Diocese releases full list of recommended mergers
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Following vicariate meetings and allowing time for pastors to inform their parishioners, the Diocese of Buffalo has released a list of recommended mergers for parishes throughout its eight counties.
The full list of recommendations includes the merging of parishes, the closing of worship sites, and the transferring of parishes into new families follows.
The plan, presented over two weeks in seven separate meetings within the respective Vicariates calls for approximately 44 percent of the diocesan parishes and approximately 44 percent of diocesan worship sites to merge and close. In terms of parishes recommended to merge and close, the diocese has currently 71 parishes of the diocese’s 160 parishes to merge into other parishes. Eighteen of 36 worship sites are recommended for closure bringing the total number of structures to close at 89 buildings.
“The Diocese of Buffalo is facing multiple challenges including a significant priest shortage, declining Mass attendance, aging congregations, and ongoing financial pressures brought about by our Chapter 11 filing,” explained Bishop Michael W. Fisher at a May 28 media conference. “This plan resulted from the lessons learned as we brought parishes together in the parish family model and determined rather quickly that scaling back the number of parishes would best allow us to use our limited resources to help reenergize a spiritual renewal in the diocese.”
Nearly half of parishes have reported a decline in registered households, while 33 percent have seen a decline in contributions. Parishes have seen a 52 percent decrease in baptisms, and a 24 percent decrease in marriages. Sixty percent of parishioners also are over the age of 60.
The actual number of parishes merged will not be finalized until clergy and parish leadership have an opportunity to review the proposed recommendations. Parish leadership may present an option for an alternative parish or parishes within their family for merger. Those determinations will be made between Aug. 15 and Sept. 1. All mergers are expected to be completed by Pentecost next year.
Here are all Diocese of Buffalo parishes.
Recommendations for Southern Tier East Vicariate
Southern Tier East Vicariate
Family #1
SS. Brendan & Jude – merge with Immaculate Conception. Almond site to close. Alfred site to remain open
Blessed Sacrament, Andover – merge with Immaculate Conception and close
St. Mary, Bolivar – merge with Immaculate Conception and close
Immaculate Conception, Wellsville remains
Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph, Wellsville – merge with Immaculate Conception, then remain as a secondary worship site.
St. Mary, Canaseraga – merge with Immaculate Conception, then remain as a secondary worship site
Family #2
St. Patrick, Belfast remains
Our Lady of the Angels, Cuba – merge with St. Patrick, Belfast
St. Patrick, Fillmore – merge with St. Patrick, Belfast
All sites remain open, Merge with Family #1 in 2026
Family #24
St. Bonaventure, Allegany remains
St. John, Olean – merge with St. Mary of the Angels. School remaining open recognizing that a comprehensive Catholic Education strategic plan is coming for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, Olean remains
Family #25
Holy Name of Mary, Ellicottville remains
St. Philomena, Franklinville remains
Our Lady of Peace, Salamanca remains
St. Philomena and Our Lady of Peace merge with Holy Name of Mary – still use all churches.
Family #33
St. Jude, Sardinia already merging with St. Aloysius and close.
St. Aloysius, Springville remains
St. Mary, Arcade – East Arcade worship site to close.
St. John the Baptist, West Valley – merge with St. Aloysius and close.
Recommendations for Southern Tier West Vicariate
Family #3
St. Anthony, Fredonia – merge with Holy Trinity and close
St. Joseph, Fredonia – merge with Holy Trinity and close
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Silver Creek – close St. Rose of Lima site, Forestville, of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Dunkirk – merge with Holy Trinity and close. Northern Chautauqua Regional School would remain open and continue at this location with ministry provided by Holy Trinity.
Holy Trinity, Dunkirk remains
Blessed Mary Angela, Dunkirk – merge with Holy Trinity, then sale of St. Hedwig and St. Hyacinth campuses
Family #4
St. Patrick, Randolph remains
Our Lady of Loreto, Falconer – merge with St. James
St. James, Jamestown – close Our Lady of Victory site
Sacred Heart, Lakewood – close Panama site
Holy Apostles, Jamestown – close St. John site
Family #5
St. Mary of Lourdes, Mayville remains
Christ Our Hope, Clymer – close Sherman site
St. Dominic, Westfield – close Brocton site
Family #27
Immaculate Conception, Eden remains
St. Joseph, Gowanda remains
St. Mary, Cattaraugus – merge with St. Joseph and close
Holy Spirit, North Collins – merge with Immaculate Conception and close
Epiphany of Our Lord, North Collins remains
Recommendations for Genesee/Wyoming Vicariate
Family #6
Immaculate Conception, East Aurora remains
Annunciation, Elma remains
St. George, West Falls – merge with Immaculate Conception and close
St. Vincent de Paul, Springbrook remains
St. Joseph, Holland – merge with Immaculate Conception and close
Family #12
St. Brigid, Bergen – merge with Our Lady of Mercy and close
Resurrection, Batavia – close St. Mary’s worship site
Ascension, Batavia – merge with Resurrection, both sites remain open
Our Lady of Mercy, LeRoy remains
St. Padre Pio, Oakfield – merge with Resurrection, close Our Lady of Fatima worship site
Family #13
St. John the Baptist, Alden – join Family #9
St. Maximilian Kolbe, Corfu & East Pembroke – merge with St. John the Baptist and close both locations
SS. Joachim & Anne, Attica – merge with St John Neumann
St. John Neumann, Strykersville – close and sell the Queen of Rosary site, Strykersville – merge with Family #14.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Darien and Bennington – merge with St. John Neumann and close both locations.
Family #14
St. Michael, Warsaw remains
Mary Immaculate, East Bethany – merge with St. Michael and close both locations of Mary Immaculate
St. Isidore, Perry – merge with St. Michael, close and sell entire St. Mary site in Silver Springs.
New formation of the St. John Neumann Parish including Attica, Sheldon and Varysburg joins Family #14
Recommendations for Southern Erie Vicariate
Family #7
Fourteen Holy Helpers, West Seneca – merge with St. Gabriel, with Fourteen Holy Helpers remaining open as a secondary worship site.
Queen of Heaven, West Seneca remains
St. John XXIII, West Seneca – merge with Queen of Heaven and close
St. Gabriel, Elma remains
St. John Vianney, Orchard Park – merge with Queen of Heaven and close. St. John Vianney school remaining open on the St. John Vianney campus, recognizing that a comprehensive Catholic Education strategic plan is coming for the 2025-26 academic year.
Family #8
St. Josaphat, Cheektowaga – merge with Queen of Martyrs and close.
Queen of Martyrs, Cheektowaga remains
Resurrection, Cheektowaga – merge with Our Lady Help of Christians and close.
Our Lady Help of Christians, Cheektowaga remains
Family #9
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bowmansville – merge with Nativity of the BVM as a secondary worship site.
St. Mary of the Assumption, Lancaster remains
Our Lady of Pompeii, Lancaster – merge with St. Mary of the Assumption, use OLP as a secondary worship site.
St. Philip the Apostle, Cheektowaga remains
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Depew – merge with St Mary of the Assumption and close.
St. Martha, Depew – merge with St. Philip the Apostle and close. Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament School at St. Martha to continue, recognizing that a comprehensive Catholic Education strategic plan is coming for the 2025-26 academic year.
St. John the Baptist, Alden moves to Family #9.
Family #26
Queen of Angels, Lackawanna – merge with Our Lady of Victory and close
Our Mother of Good Counsel, Blasdell – merge with Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and close
St. Anthony, Lackawanna – merge with Our Lady of Victory, who will need to provide a Spanish Mass, and close.
Our Lady of Bistrica, Lackawanna – merge with Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and close
Our Lady of Victory National Shrine & Basilica, Lackawanna remains
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Orchard Park remains
Family #28
St. John the Baptist, Boston – merge with SS. Peter & Paul and remain open as secondary worship site.
Nativity of Our Lord, Orchard Park remains
SS. Peter and Paul, Hamburg remains
St. Bernadette, Orchard Park – merge with SS. Peter & Paul and close.
Family #29
Most Precious Blood, Angola remains
St. Anthony, Farnham – merge with Most Precious Blood and close.
St. Francis of Assisi, Athol Springs remains
St. Mary of the Lake, Hamburg – merge with St. Francis of Assisi and close.
St. John Paul II, Lake View remains
Recommendations for Niagara/Orleans Vicariate
Family #10
St. John the Baptist, Lockport remains
All Saints, Lockport – merge with St. John, then close St. Joseph campus
Immaculate Conception, Ransomville – move to Family #34
St. Patrick, Barker – move to Family #10
St. Brendan on the Lake, Newfane remains
Our Lady of the Rosary worship site, Wilson
Family #11
St. Mark, Kendall – merge with St. Mary’s, Holley and close
St. Mary, Holley remains
Holy Family, Albion remains
Holy Trinity, Medina – Closure and sale of St. Stephen site, Middleport
Family #34
St. Raphael, Niagara Falls – merge with St. Peter, Lewiston and close
St. Peter, Lewiston remains
Accept Immaculate Conception, Ransomville, into Family #34
Family #35
Divine Mercy, Niagara Falls – merge with St. Mary of the Cataract and close
St. John de LaSalle, Niagara Falls – merge with St. Vincent de Paul and close
St. Vincent de Paul, Niagara Falls remains
St. Mary of the Cataract, Niagara Falls remains
Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph, Niagara Falls – Our Lady of Mount Carmel site to close
Recommendations for Northern Erie Vicariate
Northern Erie Vicariate
Family #15
Our Lady of Peace, Clarence – merge with Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and close
St. Teresa of Avila, Akron remains
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Williamsville remains
St. Mary, Swormville remains
Family #16
St. Leo the Great, Amherst remains
St. Benedict, Eggertsville – merge with St. Leo the Great. School to remain open recognizing that a comprehensive Catholic Education strategic plan is coming for the 2025-26 academic year.
Christ the King, Snyder remains
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Cheektowaga – merge with Christ the King and close
Infant of Prague, Cheektowaga – merge with SS. Peter & Paul and close
SS. Peter & Paul, Williamsville remains
Family #17
St. Andrew, Kenmore – merge with St. Timothy and close
Blessed Sacrament, Tonawanda – merge with St. Paul and close
St. John the Baptist, Kenmore remains
St. Paul, Kenmore remains
St. Timothy, Tonawanda remains
St. Stephen, Grand Island remains
Family #18
St. Amelia, Tonawanda remains
St. Christopher, Tonawanda remains
St. Francis of Assisi, Tonawanda – merge with Our Lady of Czestochowa and close
St. Andrew Kim RC Mission, Tonawanda – merge with St. Leo (Family #16) and close
St. Jude the Apostle, North Tonawanda – merge with Our Lady of Czestochowa and close
Our Lady of Czestochowa, North Tonawanda remains
Family #19
St. Pius X, Getzville – merge with St. Gregory the Great and close
Good Shepherd, Pendleton – St. Augustine site to close
St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville remains
Recommendations for Buffalo Vicariate
Family #20
Assumption, Buffalo remains
Holy Spirit, Buffalo – merge with St. Margaret and close
St. Margaret, Buffalo remains
St. Mark, Buffalo – merge with St. Margaret. School to remain open on the St. mark campus recognizing that a comprehensive Catholic Education strategic plan is coming for the 2025-26 academic year.
St. Rose of Lima, Buffalo – merge with St. Margaret
All Saints, Buffalo – merge with Assumption
Family #2
St. Lawrence, Buffalo – merge with Blessed Trinity and close
Blessed Trinity, Buffalo remains
St. Martin de Porres, Buffalo remains
SS. Columba Brigid, Buffalo – merge with St. Stanislaus and close
Family #22
St. Louis, Buffalo remains
St. Joseph Cathedral, Buffalo remains
Blessed Sacrament, Buffalo remains
St. Anthony of Padua, Buffalo – merge with St. Louis and remain an oratory
St. Michael, Buffalo – merge with St. Louis and close
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Buffalo – merge with St. Louis and close
Family #23
Our Lady of Hope, Buffalo remains
Holy Cross, Buffalo remains
Coronation of the BVM, Buffalo – merge with Assumption and close
Family #30
Corpus Christi, Buffalo remains
St. Stanislaus, Buffalo remains
St. John Kanty, Buffalo (St. Adalbert) – merge with St. Stanislaus and close. Petition Rome to close St. Adalbert
St. John Gualbert, Cheektowaga – merge with St. Stanislaus
St. Katherine Drexel, Buffalo remains
Family #31
St. Martin of Tours, Buffalo – merge with Our Lady of Charity. School to remain open on St. Martin campus and OLC campus recognizing that a comprehensive Catholic Education strategic plan is coming for the 2025-26 academic year.
St. Teresa, Buffalo remains
St. Thomas Aquinas, Buffalo – merge with St. Theresa and close.
Our Lady of Charity, Buffalo remains
Family #32
St. Casimir, Buffalo remains
St. Bernard, Buffalo – merge with Our Lady of Czestochowa and close
Our Lady of Czestochowa, Cheektowaga remains
St. Andrew, Cheektowaga remains
