BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — For the first time, the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo will recommend closing or merging parishes, as it faces a financial crisis.
At the end of May, the diocese announced it would close/merge parishes and worship spaces as it looks to "rightsize and reshape."
According to the diocese, it will be shutting down 34 percent of its parishes and 38 percent of its worship spaces. The diocese said the plan became apparent following a comprehensive and collaborative planning process directed by its Road to Renewal division.
The Diocese has seven regional vicariates across Western New York — committees made up of parish members from different churches.
Thursday night, the Buffalo Vicariate met with the Diocese at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church to learn what would be recommended for Catholic churches across the City of Buffalo.
The 90-minute closed-door meeting included trustees, priests and deacons.
It was recommended that, within the City of Buffalo, 15 parishes merge.
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"Now, they take those recommendations back to their parish communities, they review them, give input, potential changes, what they see happening with them and they get back to us by July 15th," Vicar for Renewal Development for Diocese of Buffalo Father Bryan Zielenieski told Kassahun.
From July 15 to August 23, the Diocese leadership will review the alternative proposals, with an official list of recommendations coming out by September 1.
Father Brian said there was some shock as to how aggressive the diocese needs to be in its reshaping.
Rodney Richardson is the trustee and co-founder of St. Martin de Porres Church. The church is the only Catholic church in the diocese with a majority-black congregation and has about 350 registered parishioners.
Richardson explained, "Surprising. Some not good news. Some good news. Some challenging for certain parishes. It's going to take a lot of coming together and give and take."
St. Teresa Church trustee Tom Kilianski is no stranger to mergers. He said a total of nine parishes have merged with St. Teresa's.
"Not everybody was expecting some of the recommendations that they're making today," Kilianski said, "The Diocese has done their job and it's been months to a couple of years that they've been working on this. Not everybody is happy."
Father Bryan added that this a very difficult task. He said he hopes parishioners understand the need to reorganize as part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.
"This is not easy because you're dealing with people's spiritual lives. You're dealing with a place where they encounter God, where they've been baptized, been married. These buildings hold a very special, significant meaning," Father Bryan said.
Actual closings would begin in October and continue until June 2025.
The vicariates will hold another meeting for Northern Erie Vicariate, on Friday.
Catholic Diocese Communications Director Joe Martone told Kassahun, all the vicariates will have their meetings, by the end of next week.
The list of churches that have been recommended to merge by the Buffalo vicariate, as of Thursday night, are as follows:
Inaugurated Family #20
- Holy Spirit, Buffalo — merge with St. Margaret
- St. Mark, Buffalo — merge with St. Margaret (school to remain open)
- St. Rose of Lima, Buffalo — merge with St. Magaret
- All Saints, Buffalo — merge with Assumption
Family #21
- St. Lawrence, Buffalo — merge with Blessed Trinity
- SS. Columba Brigid, Buffalo — merge with St. Stanislaus, Buffalo
Family #22
- St. Anthony of Padua, Buffalo — merge with St. Louis
- St. Michael, Buffalo — merge with St. Louis
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Buffalo — merge with St. Louis
Family #23
- Coronation of the BVM, Buffalo — merge with Assumption
Family #30
- St. John Kanty, Buffalo (St. Adalbert) — merge with St. Stanislaus
- St. John Gualbert, Cheektowaga — merge with St. Stanislaus
Inaugurated Family #31
- St. Martin of Tours, Buffalo — merge with Our Lady of Charity (school to remain open)
- St. Thomas Aquinas, Buffalo — merge with St. Teresa
Family #32
- St. Bernard, Buffalo — merge with Our Lady of Charity
On Watch List:
Holy Cross, Buffalo
St. Katherine Drexel, Buffalo
St. Casimir, Buffalo
