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

OLEAN, N.Y. (WKBW) — On June 3, the Diocese of Buffalo held a meeting in Olean and recommended mergers and closures of parishes within the South Tier Eastern Vicariate.

These recommendations come as the diocese seeks to “right-size and reshape.”

The diocese has recommended the following mergers and closures of parishes within the Eastern Vicariate of Southern Level:

Family #1

• SS. Brendan and Jude, – merge with Immaculate Conception, Almond site will be closed, Alfred site will remain open
• Blessed Sacrament, Andover – merging with the Immaculate Conception
• Holy Mary, Bolivar – merging with the Immaculate Conception
• Immaculate Conception, Wellsville
• Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Wellsville – merged with Immaculate Conception – remains a secondary place of worship.
• Sainte-Marie, Canaseraga – merges with the Immaculate Conception – remains a secondary place of worship

Family #2

• St. Patrick’s Day, Belfast
• Our Lady of the Angels, Cuba – merges with St. Patrick’s, Belfast
• St. Patrick, Fillmore – merge with St. Patrick, Belfast
• All sites remain open, Merge with Family #1 in 2026

Family #24

• St. Bonaventure, Allegany
• St. John, Olean – merge with St. Mary of the Angels. The school will remain open for the 24-25 school year.
• Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels, Olean

Family #25

• Holy Name of Mary, Ellicottville
• Sainte-Philomène, Franklinville
• Our Lady of Peace, Salamanca
• Saint Philomena and Our Lady of Peace merge with the Holy Name of Mary – they still use all churches.

Family #33

• St. Jude, Sardinia is already merging with St. Aloysius
• St. Aloysius, Springville
• St. Mary, Arcade – East Arcade worship site closed.
• Saint-Jean-Baptiste, West Valley – merge with Saint-Aloysius and close.

You can find the full list of parishes recommended for merger or closure across the seven Vicariates here.