BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo is closing parishes and worship spaces as it looks to "rightsize and reshape."
The diocese announced in May it would be shutting down 34 percent of its parishes and 38 percent of its worship spaces.
Diocese of Buffalo is closing parishes; 34 percent of parishes will be merged in plan to 'reshape'
Following the announcement last month, the diocese has been meeting with its seven regional vicariates across Western New York to recommend which parishes should merge.
You can find a full list of parish families and recommended mergers below:
Inaugurated Family #20
- Holy Spirit, Buffalo — merge with St. Margaret
- St. Mark, Buffalo — merge with St. Margaret (school to remain open)
- St. Rose of Lima, Buffalo — merge with St. Magaret
- All Saints, Buffalo — merge with Assumption
Family #21
- St. Lawrence, Buffalo — merge with Blessed Trinity
- SS. Columba Brigid, Buffalo — merge with St. Stanislaus, Buffalo
Family #22
- St. Anthony of Padua, Buffalo — merge with St. Louis
- St. Michael, Buffalo — merge with St. Louis
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Buffalo — merge with St. Louis
Family #23
- Coronation of the BVM, Buffalo — merge with Assumption
Family #30
- St. John Kanty, Buffalo (St. Adalbert) — merge with St. Stanislaus
- St. John Gualbert, Cheektowaga — merge with St. Stanislaus
Inaugurated Family #31
- St. Martin of Tours, Buffalo — merge with Our Lady of Charity (school to remain open)
- St. Thomas Aquinas, Buffalo — merge with St. Teresa
Family #32
- St. Bernard, Buffalo — merge with Our Lady of Charity
On Watch List:
Holy Cross, Buffalo
St. Katherine Drexel, Buffalo
St. Casimir, Buffalo
Family #15
- Our Lady of Peace, Clarence — merge with Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Williamsville
- St. Teresa of Avila, Akron
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Williamsville
- St. Mary, Swormville
Family #16
- St. Leo the Great, Amherst
- St. Benedict, Eggertsville – merge with St. Leo the Great, Amherst
- Christ the King, Snyder
- St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Cheektowaga — merge with Christ the King, Snyder
- Infant of Prague, Cheektowaga — merge with SS. Peter and Paul, Williamsville
- SS. Peter & Paul, Williamsville
Family #17
- St. Andrew, Kenmore — merge with St. Timothy, Tonawanda
- Blessed Sacrament, Tonawanda — merge with St. Paul, Kenmore
- St. John the Baptist, Kenmore
- St. Paul, Kenmore
- St. Timothy, Tonawanda
- St. Stephen, Grand Island
Family #18
- St. Amelia, Tonawanda
- St. Christopher, Tonawanda
- St. Francis of Assisi, Tonawanda— merge with Our Lady of Czestochowa, North Tonawanda
- St. Andrew Kim RC Mission, Tonawanda — merge with St. Leo (Family #16)
- St. Jude the Apostle, North Tonawanda — merge with Our Lady of Czestochowa, North Tonawanda
- Our Lady of Czestochowa, North Tonawanda
Family #19
- St. Pius X, Getzville — merge with St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville
- Good Shepherd, Pendleton (St. Augustine site to close)
- St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville
Family #7
- Fourteen Holy Helpers, West Seneca – merge with St. Gabriel and FHH remains as a secondary worship site.
- Queen of Heaven, West Seneca
- St. John XXIII, West Seneca – merge with Queen of Heaven and close
- St. Gabriel, Elma
- 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
- Resurrection, Cheektowaga – merge with Our Lady Help of Christians and close.
- Our Lady Help of Christians, Cheektowaga
Family #9
- Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bowmansville – merge with Nativity of the BVM as a secondary worship site.
- St. Mary of the Assumption, Lancaster
- Our Lady of Pompeii, Lancaster – merge with St. Mary of the Assumption, use OLP as a secondary worship site.
- St. Philip the Apostle, Cheektowaga
- 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. 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
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Orchard Park
Family #28
- St. John the Baptist, Boston – merge with SS. Peter and Paul and remain open as secondary worship site.
- Nativity of Our Lord, Orchard Park
- SS. Peter and Paul, Hamburg
- St. Bernadette, Orchard Park – merge with SS. Peter and Paul and close.
Family #29
- Most Precious Blood, Angola
- St. Anthony, Farnham – merge with Most Precious Blood and close.
- St. Francis of Assisi, Athol Springs
- St. Mary of the Lake, Hamburg – merge with St. Francis of Assisi and close.
- St. John Paul II, Lake View
Family #10
- St. John the Baptist, Lockport
- All Saints, Lockport – merge with St. John – close St. Joseph campus
- Immaculate Conception, Ransomville – move to Family #34
- St. Patrick, Barker – move to Family #10
- St. Brendan on the Lake, Newfane
- Our Lady of the Rosary worship site, Wilson
Family #11
- St. Stephen, Middleport – merge with Holy Trinity, Medina
- St. Mark, Kendall – merge with St. Mary’s, Holley
- St. Mary, Holley
- Holy Family, Albion
- Holy Trinity, Medina
Family #34
- St. Raphael, Niagara Falls – merge with St. Peter, Lewiston
- St. Peter, Lewiston
- Accept Immaculate Conception, Ransomville, into Family #34
Family #35
- Divine Mercy, Niagara Falls – merge with St. Mary of the Cataract
- St. John de LaSalle, Niagara Falls – merge with St. Vincent de Paul
- St. Vincent de Paul, Niagara Falls
- St. Mary of the Cataract, Niagara Falls
- Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph, Niagara Falls – Our Lady of Mount Carmel site to close
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 Mt. 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
- Blessed Mary Angela, Dunkirk – merge with Holy Trinity – sale of St. Hedwig, Dunkirk, and St. Hyacinth, Dunkirk campuses
Family #4
- St. Patrick, Randolph
- Our Lady of Loretto, 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
- Christ Our Hope, Clymer – close Sherman site
- St. Dominic, Westfield – close Brocton site
Family #27
- Immaculate Conception, Eden
- St. Joseph, Gowanda
- 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
Family #1
- SS. Brendan and Jude, - merge with Immaculate Conception, Almond site to close, Alfred site to remain open
- Blessed Sacrament, Andover – merge with Immaculate Conception
- St. Mary, Bolivar – merge with Immaculate Conception
- Immaculate Conception, Wellsville
- Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph, Wellsville – merge with Immaculate Conception -remain as a secondary worship site.
- St. Mary, Canaseraga – merge with Immaculate Conception – remain as a secondary worship site
Family #2
- St. Patrick, Belfast
- 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
- St. John, Olean – merge with St. Mary of the Angels. School to remain open for ’24-25 academic year.
- Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, Olean
Family #25
- Holy Name of Mary, Ellicottville
- St. Philomena, Franklinville
- Our Lady of Peace, Salamanca
- 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
- St. Aloysius, Springville
- St. Mary, Arcade – East Arcade worship site to close.
- St. John the Baptist, West Valley – merge with St. Aloysius and close
Family #6
- Immaculate Conception, East Aurora
- Annunciation, Elma
- St. George, West Falls – merge with Immaculate Conception and close
- St. Vincent de Paul, Springbrook
- 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
- 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 and Anne, Attica – merge with St John Neumann
- St. John Neumann, Strykersville – close and sell the Queen of Rosary site, Strykerville – 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
- Mary Immaculate, East Bethany – merge with St. Isadore 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
From July 15 to August 23, diocese leadership will review proposals and an official list of recommendations will come out by September 1.
On June 14, Bishop Fisher released the following statement:
"Over the past two weeks, we have met with parish leadership groups to explain in detail our recommendations for parish mergers. These recommendations put forth - backed by the data supplied by parishes - as well as future projections, illustrate our best faith effort to provide a plan that will ultimately strengthen the Catholic Church In Western New York.
I understand these parish and worship site recommendations are difficult for many, as churches that have been home to generations of the faithful unfortunately have to merge and close for the future viability and vibrancy of our parishes and the diocese as a whole. Our effort to renew the diocese was hastened as we continue to work to satisfy the requirements of our Chapter 11 reorganization process.
We look forward over the next month to continue the dialogue with our parish leaders to decide on what is best for the diocese, and the faithful, moving forward. As always, you remain in my prayers, especially in light of this transformational time in our history."