WHITEFIELD is set to lose a Catholic priest in a huge shake-up of the Salford Diocese.

St Bernadette's RC Church and St Michael's RC Church will be amalgamated and served by one priest instead of two.

The re-organisation has been blamed on falling congregation numbers and a shortage of priests, although Whitefield has a combined parish of more than 900 worshippers.

Father John Rowan, of St Michael's in Ribble Drive, said: "We will keep both church buildings and both schools, but it means that two parishes, at some time in the future, will come together with one resident priest. The resident priest will be at St Bernadette's presbytery. We don't know who the resident priest will be. It could be another priest altogether."

He said the changes will mean alterations to mass times as one priest copes with the job of two, and fewer masses overall.

St Michael's parish, although 50 years old, benefited from a brand new church in 2000. It has a congregation of 360.

Fr Rowan said "Very few people have said to me how they feel, but no one likes change. It is important that we look forward to the future with confidence."

St Bernadette's, in Bury New Road, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2001. With 550 people, it is the area's biggest congregation.

Father Chris Lough said: "There have been a mixture of emotions. Some people thought it was inevitable, but most were a bit shocked. The idea is that over the next few months and years we will work together more, co-ordinating things that go on in the two parishes, so that when we go down to one priest we will be prepared for it."

More churches will be clustered, including Our Lady of Grace, Prestwich, with Our Lady of Dolours (Servites), Kersal.

Spokesman for Salford Diocese, Father Michael Walsh said: "Over the last three years 42 priests have either died, retired or moved on and not been replaced. Only one or two are ordained each year."