“Parishioners want something that works”: the diocese organizes vicariate meetings

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — It could be said that Western New York’s Catholic community is in the grip of “tingling” and waiting to learn the fate of its beloved churches.

The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo has now put things in motion to begin holding regional meetings with parish families this week. That’s when we first learned which churches he would recommend closing or merging.

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“All clergy, family leadership teams, their administrators are invited to attend this meeting, as well as their deacons, so that they can all be on the same page as to why we are doing the recommendations we make,” explained Father Bryan Zielenieski, vicar for renewal. and Development, Diocese of Buffalo.

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Last week, the Diocese of Buffalo announced it would reduce its footprint with the closure or merger of more than 50 churches, among 161 parishes across Western New York’s eight counties. It’s part of the path to renewal as the bankrupt diocese faces a mountain of debt following more than 900 complaints filed against it under the Child Victims of the Clergy Abuse Scandal Act.

Today, 36 families of parishes are part of seven regional vicariates.

The diocese began meeting with vicariates this week to announce its recommendations on which churches should close or merge.

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“They will then be allowed to take those recommendations back to their larger parish structures to talk about it further and either acknowledge and accept the recommendations that were made or offer alternatives to what was recommended,” Zielenieski described.

Vicariates have until July 15 to submit their suggestions to the diocese. The diocese will then have a final list of church closures which will be published on September 1.

A vicariate meeting for all Buffalo churches is scheduled for Thursday evening.

“Parishioners want something that works,” said Michael Taheri, a Catholic from Buffalo.

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Taheri, an outspoken Catholic, tells me that he does not support this process and that the diocese must allow “lay people” to play a “larger role in this process.”

“People want to participate, they want to be heard and they want their recommendations to be taken seriously, so it’s not a reactive situation. This is what we are dictated to do,” Taheri remarked. “They really need a massive overhaul of the role of the laity.”

The diocese announced that another property would be put up for sale. The St. Jude Center on Ellicott Street in the downtown Buffalo medical corridor. They’re listing it for $1.5 million.

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The diocese is considering moving to downtown St. Joseph’s Cathedral County, but it’s not within walking distance of those who traditionally travel to the shrine from nearby hospitals to pray.

“It’s close to Children’s Hospital, Buffalo General Hospital and the UB School of Medicine, so there are people who go to this center for a short-term spiritual retreat. Maybe they’re in the hospital, maybe they just got treatment, and they want and want prayers and it’s within walking distance, so that’s really the cornerstone of what the ministry is – it’s not the place that should close,” Taheri responded.

You may recall that Taheri and a handful of other Catholics sent a letter to the pope in April calling on the Vatican to force Bishop Michael Fisher to resign.
“Have you heard a response to your petition from the Vatican? asked Buckley.

“No. We sent a follow-up letter about two weeks ago and I remain confident that the Pope will respond one way or another and at least look into the matter. If he sends a representative, as they “have done before, and the representative draws certain conclusions and the laity can participate, then we have done our work as laymen. We have brought it to the attention of the pope,” Taheri replied.

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But since that letter, the bishop has been more visible, even agreeing to interviews with 7 News in April. He also appeared and spoke at the Road to Renewal announcement last Monday. I asked Taheri if he thought the bishop was doing a better job.

“I think he did. I think since this letter was sent by our little group; I think he was exposed more in public. I think he’s trying to participate in the community, but there’s still work to be done and I think he’s certainly capable of doing more,” Taheri responded. “Listen to people and you know, like Jesus, you have to hold on to the cross, sometimes it’s hard. Jesus Christ did it, we imitate Christ, so he must cling to the cross a little.