The Diocese of Allentown is evaluating its churches and elementary schools.

Over the weekend, the diocese notified parishes throughout the region that the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Commission "has been tasked to do an evaluation of the condition of the parishes and make recommendations for a pastoral plan."According to a statement from the diocese that was released this weekend to parishes, the reason for the evaluations is that parishes are "facing demographic challenges and their own unique financial challenges.""We all are depleting our savings and some of us no long have any savings to deplete," the statement sent to St. Joseph's in Summit Hill, St. Francis of Assisi in Nesquehoning and St. Katharine Drexel in Lansford, says. "Ongoing maintenance and repair costs for all the parishes are also of great concern.""The process involves the entire diocese and the goal is strengthening parishes," Matt Kerr, director of communications for the Diocese of Allentown, said, stressing that these are evaluations. "No decisions have been made at this time and recommendations and decisions are several months away."Kerr provided a press release announcing the pastoral planning process.In it, Bishop John Barres states, "The goal of pastoral planning in the Diocese of Allentown is dramatic missionary growth in well-aligned, evangelizing parishes."Barres appointed 16 people to the Pastoral Planning Commission, who will work with parishes and regional Catholic elementary schools on "self-assessment, planning and implementation of actions to continuously enhance parish life and evangelization," as well as "respond to challenges, such as the declining number of diocesan priests available for parish ministry, profound changes in the demographics of certain areas of the diocese and the inability of some parishes to meet their financial obligations."The Rev. James Burdess, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, said this morning that the parish was notified over the weekend."Back when we had the first round of closures (in 2008), they (the diocese) said there would be a need for further evaluation in the future," Burdess said, adding that the population of the parish is on the decline over the last several years.But he added that St. Joseph's funds are pretty healthy thanks to parishioners supporting the church through the monthly parish breakfast, annual festival and weekly donations, as well as memorials.Once the evaluations are complete, the recommendations of the commission will be sent to the Diocesan Pastoral Council, the Council of Priests and Bishop Barres, who will determine the path for the future of the diocesan parishes and schools and "the role that they will play in the overall vibrancy of the parish."Some questions and concerns about the evaluations are on parishioners' minds because of the fear of more church closures. The diocese closed 47 parishes in the region in 2008, many in Carbon County.Kathy Crampsie of Summit Hill, a parishioner of St. Joseph's, said, she understands the need for the evaluations for cost effectiveness."I am blessed to sing and play guitar in all three churches and I get to see their devotion and love for their churches," she said. "But the number of people are down and the average age of the people is up."It is so hard for the ones attending Mass to see a need for a change. We have a shortage of priests and cost of maintaining buildings can be high, so I am just keeping an open mind and a prayerful heart," Crampsie continued, adding that her daughter lives in Washington, D.C., and has to travel 30 minutes or more to attend Mass.