishes.

"We're into mission; mission is what drives the church. As much as we love our parish, church is more than parish," he said. "We are into spreading the faith, serving those in need, bringing others in."

In principle, anyway.

Elements of that mission, according to the archbishop, are seniors and Latinos. He also said that neighborhood renewal, caring for the poor and outreach to the unchurched needed to be part of the West Allis/West Milwaukee mission.

Sounds like the makings of a turnaround plan; sure beats these past decades of managing the death spiral. Now if only that glimmer of hope weren't so likely to be buried in process.

Forty-five minutes of the meeting were devoted to questions from audience members. While no answers were provided that night, facilitators recorded the questions and promised that those, as well as those submitted afterward in writing, would be answered around Thanksgiving.