Shifts in Mass Attendance in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester

By THE VERY REVEREND WILLIAM D. THOMPSON

Each October, parishes are asked to count Mass attendance through every week and return their results to the Diocese. We use this data to track trends and learn how to best allocate our resources (especially our priests and the work of the Diocesan Curia staff). Every year, I hear complaints from people that October is not a good month to take this count due to the harvest. However, I find it difficult to think of another month that would more accurately present Mass attendance without the fluctuation of weather, the liturgical calendar (did you notice how many people were at Mass on the Fourth Sunday of Advent?) and vacation time. The benefit of keeping the Mass count in October is to have years of data to reflect on and to know that, while imperfect, we have a dependable set of data to compare each parish to itself.

First, I would like to share overall numbers. In 2009, an average of 38,261 Catholics attended Mass in our parishes each Sunday. This past year in 2023, 20,637 Catholics were in the pews. That is a decrease of 37.45%. There is no doubt that COVID hurt our numbers and accelerated the decrease in Mass attendance. However, we did see a 2.75% increase in Mass attendance from 2020-2021, a 9.09% increase from 2021-2022, and a 4.07% increase from 2022-2023. Each year since COVID has seen a modest increase. Let’s keep it going!

While there has been a decrease in Mass attendance in the Diocese since 2009, each individual deanery has also seen decreases. The total Mass attendance per deanery is as follows (with 2009 numbers in parenthesis):

·         Austin/Albert Lea: 4,211 (7,116)

·         Mankato: 5,142 (8,244)

·         Rochester: 7,810 (12,457)

·         Winona: 3,112 (5,136)

·         Worthington: 3,738 (4,655)

I think it is also worthwhile to consider how our parishes and pastors are being spread out, considering the number of Catholics in the area. The following is based upon the 2020 Census data (note that the number of residents is given for each County, and all other numbers are approximations based upon percentages provided. Therefore, where the number “0” appears, that simply means that the data provided “0%”):

*Calculating the average number of Catholics per pastor in each county was made with some interpretation. For example, one could argue that there are not seven pastors in Olmsted County, but eight or nine (including Byron and Eyota). A pastor is only represented in one county except for the case of Rock and Pipestone counties, which share one pastor. The number of Catholics per parish was calculated by dividing the number of Catholics in the county with the number of parishes in the county.

These numbers tell me a number of things, but two of particular import. First, there is a great deal of opportunity for evangelization directed toward those already baptized in the Catholic faith and there are a lot of Catholics not attending Mass that need to hear the Good News from you! One change (decline) demands another change (discipleship that leads others to Christ), but our response not only helps others, it helps us in our walk with Christ. Secondly, even though we have seen a 37% decrease in Mass attendance since 2009 and about a 30% decrease ten years ago, we have also seen in the last ten years a 40% increase in the number of seminarians for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester.

Do you still not believe in the power of prayer?

The Very Reverend William D. Thompson is the Vicar General, Judicial Vicar, and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester.