OLEAN, N.Y. (WKBW) — On June 3rd the Diocese of Buffalo held a meeting in Olean and recommended parish mergers and closures within Southern Tier East Vicariate
These recommendations come as the diocese looks to "rightsize and reshape."
The diocese recommended the following parish mergers and closures within the Southern Tier East Vicariate:
Family #1
- SS. Brendan and Jude, - merge with Immaculate Conception, Almond site to close, Alfred site to remain open
- Blessed Sacrament, Andover – merge with Immaculate Conception
- St. Mary, Bolivar – merge with Immaculate Conception
- Immaculate Conception, Wellsville
- Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph, Wellsville – merge with Immaculate Conception – remain as a secondary worship site.
- St. Mary, Canaseraga – merge with Immaculate Conception – remain as a secondary worship site
Family #2
- St. Patrick, Belfast
- Our Lady of the Angels, Cuba – merge with St. Patrick, Belfast
- St. Patrick, Fillmore – merge with St. Patrick, Belfast
- All sites remain open, Merge with Family #1 in 2026
Family #24
- St. Bonaventure, Allegany
- St. John, Olean – merge with St. Mary of the Angels. School to remain open for ’24-25 academic year.
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, Olean
Family #25
- Holy Name of Mary, Ellicottville
- St. Philomena, Franklinville
- Our Lady of Peace, Salamanca
- St. Philomena and Our Lady of Peace merge with Holy Name of Mary – still use all churches.
Family #33
- St. Jude, Sardinia already merging with St. Aloysius
- St. Aloysius, Springville
- St. Mary, Arcade – East Arcade worship site to close.
- St. John the Baptist, West Valley – merge with St. Aloysius and close.
