February 16, 2008

Diocese will not oppose landmark status of Holy Trinity Church

but expresses concern about financial burden it will place on new Divine Mercy Parish

In a letter to the Historic Preservation Commission of Niagara Falls dated February 15, Msgr. David S. Slubecky, vicar general of the Diocese of Buffalo, said the diocese “will respect and reluctantly accept the decision by the Historic Preservation Commission and the City of Niagara Falls designating Holy Trinity a landmark.”

Msgr. David S. Slubecky also stated that the diocese continues to believe that providing landmark status to Holy Trinity Church and its buildings is not in the best interests of a parish that can ill afford the costs associated with such a designation.

“Our concern has always been and continues to be that the high cost of meeting landmark guidelines will place an additional, undue financial burden on the new Divine Mercy Parish that will be responsible for the Holy Trinity property,” Msgr. Slubecky said. “As we stated last October when the reconfiguration of Niagara Falls parishes was announced, the disposition of any unneeded buildings and property will be left to the discretion of the new parish.

The diocese announced on Oct. 14, 2007, that Holy Trinity would merge with four other parishes in Niagara Falls: St. Stanislaus Kostka, St. George, Our Lady of the Rosary, and Our Lady of Lebanon. The new faith community, to be known as Divine Mercy Parish, will be located on the St. Stanislaus property.

Msgr. Slubecky said in many cases, the diocese works with parishes to make sure that any unused properties are properly secured and maintained and works to find suitable reuses to benefit local communities.

A public hearing on the proposed designation is scheduled for Feb. 20 at Niagara Falls City Hall.

In June of 2005, the Diocese of Buffalo embarked on The “Journey in Faith and Grace,” a strategic planning process designed to identify the religious, spiritual, and education needs of the Catholic faithful throughout the diocese, and determine how those needs can best be met. It is an effort to create parish communities that are much more than a place where Sunday liturgy is celebrated. Its goals are to establish faith communities that provide formation programs for the sacraments, religious formation for both children and adults, and outreach to those in need; to provide for greater lay involvement, good pastoral leadership, and financial stability; and ensure that parishes will have the membership, leadership, and resources necessary to be vibrant centers of parish life.

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