SAGINAW — The Diocese of Saginaw is set to undergo a parish restructuring plan similar to the one the Archdiocese of Detroit is implementing with its Together In Faith initiative.

Saginaw Bishop Joseph R. Cistone laid out Jan. 20 the details of the diocese’s Planning Tomorrow’s Parishes pastoral plan, which the bishop had previously announced in a pastoral letter in the fall of 2011.

The plan calls for a consolidation of many of the diocese’s 105 parish communities by 2015, resulting in an eventual 56 parishes with 24 churches for additional use and 29 churches for occasional use. Several of the Saginaw diocese’s existing parishes currently function as missions.

“I saw a need to position ourselves in a way by which parish communities are re-invigorated, liturgically alive and actively engaged in outreach to those in need,” Bishop Cistone said in a statement on the diocese’s website, www.saginaw.org. “We must creatively address the spiritual, moral and intellectual development of our youth. Most especially, we need to focus on the mission of evangelization.”

The parish restructuring plan is one component of a wider pastoral plan, the statement said.

More than 600 laypeople and clergy from the diocese’s parishes participated in making suggestions for future parish life. Its recommendations were reviewed by a 19-member commission appointed by Bishop Cistone, which then made preliminary recommendations in the summer of 2012. “Cohort teams” from each parish then had the opportunity to respond before final recommendations were made to Bishop Cistone.

The bishop’s announcement said all parishes would be given one of three designations: parish church, church for additional use or church for occasional use. Parish churches would be the main church where regular Masses and sacraments will continue to be held. Regular weekend Masses will also continue to be celebrated in churches for additional use. Regularly scheduled Masses will not be held in churches for occasional use after a certain date, but permission may be granted to hold weddings or funerals there for former parishioners.

“I believe many parishioners will welcome these decisions as an exciting opportunity to come together as stronger faith communities,” Bishop Cistone said. “However, I do realize some will experience feelings of loss and deep sadness. These feelings are real and I have promised to walk with our people during this time of transition and renewal.”

The bishop also stressed that parishioners remember it is the Eucharist — not the parish — that unites Catholics.

“With the Eucharist as the source and summit of our faith, we must be willing to encounter each other anew and pray together as one family of God,” he said.

The transition comes during the Saginaw diocese’s 75th anniversary. It was established by Pope Pius XI on Feb. 26, 1938. The diocese today includes 6,955 square miles across Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Sanilac, Saginaw and Tuscola counties.

“Our anniversary year serves as an excellent opportunity to reflect on our rich past, celebrate the blessings of today, and envision A Future Full of Hope (the title of his 2011 pastoral letter) for the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Saginaw,” Bishop Cistone said.

Details are at www.saginaw.org/parish-planning/pplanning.html.