Preservation Buffalo Niagara seeks historic parish status

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo preservationists are sounding the alarm now that Catholic churches in Western New York are at risk of closing.

The diocese announced Tuesday that a third of the parishes in the diocese’s eight counties would merge.

“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,” said Bishop Michael W. Fisher Tuesday evening. “This plan is the result of lessons learned when we brought parishes together in 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 reinvigorate a spiritual renewal in the diocese.

In a recent Facebook post, Preservation Buffalo Niagara expressed concern that “our churches are in crisis.” Group officials fear the buildings will be demolished. Executive Director Bernice Radel is now encouraging the diocese to apply for historic landmark status.

“It’s a great way for people to put that layer of protection in place,” Radel says. “It opens the door to tax credits. It opens it to grants and funding to restore and renovate. A lot of doors open once you become a local landmark.”

2 On Your Side’s Keelin Berrian asked Preservation Buffalo Niagara if the diocese was selling off churches for money. Bernice says: “If they fall into the hands of a private developer, they can be reused. If they make the landmark on the building itself. No matter who buys it, it’s still a local landmark. »

WGRZ has contacted the diocese for comment. A spokesperson tells us they think about the historical significance of each building. It is said that 53 to 54 parishes will merge. However, the decision will not be made until at least August.

In the meantime, Preservation Buffalo is asking the diocese to reach out if it needs help applying for historic landmark status.