FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

DULUTH - Being Easter, many family’s' hunts for Easter eggs comes only after finding Jesus at mass.

But demographics of members in the Catholic Diocese of Duluth are changing. Churches, however, have northland–wide shifts already in motion. 

Father Eric Hastings led church–goers during St. Benedict’s Catholic Church during Easter services: the holiest day on the Catholic calendar.

"It's a day of renewal. It's a day of new hope, the hope of eternal life,” Father Hastings said.

"People have that rootedness in Christ and so at least this day they come to church and give god thanks for the life of Jesus, his son,” Hastings said.

Although packed for the high holiday, the Catholic Diocese of Duluth, which covers more than 22,000 square miles and serves 58,000 people, is seeing it's flock age, baptism and marriage numbers decrease, and the availability of church leaders fall.

"We have six men being ordained into the priesthood this year. The priests are essential to the catholic faith. We still know that in a few years we will have less priests. So we're beginning to be proactive,” Hastings said.

For example, Hastings says, Duluth and Proctor currently have eleven pastors. Within five years that number could be cut in half - expanding responsibilities of those remaining.

"There's a joy to that because then there are more resources to use for the ministry of the church and people and time and talent and treasure. But then the downside, of course, is that it's more difficult for the priest to know his people in both communities but that's part of the reality and the challenge of living our faith today as a priest,” Hastings said.

Birth rates among Catholics nationally are also declining. In 1960, families were more likely to have five to six children. Now it's only two or three.