Diocese recommends parish mergers and closures within So. Tier East Vicariate

On June 3rd the Diocese of Buffalo held a meeting in Olean and recommended parish mergers and closures within Southern Tier East Vicariate

These recommendations come as the diocese looks to " rightsize and reshape ."

The diocese recommended the following parish mergers and closures within the Southern Tier East Vicariate:

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.

You can find the full list of parishes that have been recommended to merge or close in the seven Vicariates here .