Seven Niagara County parishes on Buffalo Diocese's final closing list

Reasons for the closing

Seven Niagara County parishes are on the Buffalo Diocese's final list of churches that will close. The closings are part of a plan to consolidate parishes and reduce the number of churches in the diocese. The diocese says the closings are necessary due to declining attendance and a shortage of priests. The parishes that will close are:

• Our Lady of Fatima in Niagara Falls
• St. Patrick's in Niagara Falls
• St. Stanislaus in Niagara Falls
• St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus in Niagara Falls
• St. Vincent de Paul in Niagara Falls
• St. John the Baptist in Lockport
• St. Joseph's in Lockport

Parishioners reactions

The news of the closings has been met with sadness and anger by some parishioners. Many of them have been attending their churches for decades and are now struggling to come to terms with the fact that they will be closing. Some parishioners have said they will continue to worship at their churches even after they close. Others have said they will find new churches to attend.

The diocese says it is committed to helping parishioners through the transition. The diocese will provide financial assistance to help parishioners relocate to other churches. The diocese will also offer counseling and other support services to help parishioners cope with the loss of their churches.

The closings are expected to take place in the coming months. The diocese says it will work with the affected parishes to ensure a smooth transition.

This is a developing story. The Buffalo News will continue to provide updates as they become available.

Additional information

The Buffalo Diocese is not the only diocese in the United States that is closing churches. In recent years, many dioceses have been forced to close churches due to declining attendance and a shortage of priests. The closings have been met with mixed reactions from parishioners. Some parishioners have been supportive of the closings, while others have been critical.

The closings of churches have a number of implications for the Catholic Church. The closings can lead to a loss of community and a decline in the number of Catholics. The closings can also make it more difficult for Catholics to access the sacraments.

The Buffalo Diocese is working to address the challenges posed by the closings of churches. The diocese is providing financial assistance to help parishioners relocate to other churches. The diocese is also offering counseling and other support services to help parishioners cope with the loss of their churches.