BUFFALO, N.Y. — Rain was fitting Sunday, as there was a feeling of sadness among many in Buffalo’s Catholic community.
Parishioners across the city returned to their respective parishes for the first time since the Buffalo Diocese announced late last week a preliminary list of 26 churches that would be recommended to merge in the coming months.
“You know it was coming, but it still hurts,” said Matt Krause, a parishioner at St. Thomas Aquinas — one of the churches set to merge. “I just hope that there's still enough places where people can still go.”
The list was released almost two weeks after the diocese announced they would be merging 34% of their 160 parishes across Western New York due to record low attendance numbers, the ongoing priest shortage, and the church’s financial troubles stemming from an expected $100 million settlement for 900 cases of sexual abuse by diocese employees.
“It hits home, but there's victims out there too, so you have to think of the other side, and they deserve justice and restitution as well,” Krause said.
2 On Your Side spoke with parishioners at St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John Kanty, another church recommended to merge with St. Stanislaus in Family No. 30.
Diane Czajka, a lifelong parishioner at St. John Kanty, said her biggest concern is losing the only church community she’s ever known.
“I guess if it closed we’ve got to try to maybe go to St. Stans like they're suggesting, merging with them,” she said. “There's a lot of people that are negative about it. I don't know what's going to happen.”
Others at St. Thomas Aquinas, which is expected to merge with St. Teresa, shared the same concern but also saw the move as an opportunity.
“I think, in a way, it might be good because then you'll meet new people, and I think that'll be nice,” parishioner David Marotto said.
Here are the merger recommendations:
Family No. 15
Our Lady of Peace, Clarence: merge with Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Family No. 16
St. Benedict, Eggertsville: merge with St. Leo the Great. School to remain open
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Cheektowaga: merge with Christ the King
Infant of Prague, Cheektowaga: merge with SS. Peter & Paul
Family No. 17
St. Andrew, Kenmore: merge with St. Timothy
Blessed Sacrament, Tonawanda: merge with St. Paul
Family No. 18
St. Francis of Assisi, Tonawanda: merge with Our Lady of Czestochowa
St. Andrew Kim RC Mission, Tonawanda: merge with St. Leo (Family #16)
St. Jude the Apostle, North Tonawanda: merge with Our Lady of Czestochowa
Family No. 19
St. Pius X, Getzville: merge with St. Gregory the Great
Good Shepherd, Pendleton: St. Augustine site to close
Family No. 20
Holy Spirit (Dakota Street): merge with St. Margaret (Hertel Avenue)
St. Mark (Woodward Avenue): merge with St. Margaret. School to remain.
St. Rose of Lima (Parker Avenue): merge with St. Margaret
All Saints (Chadduck Avenue): merge with Assumption (Amherst Street)
Family No. 21
St. Lawrence (East Delavan Avenue): merge with Blessed Trinity (Leroy Avenue)
SS. Columba Brigid (Hickory Street): merge St. Stanislaus (Peckham Street)
Family No. 22
St. Anthony of Padua (Court Street): merge with St. Louis (Edward Street)
St. Michael (Washington Street): merge with St. Louis
Our Lady of Perpetual Help (O’Connell Street): merge with St. Louis
Family No. 23
Coronation of the BVM (Dewitt Street): merge with Assumption
Family No. 30
St. John Kanty (Swinburne Street): merge with St. Stanislaus
St. John Gualbert (Gualbert Avenue): merge with St. Stanislaus
Family No. 31
St. Martin of Tours (Abbott Road): merge with Our Lady of Charity (South Park Avenue). School to remain.
St. Thomas Aquinas (Abbott Road): merge with St. Teresa (Seneca Street)
Family No. 32
St. Bernard (Clinton Street): merge with Our Lady of Czestochowa (Willowlawn Parkway)
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