The Diocese of Buffalo will merge a third of its parishes

WASHINGTON — The Diocese of Buffalo announced May 28 that it would merge about a third of its 160 parishes to shore up dwindling resources as it faces declining Mass attendance, aging congregations, a shortage of priests and financial challenges linked to the bankruptcy filing four years ago.

The diocese will announce in late summer or early fall which churches will close, to determine which churches can most easily remain open. The plan stems from the diocesan program launched five years ago called Road to Renewal.

The initiative is similar to efforts by other dioceses across the country in recent months facing the same challenges, including the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Diocese of Erie, Pa., and the Dioceses of Peoria and Joliet in Illinois.

“The Catholic Church in Western New York is not the same as it was 50 years ago, or 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago,” Buffalo Bishop Michael Fisher said in an announcement video about the project.

He said “reducing the number of parishes would best allow us to use our limited resources to help reinvigorate a spiritual renewal in the diocese.”

The specific parishes that merge will be determined by priests and lay leaders who will review diocesan recommendations and either approve them or present alternatives.

“To make the recommendations that will be presented to pastors, we looked at parish demographics, participation in the sacraments and financial support,” said Father Bryan Zielenieski, diocesan vicar for renewal and development. “We also looked at variations in our urban, suburban and rural parishes, as factors such as poverty rates, transportation availability, proximity and limited resources impact the overall long-term vitality of the parish .

According to diocesan statistics, 49% of parishes report a decline in the number of registered households, 60% of parishioners are over 60 and 59% of parishes have seen a steady decline in baptisms, with more than half averaging just one baptism. per month. .

Diocesan priests are also aging, with an average age of 76 years. By 2030, nearly two-thirds of diocesan priests (63%) will be between 65 and 70 years old.

The diocese is also still struggling financially after filing for bankruptcy in 2020 and attempting to compensate 900 claims of alleged sexual abuse by priests, religious and other diocesan employees.

Bishop Fisher called the planned mergers “difficult changes” but said they “will help direct limited resources toward the greatest needs of our community.”