close
close

The diocese recommends mergers and closures of parishes within So. Western Level Vicariate

DUNKIRK, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Diocese of Buffalo held its fourth of seven Vicariate meetings Tuesday in an effort to “right-size and reshape.”

Tuesday’s meeting was held at the Bienheureuse Marie-Angèle parish, Saint-Hyacinthe site, in Dunkirk. The diocese has recommended the following mergers and closures of parishes within the West Vicariate of the South Level.

Family #3

  • St. Anthony, Fredonia – merge with Holy Trinity and close
  • Saint Joseph, Fredonia – merge with Holy Trinity and close
  • Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Silver Creek – close the site of Sainte Rose de Lima, Forestville, of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
  • St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Dunkirk – merge with Holy Trinity and close. Northern Chautauqua Regional School would remain open and continue at this location with ministry provided by Holy Trinity.
  • Holy Trinity, Dunkirk
  • Blessed Marie-Angèle, Dunkirk – merger with Sainte Trinité – sale of the Sainte-Hedwige, Dunkerque and Saint-Hyacinthe campuses, Dunkirk

Family #4

  • St. Patrick, Randolph
  • Notre-Dame de Loreto, Fauconnier – merge with Saint-Jacques
  • St. James, Jamestown – close Our Lady of Victory site
  • Sacré-Cœur, Lakewood – close the Panama site
  • Holy Apostles, Jamestown – close St. John site

Family #5

  • Saint Mary of Lourdes, Mayville
  • Christ Our Hope, Clymer – close Sherman site
  • St. Dominic, Westfield – close Brocton site

Family #27

  • Immaculate Conception, Eden
  • St. Joseph, Gowanda
  • St. Mary, Cattaraugus – merge with St. Joseph and close
  • Holy Spirit, North Collins – merge with Immaculate Conception and close
  • Epiphany of Our Lord, North Collins

The Catholic Diocese’s communications director, Joe Martone, said all vicariates will have their meetings by the end of the week.
The diocese said these are only recommendations at this time. Parish families will be able to present. From July 15 to August 23, diocesan leaders will review the proposals and a formal list of recommendations will be released by September 1.