One Michigan diocese is struggling with some familiar problems — less money, fewer priests, crumbling churches — and is taking steps to address those issues.

First up: eliminating at least one mass at every parish.

Here’s more, from the Jackson Citizen-Patriot:

Bishop Earl Boyea said changes to parish life may be painful, “but on the other hand, like the cross of Christ, it leads us to something new, to a resurrection.”

Boyea announced plans at a news conference Monday that will affect every parish in the Lansing Catholic Diocese.

Any changes regarding Catholic schools in the diocese are still at a “rudimentary stage,” according to Boyea. He said some restructuring and more work on financing will take more time.

Meanwhile, terms that are more often used to describe actions at businesses — improvements, clusters, mergers and closures — were used by Boyea in regard to diocesan parishes. All parishes will reduce their number of weekend Masses by at least one service.

The Jackson region will see several changes, some not for several years.

Although no firm timetable has been set, the most immediate change will involve Sacred Heart Chapel, which serves the Hispanic community at 1501 E. Michigan Ave. It will share space at St. Stanislaus Kostka, 608 S. Elm St. The Sacred Heart Chapel, which is in disrepair, will be closed.

The St. Stan’s congregation, which has an ethnic-Polish history, will have its Sunday Mass around 9 a.m. Sacred Heart’s Mass will be at noon. Both will be coordinated by St. Mary Catholic Church, 120 W. Wesley St.

Boyea said the moves will help the Catholic church to “be an even more vibrant presence in our local community. … Sometimes our parishes can be almost like little isolated islands unto themselves, and this is an aim to bring them together and to work together.”

There are more details about proposed changes at the link.