BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo released a new list of merging or closing recommendations for parishes within the Northern Erie Vicariate. Under this, 10 parishes would merge and nine buildings would be sold.
Father Bryan Zielenieski spoke with 7 News' Pheben Kassahun for a second time this week about the Road to Renewal plan. He said percentage-wise, the Northern Erie Vicariate is the suburb parishes and will suffer greatly due to the larger number of parishioners.
"I think tonight was a little bit different because there was this perception that just because there was more population, everybody thought that the percentages would be better," said Father Zielenieski. "Percentages are the same between our entire diocese."
The Buffalo Vicariate met on June 6 in which the diocese recommended that 15 parishes merge within the City of Buffalo.
The Diocese of Buffalo recommends 15 parishes merge within the City of Buffalo as it 'reshapes.'
Catholic Diocese Communications Director Joe Martone told Kassahun all the vicariates will have their meetings by the end of the week.
No changes are being made to Catholic schools, according to Father Zielenieski.
"Our schools are where our young people are, where they encounter and learn about their faith and grow together," he said. "So, it's important that our future and Catholic education vibrant and viable. We want to make sure that these schools are strong going forward."
Deacon Ken Monaco is in a parish community of five churches. On Friday, he learned two of them would be merging. Deacon Monaco says he's looking at this optimistically, and expects people to grow spiritually from this.
"People will have to really think about what is most important in their faith life. That's their relationship with Jesus Christ. That doesn't waiver, or that shouldn't waiver. We are not confined to just four walls. Our relationship with Christ should be very intense," said Deacon Monaco.
Northern Erie Vicariate:
Family #15
- Our Lady of Peace, Clarence — merge with Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Williamsville
- St. Teresa of Avila, Akron
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Williamsville
- St. Mary, Swormville
Family #16
- St. Leo the Great, Amherst
- St. Benedict, Eggertsville – merge with St. Leo the Great, Amherst
- Christ the King, Snyder
- St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Cheektowaga — merge with Christ the King, Snyder
- Infant of Prague, Cheektowaga — merge with SS. Peter and Paul, Williamsville
- SS. Peter & Paul, Williamsville
Family #17
- St. Andrew, Kenmore — merge with St. Timothy, Tonawanda
- Blessed Sacrament, Tonawanda — merge with St. Paul, Kenmore
- St. John the Baptist, Kenmore
- St. Paul, Kenmore
- St. Timothy, Tonawanda
- St. Stephen, Grand Island
Family #18
- St. Amelia, Tonawanda
- St. Christopher, Tonawanda
- St. Francis of Assisi, Tonawanda— merge with Our Lady of Czestochowa, North Tonawanda
- St. Andrew Kim RC Mission, Tonawanda — merge with St. Leo (Family #16)
- St. Jude the Apostle, North Tonawanda — merge with Our Lady of Czestochowa, North Tonawanda
- Our Lady of Czestochowa, North Tonawanda
Family #19
- St. Pius X, Getzville — merge with St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville
- Good Shepherd, Pendleton (St. Augustine site to close)
- St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville
7 News spoke to members of one of the churches that was recommended to merge in Buffalo, you can find the conversation below.
Mixed reaction to the Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal plan
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. Actual closings would begin in October and continue until June 2025.
