| November 2006 |
| Rev. Lawrence E. Burns, Episcopal Vicar The Vicariate of Erie County West submits the following proposals for restructuring parishes in this Vicariate. We have kept in mind a reasonable size for parishes, demographic and geographic considerations, and healthy parish life, along with the requirement on page 21 of the booklet, Journey in Faith and Grace, that this Vicariate arrange itself so that the number of diocesan priests be reduced from 24 to 15. In fact, there are currently only 22 diocesan priests assigned in this Vicariate, and so we are looking to a reduction of 7 priests, which we have accomplished in our restructuring plan. Four parishes will merge into one parish at one site. the four are St. Barbara, St. Hyacinith and St. Michael in Lackawanna and our Lady of Grace in Woodlawn. This will help to maintain a necessary Polish ethnic presence in Lackawanna. The four parishes will begin conversation immediately with the assistance of Fr. James Vacco, O.F.M. as facilitator, to choose a sites and work out further details of the merger. The target date for the merger is the end of the fiscal year 2008-2009. [This represents a reduction of two priest]. Our Lady of Bisilica Church in Lackawanna will continue to function as long as the Croatian Conventual Franciscans are able to staff it. If/When that is no longer possible, the parish will close. In Lackawanna, Our Lady of Victory Basilica and St. Anthony in the first Ward will continue, with a parochial vicar besides the pastor of Our Lady of Victory. At least for the present, it seems wise to us to maintain St. Anthony's Church in its present structure in order to have a vibrant Catholic presence in the First Ward of Lackawanna, especially since Assumption Church just recently closed and St. Hyacinth Church will be merging on the other side of the Ridge Road Bridge that divides Lackawanna. We realize that eventually it may be necessary to merge St. Anthony's with Our Lady of Victory Basilica where its specialized ethnic observances particularly Hispanic, could be maintained. St. Mary of the Lake Church in Hamburg will link with St. Francis of Assisi Church in Athol Springs. The Conventual Franciscan Friars have made a preliminary commitment to provide a pastor for the two parishes. [This represents a reduction of one diocesan priest] The Vicariate suggests that our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Colden merge with St. John the Baptist Church in Boston at St. John's. We recognize that Colden is in another Vicariate, and so we cannot make this recommendation, but just a suggestion to be kept in mind by the Strategic Planning Commission. The Vicariate recommends that St. Mary Church in East Eden merge with Saint Peter and Paul Church in Hamburg, with St. Mary's Church building remaining as an oratory under Saints Peter and Paul [This represents a reduction of one priest] The Vicariate recommends that Immaculate Conception Church in Eden link with Holy Spirit church in North Collins [This represents a reduction of one priest] The Vicariate recommends that Most Precious Blood Church in Angola and St. Anthony Church in Farnham link [This represents a reduction of one priest] The Vicariate notes that St. Vincent dePaul Church in North Evans and Our Mother of Good Counsel Church in Blasdell currently have parochial vicars. when te current incumbents no longer serve in that capacity, we know that they will not be replaced. [This represents a reduction in two priests, bringing the total reduction of priests in this Vicariate to eight (8).] Currently, Saints Peter and Paul Church in Hamburg is served by a parochial vicar. Since the parish consists of nearly 4,000 households, we hope that two priests may be able to serve once again as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Orchard Park, which consists of nearly 4000 households. There is one more parish consideration. On its own, St. Anthony Church in Farnham has made a proposal with regard to its own continuance in a configuration different from that proposed by the Vicariate. The Vicariate endorses the proposal to link St. Anthony's and Most Precious Blood in Angola. But the Separate proposal of St. Anthony Church in Farnham is included with our proposal for consideration of its merits by the Strategic Planning Commission. The Lake Shore Parochial Schools (St. Mary of the Lake in Hamburg, Southtowns Catholic in Lakeview, St. Vincent dePaul in North Evans and Most Precious Blood in Angola) have been in vigorous conversation about their future. Proposals keep coming, including one from St. Francis of Assisi in Athol Springs that would regionalize both parochial schools and programs of religious education/faith formation. The Vicariate as a whole does not feel competent to sort out this school situation. The affected parishes will continue to meet and probably submit several proposals. Respectfully submitted, Rev. Lawrence E. Burns, Episcopal Vicar Prior Articles Here
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