Diocese of Buffalo recommends more closures for Vicariate of Genesee Wyoming

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Diocese of Buffalo announced its recommendations for closures and mergers for the Vicariate of Genesee Wyoming Wednesday evening during a meeting at St. Joachim and Anne Church in Attica.

The recommendations follow the diocese’s decision to “right-size and reshape” its parishes due to financial problems related to payments to settle child sexual abuse cases, declining Mass attendance and a shortage of priests.

At least five parishes in the Vicariate of Genesee Wyoming are affected by the recommendations, as well as numerous places of worship recommended to close.

The total number of parishes recommended to close or merge was now approaching 50 as of Wednesday evening.

Complete list of Catholic churches the Diocese of Buffalo is considering closing or merging

See the list of affected parishes within the Vicariate of Genesee Wyoming below:

Family #6

• Saint George (West Falls): merge with Immaculate Conception (East Aurora) and close. Sell ​​out the entire campus.

• Saint Joseph (Holland): merge with Immaculate Conception (East Aurora) and close. Sell ​​out the entire campus.

• After Chapter 11, Annunciation, St. Vincent and Immaculate Conception will merge to become one parish with three houses of worship, according to a list obtained by News 4.

Family No. 12

• Sainte-Brigide (Bergen): merge with Our Lady of Mercy and close

• Resurrection (Batavia): close the Sainte-Marie place of worship

• Saint Padre Pio (Oakfield): merge with Resurrection. Close the place of worship of Our Lady of Fatima.

Family #13

• Saint Maximilian Kolbe (Corfu and East Pembroke): merge with St. John the Baptist and close both locations

• Saint John Neumann (Strykersville): closing and sale of the Queen of Rosary site (Strykerville). Merge with family #14.

• Immaculate Heart of Mary (Darien and Bennington): merge with St. John Neumann and close both locations

Family #14

• Mary Immaculate (East Bethany): merge with St. Isadore and close both Mary Immaculate locations

• Saint-Isidore (Perry): merge with St. Michael. Close and sell the entire St. Mary location in Silver Springs.

• A new formation from St. John Neumann Parish including Attica, Sheldon and Varysburg joins family #14.

In a list obtained by News 4, the projected active number of priests for Family No. 6 by 2030 is three. The location of St. Joseph relative to other parishes influenced their recommendation.

The merger of St. George with Immaculate Conception was based on family contributions, sacramental life and “geographical proximity” to other parishes in the family, the list states.

At Tuesday evening’s meeting in Dunkirk, it was recommended to close or merge a total of seven churches and six places of worship within the South West Vicariate.

Diocese of Buffalo announces southern tier closures and mergers

The diocese said the actual number of merged parishes will not be determined until its leaders have a chance to review the proposed recommendations. Parishes have until July 15 to make a counter-proposal.

The full list of mergers and closures is expected to be finalized by September 1, with changes beginning in October.

To see News 4’s complete coverage of the restructuring of the Diocese of Buffalo, click here.

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Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate of the University at Buffalo. You can see more of his work here.

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