Buffalo Diocese Finalizes Church Closures, Mergers

The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo has finalized its merger and closure plans, resulting in the consolidation of 79 parishes and 39 secondary worship sites out of the original 196. The restructuring is driven by declining church attendance, a shortage of priests, financial challenges, and the need to address settlements for sexual abuse claims. Seven parishes in Niagara County and several in North Buffalo, including St. Rose of Lima and Holy Spirit, will close, while others like St. Mark and St. Margaret will remain open. The diocese received 52 counter-proposals, some of which were accepted, such as the merger of All Saints and St. John the Baptist parishes in Lockport. The final decisions, announced by Bishop Michael Fisher, aim to optimize resources and reinvigorate the Catholic faith in Western New York.