Bishop Donald Wuerl is calling on the people of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh to prepare for a future with fewer priests.

"Fewer priests does not mean less ministry," Wuerl wrote in a pastoral letter in this week's Pittsburgh Catholic.

The number of Pittsburgh's active diocesan priests has dropped from 520 in 1984 to 411 in 1994 to 314 in 2004.

Five years ago, the diocese projected that it would have 308 priests in 2004 and 240 in 2009.

Next month's convocation of diocesan priests will be devoted to plans for adjusting to the declining number of priests. After those closed-door discussions, the diocese will unveil plans to draw large numbers of parishioners into the planning process.

"In spring 2005 I hope to receive recommendations from each deanery on how best to sustain pastoral ministry in its parishes, institutions and faith communities. My intention then would be to share the fruit of this process in a pastoral letter which will provide some direction as we move into the future," Wuerl wrote.

Ten years ago, Wuerl said that if it were not for a sweeping 1992-94 reorganization that reduced the number of parishes from 333 to 218, he would have had 75 priestless parishes by 1995. But these new discussions are not about closures, mergers or priestless parishes, said the Rev. Ronald Lengwin, spokesman for the diocese.

"It's not that we are looking to close parishes. This is not what this is about at all, although there have continued to be parishes that have sought to close one of their buildings," he said.

This is likely to involve representatives of neighboring parishes discussing how to share resources, such as a youth ministry or business manager, to free priests for duties that only they can provide, Lengwin said. Reducing the number of Masses is also likely to be on the agenda.

"Perhaps with the guidance of the Spirit, we will come up with some new ways to do things more efficiently, more effectively. The one thing we know is, because of the reduction in the number of priests, our priests are working harder than ever."

The letter cited efforts that Wuerl has already made to increase the number of permanent deacons and to provide training for 40,000 lay persons who serve as staff members and volunteers in parishes.

Wuerl's letter stressed the importance of lay persons stepping up to take responsible roles in the mission of the church. That is not a compromise, but the vision put forth by Vatican II, Lengwin said.

"The bishop has pointed out on a number of occasions that in 1965, when the documents of the Second Vatican Council were promulgated, there were more priests than ever. Yet in that council, perhaps prophetically, the church was calling for greater involvement of the laity to take their place within the church."