Comprehensive decision presented reflects collaboration among all Diocesan stakeholders
Driven by a comprehensive and collaborative planning process involving clergy and laity, the Diocese of Buffalo today has announced a reshaping of parishes and worship sites in its eight-county region that will see a total of 118 worship sites remain open following a merger/closure review.
“The Diocese of Buffalo, like dioceses across our nation and around the world, has had to deal with some harsh realities – a decline in Church attendance, the decline of those pursuing a life in ordained ministry, the rise of secularism and shift away from the parish as the defining center of Catholic identity and the horrendous toll that the sexual abuse scandal by clergy and others has inflicted on parish life and the personal faith of so many; most especially on those who have been forever harmed in body, mind and spirit,” explained Bishop Michael W. Fisher.
“Yet from the beginning, this process, known as the Road to Renewal, has been about reinvigorating Catholic faith, more fully optimizing parish and diocesan resources, and increasing the impact of our varied ministries among the countless who benefit from them across Western New York. The ultimate goal is for all parish families to be and remain vibrant communities of faith, focused on their evangelizing mission, and serving the abundant need all around us,” added Bishop Fisher.
The Diocese currently has a total of 196 worship sites that include 160 parishes and 36 secondary worship sites. Going forward the Diocese will see 79 parishes and 39 secondary worship sites remain after the merger/closure process.
In the meetings with the Vicarates held August 12th through 22nd, 52 counter proposals were presented from 30 Families of Parishes to a diocesan review team which resulted in changes to 26 of the 36 Families of Parishes’ initial recommendations proposed in June, while six of the Families of Parishes accepted the initial recommendations.
Highlights of some of those 26 changes in the initial June recommendations include:
- In Family #20 in North Buffalo, the initial recommendation was proposed to have two parishes – Assumption Parish and St. Margaret Parish. In the final decision, Assumption Parish and St. Mark Parish will remain open, with St. Margaret to be used as a secondary worship site.
- In Family #12 in Batavia, the initial recommendation was proposed to keep open both Resurrection and Ascension Parishes. Following the counter proposal meeting, the final decision changed to merge Ascension Parish with Resurrection Parish, and have St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish in Family #13 join Family #12, and serve as a secondary worship site.
- In Family #3 in the Dunkirk/Fredonia area, the initial recommendation was to have Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Silver Creek and Holy Trinity, Dunkirk, as the remaining parishes serving the area. In the final decision, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Holy Trinity will remain, but St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Dunkirk, will be included as a secondary worship site.
“We received many excellent, well-researched and well-presented counter proposals,” explained Rev. Bryan Zielenieski, Vicar for Renewal and Development, who leads the Road to Renewal effort. “Based on the information presented in those meetings last month, the diocesan review team changed the initial recommendations in 26 of the 36 Families of Parishes. This high level of change from the initial recommendations reveals the true openness and collaboration in our effort to craft a Diocesan roadmap for the foreseeable future.”
Accompanying the news release are summary sheets that detail by vicariate the parishes and secondary worship sites remaining open, and the parishes/worship sites scheduled for merging and closing.
The Families of Parishes will now work to decide the timeline for mergers/closures within their respective families. That work is expected to begin soon with the merger/closure process to be concluded by Pentecost in June 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
The total number of worship sites will be 118 adjusted from the current 196 worship sites in our eight counties.
When we first announced our initial recommendations in May, we welcomed parish families to present alternative plans to the diocese. We experienced open collaboration with parish families who presented variations from the initial proposals with the help of pastors, vicars, parish council leaders and parishioners. In all, 26 of 36 Families of Parishes realized changes from the initial recommendations to what we have presented today, with six of the Families of Parishes accepting the initial recommendations.
We are expecting that the mergers will be accomplished by June 2025.
Once canonical mergers are completed, church buildings no longer in use will go through the process to prepare them for sale.
Some sacred objects will be used within the parish family. Sacramental records will become the responsibility of the central office in the parish family.
The Family of Parishes will provide for maintenance of the properties utilizing assets from the closed parish.
Oversight of those funds becomes the responsibility of the pastor, trustees, and parish finance council in accordance with Diocesan financial guidelines.
Transition teams composed of members of the respective Families of Parishes will work with the diocese on closing Masses.
A planning group is developing a Catholic Education Strategic plan, in concert with the Road to Renewal, that should be finalized in the fall as it relates to all schools in the diocese.
Parish outreach ministries are important to the vibrancy of our Diocese and the areas they serve. The outreach ministries will be accommodated in the Family of Parishes.
The Diocese, our faithful, our priests, deacons and religious will greatly influence our future. All of us have a role to play. Parish viability depends on spiritual renewal including participation in sacraments, parishioner engagement, welcoming new members into the faith and the availability of priests.
