World Mission Society Church of God takes ownership of the former seminary

Buffalo, N.Y., February 14, 2025 – The sale of the Diocese of Buffalo’s property in East Aurora that was the former home of Christ the King Seminary closed today, completing the transfer to new owners.

The closing today follows a public auction held Oct. 28, 2024, administered through U.S. Bankruptcy Court, in which World Mission Society Church of God was the winning bidder on the Christ the King Seminary property. The winning bid was $4.2 million. The Bankruptcy Court has directed that the proceeds of sale be held by the Diocese pending further order of the Court.

Originally listed for sale in November 2023, the campus on Knox Road in the Town of Aurora was closed in 2020. At that time, the Diocese and seminary board elected to close the seminary to contain costs while allowing students in formation to experience the advantages of larger, more diverse classes and offerings afforded through St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore, St. Bernard’s School of Theology, Rochester, and now also the Josephinum Diaconate Institute, Columbus.

Christ the King Seminary was founded at St. Bonaventure University in 1857 by the Franciscan Fathers of the Order of Friars Minor. In 1974, the seminary moved to Aurora N.Y., where it replaced St. John Vianney Seminary. The Diocese assumed sponsorship and administration of the seminary in 1990.

World Mission Society Church of God is a religious organization founded in 1964 that has a presence in 175 countries with 3,000,000 members.