BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Diocese of Buffalo has begun meeting with parish families that have put forward counter-proposals regarding its plan to close and/or merge around 80 worship sites or churches in Western New York.
30 of the 36 parish families in the Diocese have developed alternative plans.
Those families began presenting their plans to a diocesan review panel on Monday, August 12. The meetings will continue through August 22.
According to the Communications Director for the Diocese of Buffalo Joe Martone, the conversations have been positive.
“The interactions with the review panel have been really good. I sat in on a few sessions yesterday and the groups presenting counter proposals have been very thorough in the presentations they’ve given,” he said.
Back in May, the diocese recommended merging approximately 34% of its 160 parishes although they indicated that a final number had not yet been determined.
“No decisions have been made…this review panel will discern this information and make the best decision possible to move the Diocese forward,” said Martone.
2 On Your Side tried speaking to several representatives from the parish families meeting with the diocesan review panel on Tuesday at the Catholic Center on Main Street in Buffalo but each of them declined.
One parish family leader who asked not to be identified told 2 On Your Side over the phone that his/her meeting went well and that their family's proposal was well received.
“There has been a tremendous amount of involvement and through this meeting process and through the discernment we’ll come up with what's best for the diocese moving forward,” Martone added.
The Diocese had cited several reasons for needing to decrease its footprint in Western New York including financial strain, declining attendance, and a priest shortage; with an expected 70 priests in six years and only 38 priests by 2040.
According to the Diocese of its 160 parishes:
- 59% report a negative net operating balance
- 49% have registered households declining
- 59% are seeing a steady decline in baptisms
Martone also said of the 550,000 Catholics in Western New York, only about 12% attend church regularly.
The Diocese of Buffalo is looking to restructuring efforts in other dioceses as an example.
“We’ve looked at a number of dioceses throughout the country and were using a collaborative model which seems to be the most successful model as we reshape the diocese,” said Diocese Communications Director Joe Martone.
The Diocese has said it plans to engage in immediate efforts to increase youth involvement and create initiatives to support current and future priests.
After reviewing the counter-proposals from its parish families, the Diocese’s next step will be to finalize its plan and announce the results by September 1st.
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