Over 200 parishes have closed in German diocese

The Diocese of Essen, Germany, celebrated its sixtieth anniversary on February 23.

Since 1957, the number of Catholics has declined from 1.4 million to 791,000, in part because of a decline in the steel industry, according to the Italian news agency SIR. 

Over 200 parishes have closed, with the number of parishes falling from 259 to 43.

References:

• Germany: 60th anniversary of Essen Diocese. Ministry and interreligious dialogue. But number of Catholics down (SIR)