November 1, 2007

Bishop Kmiec approves new names for parishes

On this Feast of All Saints, the Diocese of Buffalo has announced that four new Catholic parishes have new names, recommended by parishioners and approved by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec.

In Buffalo’s Lovejoy district, the merged parishes of Visitation, St. Agnes and St. Francis of Assisi are now known as St. Katharine Drexel Parish, located at the St. Francis of Assisi site on Schiller Street. The parishes merged on Oct. 21.

Also in the City of Buffalo, St. Stephen, Holy Apostles Peter & Paul, SS. Rita & Patrick and St. Valentine parishes will merge on Dec. 2. The new parish, to be located at the St. Stephen site on Elk Street, will be known as St. Clare Parish.

Blessed Sacrament Parish in Delevan and St. Mary Parish in East Arcade merged into SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Arcade earlier this year. The parish is using the SS. Peter & Paul and St. Mary sites, and is now known as St. Mary Parish.

In Allegany County, two missions, Sacred Heart in Angelica and St. Joseph in Scio, merged into St. Mary Parish in Belmont on July 14. The new parish is now called Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Parish.

“These parish names, suggested by members of our new faith communities, reflect the deep interest and spirituality of the priests and laity. I am profoundly grateful for the understanding and acceptance people continue to show as we build new parishes that are stronger and provide their local communities with many more possibilities,” Bishop Kmiec said.

When parishes merge as part of the “Journey in Faith and Grace,” the diocesan restructuring plan, the new parish has the option to select a new name. While these parishes have new names, by Canon Law, the names of their church buildings where they are located must remain the same.

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