YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Diocese, which started in 2011 to make changes as a result of a significant population drop in the Mahoning Valley, is once again looking at ways to better serve the Catholic community.

The Diocese of Youngstown Parish Reconfiguration Plan began in 2010 where some parishes closed and others merged. But now church officials say those actions did not go far enough.

Msgr. John Zuraw says the numbers of men entering the priesthood continues to drop. In the local diocese, there were 116 priests in 2000. Today there are just 73. By 2025 the number is projected to be 55.

That trend, along with a continuing declining and aging Youngstown area population means the diocese needs to consider more mergers and closings.

One idea, which would be similar to what is taking place at St. Luke's Church in Boardman, is to have a nun serve as a parish administrator and have a priest come in for mass and special services like a baptism or funeral. That priest would then serve more than one parish.