Diocese of Buffalo announces closure and merger of 40 WNY parishes

St. John Roman Catholic Church in Jamestown proposed to close

WIVB reports the Diocese of Buffalo announced 40 recommended parish closures and mergers in Western New York.

The decision comes after the diocese’s May 28 announcement to “right-size and reshape” its parishes by closing or merging about a third of Western New York’s 160 parishes.

The diocese faces the challenges of a shortage of priests, declining Mass attendance and financial problems related to payments to settle child sexual abuse cases.

In southern Chautauqua County, the following closures or mergers are proposed:
– Our Lady of Loreto in Falconer will merge with St. James
– Our Lady of Victory in Frewsburg will close its doors.
– Our Lady of the Snows in Panama will close
– Saint John Church in Jamestown will close

Parish families and places of worship recommended for closure or merger 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.