Catholic church weighs future in Tuscarawas County as priest shortage grows

DENNISON ― Parishioners at Immaculate Conception Church in Dennison are hopeful that the church can avoid being closed as the Catholic Diocese of Columbus grapples with the continued declining number of priests.

"We love our church. It's home to us," said Amy Madoni Myers of Uhrichsville, who has been a member of Immaculate Conception since 1968.

"I was born, bred and raised a Catholic. I won't be anything else. I even go to church on vacation. I try not to miss at all, and it's important for us to tithe the way that we should, volunteer the way that we should. It's been hard since COVID-19, it really has."

More:'St. Mary's is like glue' 150-year-old Immaculate Conception Church has long, proud history

As part of a two-year diocesan-wide initiative that was started in 2021 by then Bishop Robert Brennan, the Diocese of Columbus has been looking at a solution to the growing priest shortage.

In August, the diocese issued a final round draft proposal for its different regions around the state, including Tuscarawas County. The draft called for the closure of Immaculate Conception in Dennison and Holy Trinity in Zoar, while keeping open Sacred Heart in New Philadelphia and St. Joseph Church in Dover. It would become one parish with one pastor. In 2021, the churches had 1,699 people attending Mass.

Immaculate Conception School in Dennison would remain open, as would Tuscarawas Central Catholic Elementary in Dover.

"I got call the week before last from a parishioner from St. Joe's who said they had announced it at Holy Trinity that weekend," Myers said. "I was crying and how can you close our church? We have a school."

So on Sept. 8, Father Jeff Coning, who serves Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception, and Father Jimmy Hatfield, who serves St. Joseph and Holy Trinity, traveled to Columbus to meet with the current bishop, Earl K. Fernandes, to present an alternative plan to keep the churches open.

All four churches were open that day from morning until evening for prayer.

State Rep. Brett Hillyer, R-Uhrichsville, also sent the diocese a letter of support for Immaculate Conception.

"It provides a place where the community comes together for worship every Sunday together as neighbors and as children of God," he wrote. "I was deeply disappointed to hear of its possible closing, especially after celebrating its 150th anniversary last year, and it is my sincerest hope that it will remain open for generations to come."

He added, "A part of what makes Dennison such a strong community is the close relationship all its members have. And I believe a great deal of that intimacy comes from their membership at the Immaculate Conception."

Jason M. Mays, director of communications for the Diocese of Columbus, confirmed that the priests met with the bishop.

"There were several items discussed along with the proposed mergers. No decision has been made, nor will [there] be for some time. Bishop Fernandes will consider all options," he said in an email.

"This process is purposefully calculated to take an appropriate amount of time to make decisions of this magnitude. Bishop Fernandes understands the significance of each decision proposed in the final recommendations.

"He is going to make a serious, in-depth review of each proposal, before making any final decisions."

The decisions will be made no sooner than 2023.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Columbus Catholic diocese church grapples with shortage of priests