100 Churches May Shut, Merge in Diocese of Buffalo

[Courtneyjo]

As many as 100 churches in the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo would have to be closed or merged to bring the diocese in line with others of similar population, geographic size and priest numbers.

Diocesan officials said they don’t know yet how many churches would be targeted for closing or merger.

But some members of a diocesan planning commission acknowledged during interviews with The Buffalo News that they anticipate anywhere from 60 to 100 parishes could be consolidated or closed over the next two to three years - in anticipation of a precipitous drop in the number of priests available to staff churches.

buffalonews.com/editorial/20051108/1064507.asp

 

[jrabs]

As a previous resident of Buffalo for 14 years, this would be a pity. It is a wonderful city.

 

[Trick]

There seems to be so much talk about shutting churches down, because of a shortage of priests and lack of Sunday mass attendance.

I think more thought needs to put into encouraging and trying to put more people in the pews.

We need to reach out aggresively to evangelize, especially our lapsed Catholics.

Let’s show people our beautiful faith and not hide it.

Let each family encourage their sons and daughters to consider the religeous life and be open to the call.

I really think we should have the mindset of charging forward and not one of retreating.

Trick

 

[contemplative]

My heart is a Weeping Heart. This is very sad news.

 

[Chris_Jacobsen]

Diocesan officials truly hate the Catholic Church. There was a time when the Communists closed churches. Now the bishops are doing the work of the Communists.

The legacy of John Paul II, is his appointment as bishops, men who hate the Catholic religion.

 

[Nohome]

Chris Jacobsen:

The legacy of John Paul II, is his appointment as bishops, men who hate the Catholic religion.

I think “hate” is rather unfair. They may be very good Catholics, but lousy leaders and poor administrators. Choosing bishops based soley on their subordination to superiors has always been the achillies heel of the Catholic Church.

Nohome

 

[Courtneyjo]

Buffalo once had a largely Catholic population. There are many beautiful old churches there. The closing of 100 seems extreme. I don’t think my old parish in Kenmore will close; the last time I was there it was quite full at Mass.

We were looking at old home movies of my SIL’s First Communion in Kenmore in 1967. She stood near the church sign where Mass times were posted. I don’t recall a Saturday vigil Mass, but there was a Sunday Mass at 7am, 8am, 9am, 10 am, 11 am, noon, and 5 pm. Hard to imagine now.

Oh, Confessions were Saturday from 2pm-4:30pm.

 

[davy39]

My heart goes out to you. We just went through this here in the Toledo, Ohio diocese. The main problem here was lack of attendence and changes in the areas the churches were located in. It is especially bad in areas that have been taken over by gangs and other thugs. The cathedral is in one of those areas, but still manages to hang on.