In recent years, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has embarked on a significant restructuring initiative known as Beacons of Light, aiming to consolidate its hundreds of parishes into just several dozen “families of parishes.” This move addresses challenges including declining attendance, a shortage of priests, and shifting demographics within Greater Cincinnati’s Catholic community.
While this reorganization affects the entire archdiocese, its impact on African American Catholic communities in Greater Cincinnati is particularly profound. Historically, these communities have relied on specific parishes that not only serve their spiritual needs but also act as cultural and social hubs. The consolidation process raises concerns about the preservation of these vital centers of faith and community.
“The historic construction of highways through Cincinnati neighborhoods didn’t just pave over streets,” says Rev. Deacon Royce Winters, director of African American Ministries for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. “It also fractured the heart of our Black communities. When neighborhoods were split apart, our African American parishes lost the very people, the very families, that sustained them. It wasn’t just the breaking up of homes; it was the beginning of a spiritual and cultural unraveling that we’re still trying to mend today.”
This has led to the necessity of merging parishes, which could result in the closure of some churches and schools. Such closures would disproportionately affect African American parishes, which are often smaller and more vulnerable to consolidation. This effort further complicates efforts to maintain vibrant parish communities, particularly those serving African American Catholics…