Andover, Scio, Almond, Bolivar to “close and sell entire property”
By Andrew Harris, photo from The Catholic Communities of South Eastern Allegany County.
The continued reorganization of Western New York Catholic churches has reached a “final decision,” according to The Catholic Communities of South Eastern Allegany County. That decision will essentially consolidate a number of the remaining Allegany County parishes with Wellsville’s Immaculate Conception Church.
As part of an ongoing bankruptcy process, the Diocese of Buffalo has decided to close and sell off Scio’s St. Joseph, Bolivar’s St. Mary, Almond’s St. Brendan, and Andover’s Blessed Sacrament. Besides Immaculate Conception, three “alternate worship sites,” will be maintained at Alfred’s St. Jude, Belmont’s Holy Family, and Cuba’s Our Lady of the Angels.
According to reporting by WIVB the plans to close were announced earlier this year:
“In May, the diocese announced plans to merge or close approximately one-third of the 160 parishes in the region amid financial troubles from settling sexual abuse allegations in addition to a priest shortage and declining Mass attendance.”
Today The Catholic Communities of South Eastern Allegany County made this full announcement:
Road to Renewal Final Decision Update.
Last night the Leadership Teams from our entire Southern Tier East Vicariate, consisting mostly of the Trustees of our parishes, met at Our Lady of the Angels in Cuba to review the Final Decisions of the Rightsizing and Reshaping of our Family, our Vicariate and our Diocese.
After many, many intense and agonizing hours of discussions and decisions by the Road to Renewal Team, the Final Decisions were announced. We promise you that nothing was taken lightly. We reviewed every Counter-Proposal and possible scenario we could imagine. We thank you for the time and energy you put into this process. Our goal is to create a more vibrant Catholic presence!
Final Decisions:
1. SS. Brendan & Jude, Almond/Alfred – close and sell St. Brendan site.
2. Merge St. Jude, Alfred with Immaculate Conception, Wellsville.
3. St. Mary, Bolivar – merge with Immaculate Conception, Wellsville – close and sell entire property.
4. Blessed Sacrament, Andover – merge with Immaculate Conception, Wellsville – close and sell entire property.
5. Holy Family, Belmont – merge with Immaculate Conception, Wellsville and remain open as a secondary worship site.
6. Sell St. Joseph Oratory, Scio.
7. Our Lady of the Angels, Cuba will merge with Immaculate Conception, Wellsville and remain open as a secondary worship site.
Parishes Open in Family:
Immaculate Conception, Wellsville.
Secondary Worship Sites:
St. Jude, Alfred.
Holy Family, Belmont.
Our Lady of the Angels, Cuba.
Parishes Merging/Closing:
St. Mary, Bolivar.
Blessed Sacrament, Andover.
St. Brendan, Almond.
St. Joseph Oratory, Scio.
