GREENSBURG — The Greensburg diocese will close 14 of its 100 parishes, and 28 others will merge or share clergy in an effort to deal with a priest shortage.

Lawrence Brandt, bishop of the diocese, announced the changes Monday. The consolidation, which will take effect Oct. 30, grew out of a three-year study by the diocese, which has about 180,000 parishioners in four counties east of Pittsburgh.

"I know that people are mentally and emotionally attached to their parishes and churches in a way they identify with no other building or entity," Brandt said in a statement. "It is understandable that they feel a part of themselves has been lost forever."

Brandt said 20 percent of the diocese's priests were being used to serve just 2.5 percent of its population.

The diocese has 83 active priests, but expects that number to drop to 60 within five years and 49 in 10 years, based on projected deaths, departures and ordinations.

The diocese's churches are in Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland counties.

The 14 parishes being closed generally have small congregations or are in rural areas, or both. Two other parishes will merge outright, while 26 parishes will enter new or modified priest-sharing partnerships.

Parishioners were told of the coming changes in a letter read at Masses on Sunday.