By Nicole Walton
UNDATED – The Diocese of Marquette is considering closing 11 parishes and missions in the Upper Peninsula. Terri Gadzinski is the Director of Development and Planning for the Diocese. She says a lack of priests is to blame for the changes. Gadzinski notes the Diocese will soon have only 55 priests serving 99 parishes and missions. She says the diocese has been linking parishes, where one priest serves multiple sites. The Diocesan Planning and Steering Committee is studying comments made by parishioners at a series of meetings held across the U-P. It will submit its recommendation to Bishop Alex Sample sometime this spring.