BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Last week, I told you that 14 Catholic churches across Western New York, slated for closure or merger as part of the Diocese of Buffalo's "Road to Renewal" initiative, have had their fates temporarily placed on hold. The churches received letters from the Vatican saying they received their appeals and will suspend the closings and mergers until a full review is conducted.
Since my story aired, more parishioners have reached out to share their renewed sense of hope. You can read more about it here or watch the video below.
Parishioners received letters from the Vatican indicating that their appeals have been acknowledged and that a thorough review will happen in Rome before decisions are finalized.
This development has sparked a renewed 'sense of hope' within the affected communities, several of whom have rallied to keep their places of worship open.
Nandor Forgach, a parishioner at St. Benedict's Church in Eggertsville, says the Vatican's letters are a "great win" in their ongoing crusade to preserve their parish's legacy.
"To officially have the letter from the Vatican has been a great win for us in our crusade to keep our parish a parish," Forgach said.
The Diocese of Buffalo's plans would turn St. Benedict's into a secondary site, merging it with St. Leo's in Amherst. For now, that plan is on hold as the Vatican reviews the parish's appeals.
"If there's a silver lining to all of this, I feel like a lot of people have become motivated to protect their churches," Forgach said. "I think it's brought some people back closer that may have strayed away for a while."
Forgach also has two daughters attending St. Benedict's school. He says he believes in the importance of Catholic education in his family's life.
"She's like dad, you know, Jesus died for our sins so we could all go to heaven," he said. "I'm like you're five. How do you? Where did you get that from? And it's places like this."
I also spoke with two parishioners at St. Rose of Lima in Forestville who heard from Rome, Aimee Rogers of Forestville and Tammy Green of Silver Creek, both parishioners of St. Rose for more than 30 years.
"Keys were taken away," Rogers said. "We don't have any access."
"Everything has changed for the community having these doors close," Green added.
But these parishioners say the Vatican letter suspends their closing, and they're now hoping the bishop reopens it during the appeal review.
"We're expecting the doors to open while we are in the appeal process," Green said.
"How difficult is it not to be able to go to your parish?" I asked.
"For us, especially during Lent, it's been really challenging for our group," Rogers replied. "We would do the stations of the cross and so many different things."
"My mom has been involved with the community and the local churches forever. Mom is now 90 years old, and it breaks her heart that I can’t take her there," Green added.
But as Catholics say, they walk by "faith," hopeful that something might turn around.
"Continue to pray because it was divine intervention that got our letter to the Vatican," Green said.
"We are here to save souls, and when we leave a community, we are losing souls," Rogers added.
The following churches received the letters:
- Infant of Prague, Cheektowaga
- St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Cheektowaga
- Blessed Sacrament, Tonawanda
- St. John XXIII, West Seneca
- Holy Spirit, north Buffalo
- St. Bernadette, Orchard Park
- Ascension, Batavia
- St. Bridgid, Bergen
- St. Rose of Lima, Forestville
- Our Lady of the Rosary, Wilson
- St. John de LaSalle, Niagara Falls
- Our Lady of Peace, Salamanca
- St. Benedict, Eggertsville
- All Saints, Lockport
