A committee of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland has been working since June on suggestions for reconfiguring parishes.

The committee’s draft proposal:

. Calls for 27 clusters, or groups, of parishes, each with one pastor who would oversee the administration of worship in each church.

. Would assign the number of priests depending on population and geography.

. Says recommendations on how many buildings would be needed and which ministries lay people would perform would be made at the local level with approval by the bishop.