2024 has been filled with both good and bad news for the Diocese of Gaylord. A few highlights are listed here.
This year started with the unfortunate release of a lengthy report filed by the Michigan Attorney General (AG) regarding sexual abuse in the Diocese of Gaylord. This report is just one of the reports released by the Michigan AG, who is releasing a report on each of the dioceses of the Catholic Church in the state of Michigan. Although the report had numerous inaccuracies and was an obvious hit job on the Church, nonetheless, it exposed the extent of rot in the Diocese that church officials just have not been able or willing to expose. Included in this rot is the widespread mishandling of abuse cases and the massive withholding of information to the Catholic laity. No less than 10 separate articles were published on our website regarding this report; they are readily available by clicking the “older entries” at the bottom of our home page. It remains to be seen if the Diocese, and the Church leadership worldwide, will learn from this unfortunate chapter of Diocesan history.
Another theme of this year is the vanishing Church. After decades of service, Manistee Catholic Schools closed. The circumstances surrounding the closure were somewhat mysterious, as the Diocese announced an almost impossible task of demanding the school come up with millions of dollars within a few weeks or face closure, which it did.
Next to the sexual abuse report, the loss of clergy tops the list of most important issues facing the Diocese. No less than four clergy have left, been removed, or taken leaves of absence. Despite this, significant parish closures have not occurred. The loss of clergy has been addressed, in part, by the importation of clergy from India, but this should only be considered a stop gap measure as the true health of a diocesan vocations program is its ability to recruit vocations from within the diocese. Furthermore, the imported priests in no way are making up for the vast shortage of clergy in the Gaylord Diocese. We have covered this in multiple articles that can be accessed on this website by clicking the “older entries” at the bottom of our home page.
One bright spot in the Diocese is the recent removal of a homosexual music minister by a newly appointed priest to the parish. This was followed by a defense of the priest’s actions by Bishop Walsh.
It is questionable whether or not this year was any more or less favorable for this troubled Diocese. We continue to ask each of our readers to pray for the Diocese. We also want to thank all of you who have supported this apostolate with your prayers and financial support. This organization is completely voluntary and 100% of all proceeds go to maintaining this website and supporting our Bishop and clergy by defending the faith of the Church and working to increase the holiness of the Diocese of Gaylord. We wish you a blessed and fulfilling 2025 no matter what your trials, tribulations or triumphs may be.
St. Michael, the Archangel, pray for us!