Diocese of Buffalo orders plan to merge parishes

Bishop Michael W. Fisher of Buffalo, New York, is seen in this 2018 file photo. (OSV News photo by Jaclyn Lippelmann/Catholic Standard)

(OSV News) — In what is increasingly a trend across the Northeast and Midwest, the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, announced a restructuring plan May 28 to merge approximately 34 percent of its 160 parishes.

Since April, the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Diocese of Erie, Pa., Diocese of Peoria, Ill., and Diocese of Joliet, Ill., have all revealed or expanded similar initiatives.

“The Diocese of Buffalo faces multiple challenges, including a significant shortage of priests, declining Mass attendance, aging congregations and continued financial pressures caused by our Chapter 11 filing,” explained Bishop Michael W. Fisher in a press release dated May 28.

“This plan,” added Bishop Fisher, “results from lessons learned as we brought parishes together into the parish family model and determined fairly quickly that reducing the number of parishes would best allow us to use our limited resources to help to revitalize a spiritual mind. renewal in the diocese.

The diocese faces a drop in mass attendance and a significant shortage of priests

Diocesan statistics provide additional context, describing a Catholic community where 49% of parishes report a decline in the number of registered households, only 12% initiated new Catholics last Easter Vigil, and 59% have a negative operating balance.

Sixty percent of diocesan parishioners are over the age of 60, while 59% of parishes are seeing a steady decline in baptisms, with more than half averaging just one baptism per month.

The average age of Buffalo diocesan priests is 76; in just six years, 63% will be between 65 and 70 years old.

The Diocese of Buffalo filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in 2020

In 2020, the Diocese of Buffalo formally filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, while simultaneously attempting to compensate 900 plaintiffs alleging sexual abuse by priests, religious and religious leaders. other diocesan employees.

In March, additional monetary tensions arose when the diocese decided to sell its 1930s-era downtown Buffalo headquarters for $9.8 million.

Nonetheless, a diocesan website FAQ indicates that Chapter 11 status is not the cause of the planned parish mergers; rather, it is about “helping us take a hard look at ourselves to determine what our future should look like.”

Merged parishes will follow review of recommendations by clergy and parish leaders

Launched in 2019, the diocese’s “Road to Renewal” plan initially suggested that no parishes would be merged. But as the process progressed, it became clear that parish families would need to — according to a frequently asked questions document on the diocesan website — “resize and remodel appropriately for the future.”

Using a collaborative model, the current 160 parishes were grouped into 36 “parish families” announced in December 2021. A pilot phase, involving an inaugural group of six parish families, began shortly thereafter.

According to the diocese, the final number of merged parishes will follow a review of recommendations by clergy and parish leaders. These may either be accepted or an option for one or more alternative parishes within the family of parishes may be suggested for merger. These determinations will take place between August 15 and September 1, 2024, and the process of merging the identified parishes is expected to begin this fall.

The merger recommendations were based on demographics, sacramental participation and financial support, a diocesan official explained in a May 28 statement.

“We also looked at variations in our urban, suburban and rural parishes,” said Father Bryan Zielenieski, vicar for renewal and development and leader of the Road to Renewal effort, “because factors such as rates poverty, transportation availability, proximity, and resource limitations impact the overall long-term vitality of the parish.

In his statement, Bishop Fisher presented diocesan restructuring as a priority for assets.

“These difficult changes coupled with our renewal allow limited resources to be directed toward the greatest needs of our community,” Bishop Fisher said. “The work of the Holy Spirit within our diocese and the support of the Western New York community has been an incredible blessing.”

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Kimberley Heatherington writes for OSV News from Virginia.

Keywords: New York Catholics