Save Our Buffalo Churches

Click on the Laity survey link to take the anonymous survey being used to help with the canonical appeal. 

Philip Gray's (SJCL) EWTN interview with Fr. Mitch  (start at the 13 minute mark).

Buffalo Catholic Beacon on Facebook is an important social media resource for those wanting to learn information about the Road to Renewal, our Diocese, and The Catholic Church.

Pastoral Guide from Vatican to NOT close churches

 
Historical Status for your parish:  There is a fee, but it DOES NOT NEED to be approved or signed-off on by the diocese or bishop.  Contact: Bernice Radel, Executive Director,  Preservation Buffalo Niagara. 

Tell her you want to file. Emily@pbnsaves.org.  716-852-3300   

Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI) is behind this current Diocese program as well as in several other diocese.  The approach is similar, however, different titles are used:  Beacons of Light (Cincinnati) and All Things New (St. Louis).   "We are unable to find a single diocese where these CLI reorganization plans have been implemented where Mass attendance or number of Catholics has increased. We would happily be corrected if CLI would furnish the data. " - Save Our St. Louis Parishes 

Link to the DOB website for the official announcements. 

The pastoral conversion of the Parish community in the service of the evangelising mission of the Church (Vatican document).    

Definition of Canonical Basis

Canon law online reference is available.  The pertinent sections include, but are not limited to 1212, 1222. 

     For example, under Canon Law, a priest shortage is considered a temporary and reversible situation that, in and of itself, does not constitute 'grave cause' for closing any one church (let alone 50+). And yet, there is good news!  In the same Vatican instructional document referenced above, there are alternatives to parish modification laid out that can and should be applied to alleviate the practical consequences of priest shortages- ultimately eliminating any need to consider closing a church. While these alternatives are not ideal, they serve to make provision for a least interruptive solution, as opposed to jumping to the most interruptive, most restrictive act (closure) as solution. Clergy and laity should be working together to decide which alternative is best per parish situation, instead of  closure or extinctive merger.

Rome Overrules Diocese of Buffalo article.

We continue to host weekly informational meetings for parishes.  Some of these meetings are in-person and most are via zoom.    Contact us to obtain the logistics for attending the next meeting.

Several of our leaders host public rosary prayer events each week.   Use the contact us page to alert us to these events.  Going forward, public prayer events will be published on Facebook.    We also ask for prayers for all of our clergy.

We are solely a volunteer group. Currently, we are not an "official" nor organized legal entity (i.e. we are about to become a 501 c(3) non-profit).  We are a group of faithful Catholics in the Diocese of Buffalo willing to help others learn about their canonical rights in general, and the "Road to Renewal" initiative being conducted by the Diocese of Buffalo.

Nothing that we print, distribute nor say, publicly or in private meetings organized by others, is intended to be relied upon as legal advice (civilly nor canonically).  We rely solely upon The True Teaching & Magisterium of Holy Mother Church, and seek only to follow Her Authority.  You should consider any source(s) you would like in obtaining your own civil or canonical legal advice, and are strongly encouraged to seek your own individual canon lawyer, as needed or desired.  

Below is similar information from the St. Joseph Foundation, referencing other canon law and legal advice options for parishes, schools or individuals as they see fit.  

      Canon lawyers for hire:  Many people ask where they can find a canon lawyer to represent them or their parish group rather than using the process outlined by Philip Gray during his talks.  Mr. Gray has repeatedly encouraged people to hire a canon lawyer if they believe that is best for them.   The Canon Law Society of America (CLSA) maintains a list of canon lawyers willing to serve as advocates.  Their website is clsa.org and they can be reached at 202-832-2350. In North America, there are two pontifical universities who lecture in English with faculties of Canon Law: Catholic University or America, Washington, DC and St. Paul University, Ottawa, Canada.  Some of the professors take private cases from time-to-time.  A group could contact either university, ask for the faculty of canon law, and ask for a referral for an advocate.  Finally, you can just do a Google search for "canon lawyers". By way of information, the range of cost includes $0 to $10,000 retain and $100/hour to $275/hour or more in fees. 

We are only too happy to pray for our Diocesan leaders, to pray that the Holy Spirit is the guide for the Road to Renewal, and to pray for individual parishes, parishioners, Catholic school students and families, and all those served in any way by a parish or the Diocese of Buffalo.  God Bless.