With the news that St. Wenceslaus in Gill’s Pier and St. Gertrude in Northport are being downgraded to limited use, the Diocese of Gaylord has responded to a story that ran last week about the fate of two Leelanau Catholic Churches.
“St. Wenceslaus and St. Gertrude have been designated a limited-use church as of July 1, 2026.
“Limited use means the church will not have regular weekend or weekday Masses. However, a limited-use church will celebrate its annual patronal Mass. Upon parishioner request and with the pastor’s discretion, parishioners’ weddings, baptisms, and funerals may also be celebrated there,” the diocese said in an email statement.
The decision to designate 20 parishes as limited-use churches in the Diocese of Gaylord was complex, and no simple formula was applied, according to the diocese under the leadership of Bishop Jeffrey Walsh.
By July 1, the diocese will implement the Pastoral Plan 2026, announced at the beginning of the year. The Pastoral Plan will close four total churches, with two already shuttered and another two plan to be closed by July 1, including St. Mary Parish (Burt Lake), Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish (Atlanta), St. Rose of Lima Parish (Herron, already closed), and St. James Parish (Whitmore, already closed). Twenty parishes will be designated to limited-use churches, including St. Wenceslaus and St. Gertrude.
But they aren’t the first churches to be shuttered. The parish of St. Rita, Maple City, in the 1970s was combined with St. Joseph parish in Cleveland Township.
According to the Diocese of Gaylord, this will affect 757 parishioner households. There will be 18 new “parish clusters” created. Nearly 30 priests with altered assignments.
These changes are being implemented to sustain sacramental life and strengthen the mission of the Church across all 21 counties in Northern Michigan, according to the Diocese of Gaylord.
“It required an in-depth analysis of diocesan and parish data — like Mass attendance, finances, geography, and projections — combined with the consultative feedback gathered through the vicariate synodal process, along with prayer and a vision of faithful stewardship for the gift of the Catholic Church. Currently, official canonical decrees are being written, which will include more specific reasons for each parish being designated a limited-use church. Once the decrees are completed, they will be given to the parish for posting and will be on the diocesan website for review,” the Diocese stated.
St. Mary’s parish will take the lead on activities at St. Wenceslaus and St. Gertrude.
Adam Begley, a member of St. Wenceslaus, cannot comment on behalf of the church, but as a Catholic whose family has worshiped at that church for generations.
“This is not a good thing for the Catholic Church and not a good decision to close a church as historic and significant to the area ... The fact remains that there are children of the pioneers who made this church possible. This is more than shutting down a church,” Begley said. “It doesn’t make any sense to any one of us.”
