By Mark Wozniak
Buffalo, NY – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo has officially announced plans to close 21 church buildings. The mergers will result in the closing of 15 church buildings in Buffalo, one in Cheektowaga and five in Cattaraugus County.
Bishop Edward Kmiec says the Diocese will work with the city to make sure that closing church buildings are not left abandoned. Kmiec says the process is painful, but necessary.
The moves are part of the Buffalo Diocese downsizing effort dubbed a "Journey in Faith and Grace." This announcement comes before changes are finalized for South Buffalo, the city's West Side and North Buffalo. In all, Buffalo could see as many as 36 of it's nearly 60 parishes consolidated in the mergers.
Here are some of the latest changes: Visitation and St. Agnes parishes in Lovejoy; St. Gerard Parish at Bailey and East Delevan; St. James Parish at Bailey and Hastings; St. Ann on Broradway; St. Mary of Sorrow on Guilford Street; Queen of Peace at Genesee and Forman; Holy Name of Jesus on Bailey; and Most Holy Redeemer on Genesee and Avery Place in Cheektowaga. Also among the closings will be Precious Blood, SS Rita and Patrick, St. Adalbert Basilica, St. Valentine, Holy apostles SS Peter and Paul along with St. Florian and St. John the Baptist/St. Francis Xavier in Riverside and Black Rock.