Buffalo Diocese Announces More Parish Closings Across WNY

The contributions of lay Catholics keep the Church functioning, yet contributors have no say in how the Church is run. This is in effect taxation without representation.

Reform efforts (e.g., Call to Action, Voice of the Faithful) have not had a wide appeal.

It's clear to me that the only leverage reform-minded Catholics have is money, the universal language.

Here's my idea.

Let's pick a Sunday (or Sundays) when we send the bishops a message by withholding weekly contributions.

What do you think about "Withholding Sunday"?

What are the pluses?

What are the minuses?

I want to hear from you.

Send me an email at frankdouglas62@yahoo.com to let me know what you think.

OVER 700 pages of posts. Who gives a poop about closing churches! Take this stupid subject off!!!

Save gas, watch church from your coach!!

ljm wrote:

<quoted text>
Let God determine who is and is not a saint.
as for martyr,There is no question. The good Sister would not have died if she didn't have her ministry. She was not ignorant of the risks. Her vocation was the cause for which she gave her life. At the very least she is a fine example .

Now if anyone is becoming a martyr---it is me. I think martyrdom has become my vocation. At any rate, today is a simply beautiful day. The sun light is so bright and beautiful. I'm going to put on my sandles and go for a beautiful walk. As I walk I will be thinking of each of you and praying that everyone will have a blessed day.

BORAT wrote:

OVER 700 pages of posts. Who gives a poop about closing churches! Take this stupid subject off!!!

In response to Sherlock Borat: Your question sounds foolish. If there are over 700 pages do ya think there are people who care?

My Dear brothers and sisters,

I have found the Pearl of Great Price!

Actually, I have found several: Oakland Place. The Jersey Shore. My dinner table. A great bottle of Scotch that none of you could possibly afford. Then there are my cigars - pearls beyond price!

But the greatest treasure is this diocese! The bills will now go down because so many churches are closed (thank you Reg-EYE-na for a job well done) and so your money can now be spent on maintaining the buildings that actually benfit us . I mean, benefit the diocese. My residence is a prime example. The seminary is another great example. Heck, we have not enough priests to staff the churches which is why we closed so many but we need to pump millions into the seminary! It builds the egos of our already ordained who feel so important there and besides someday we may have an influx of seminarians waiting in line to be priests. You understand don't you? It was a choice we had to make! It doesn't have to make sense, my dear people, you just have to accept it as God's will.

And then there is the Catholic Center. We need loads of space and the great big building across from St. Louis because after all, it is too far to drive to the seminary for meetings and classes. We need to hold them downtown and obviously there is not enough room at all the closed parishes to hold these meetings, it has to be at the old Courier Express bulding. You understand, right? It doesn't have to make sense. Just accept it as the will of God.

While I'm at it, I may as well comment on my residence. Ok, it is the priciest real estate in the city of Buffalo. But Jesus died for our sins. Doesn't the successor to the apostles deserve such a place? It is used for so many fundraisers and meetings and to host dignitaries besides. We'll try and come up with a list of all the meetings, fund raisers and dignitaries we've hosted. Give us time. You understand, right? No hotels are decent for dignitaries; no rectories good enough. Can't possibly host a fundraiser at any of the rich donor's homes, no instead we host the rich at a place that costs us an arm and a leg to upkeep. But sometimes you just have to. You know what I mean? And meetings, we have meetings here. Secret meetings. Secret things that you are not privy to. Besides, we're all settled here. Some have said that I, like Cardinal O'Malley in Boston, among others, should give up my residence. My question is this: Is anything to good for God? I am only God's representative, but you are doing it for God. Boze will bless you for your generosity toward me.

Thats enough for now. I have to do some things. So, God bless you all, right? Thats it for now.

Oh, I am NOT Eddie as in your bishop.

No, I am just Eddie.... making up a fictional story.

So, don't confuse me with any other Eddie who is ordained.

Today parishioners at St. Teresa's in Buffalo were passing out papers to stop the nun from changing the name of their church. Bishop Kmiec didn't say they had to change their name when he made the closing announcements, but she wanted the people to change it anyway. The people were in an uproar. That would make no sense to change the name!!!! Why would people who didn't have to change their name want to change it? The letter they passed out said that only a select group of people were hand picked to be on the committee. Other people felt excluded. There have never been so many problems at St. Teresa's until Fr. Mock came. There was even a red haired lady from St. John's who felt that St. Teresa's should keep the name. All that changing the name is going to do is cause more upset and hard feelings. These people causing the trouble make St. Teresa's sound like they're doing something wrong because they were kept open. Why don't they just leave everyone alone and go find a hobby or something to occupy their time? This is getting disgusting!!!

anonymous wrote:

<quoted text>
In response to Sherlock Borat: Your question sounds foolish. If there are over 700 pages do ya think there are people who care?

700 pages of the same old same old

Re-over 700 pages of Postings.....from Borat, NF,NY, you must not be from a parish whose doors will or have been closed. Just ask your question of anyone who is and they will give you your answer. In reading between your lines, you sound almost bored with this blog material. Let me tell you, it is far from boring. In fact, information about our closing seems to change on a daily basis. Nothing is at it seems. Nothing seems permanent. That is very disturbing, that these decisions are made for us and then, they are changed for us, over and over.
THAT, it far from boring. Bizarre, dastardly, maybe, but not boring.......

ESTATE SALE
Queen of Peace Rectory
1955 Genesee Street (at Forman)
Friday & Saturday - August 8 & 9
10:00am – 4:00pm
REDUCED PRICES/GOOD BARGAINS
EVERYTHING MUST GO!
Household Items
Furniture & office items
Hammond organ, chapel pews….and much more

Anonymous wrote:

Today parishioners at St. Teresa's in Buffalo were passing out papers to stop the nun from changing the name of their church. Bishop Kmiec didn't say they had to change their name when he made the closing announcements, but she wanted the people to change it anyway. The people were in an uproar. That would make no sense to change the name!!!! Why would people who didn't have to change their name want to change it? The letter they passed out said that only a select group of people were hand picked to be on the committee. Other people felt excluded. There have never been so many problems at St. Teresa's until Fr. Mock came. There was even a red haired lady from St. John's who felt that St. Teresa's should keep the name. All that changing the name is going to do is cause more upset and hard feelings. These people causing the trouble make St. Teresa's sound like they're doing something wrong because they were kept open. Why don't they just leave everyone alone and go find a hobby or something to occupy their time? This is getting disgusting!!!

St. Theresa's need not worry...the diocese will never stir that hornets nest. They know the political implications of overstepping their bounds in Irish Town. They would not want the heat on them in their vulnerable position in sitting on so many real estate problems, particularly with the tax assessment situation. Let's just call it ... the luck of the Irish. Now if it were a poor Polish parish...that would be a different story.

Irish Luck wrote:

<quoted text>
St. Theresa's need not worry...the diocese will never stir that hornets nest. They know the political implications of overstepping their bounds in Irish Town. They would not want the heat on them in their vulnerable position in sitting on so many real estate problems, particularly with the tax assessment situation. Let's just call it ... the luck of the Irish. Now if it were a poor Polish parish...that would be a different story.

Oh my GOD Gammy! Shut the he11 up already!

The other poster is right...700 pages of the same ol' same ol'.

In case anyone is even reading here anymore (besides me and the Gammy)-Gammy seems to think that there is a vendetta against all things polish lol. Just watch him start speaking polish again...

Kelly wrote:

<quoted text>
Oh my GOD Gammy! Shut the he11 up already!
The other poster is right...700 pages of the same ol' same ol'.
In case anyone is even reading here anymore (besides me and the Gammy)-Gammy seems to think that there is a vendetta against all things polish lol. Just watch him start speaking polish again...

If you are so bored with 700 pages of so-called 'same old same ol' and you aren't catholic (or christian, as you claim), why are you reading and posting? Either you are a plant from the diocese or an idiot. Hard to say which.

anonymous wrote:

Who is this control freak nun that people are talking about? Are there one or two of them?

Sister regina murphy

anonymous wrote:

<quoted text>First of all, you were told that you would be "merged into" not absorbed. Most of your parishioners do not live in the area and would probably not go to another church that is unlike their own. Why did the pastor fight so hard to go to St. William/St. Bonaventure? They have raffles and bingo. Would the new members work at these activities, or would they demand that they stop happening. If you attended mass there you may have noticed they need a new parking lot, not just marked. The roof does not look too good and the heat in the church is unbearable in the summer. If Father Pat becomes pastor, how many will go there?

Merged into....not merged with, which is my point....in other words you are being shoved there whether you like it or not. We didnt want to merge with anyone...we wanted to remain our own entity. The diocese said no to that because your parish NEEDS our money, that is the only reason we sought to merge with Bona/William. I couldnt give two hoots about the school at Q of H or any other catholic parish. The teachers who work within them are grossly under paid and yet the tuitions are sky high.

The answer to your questions is no...we would not work for activities that we dont feel are in keeping with what we believe.

anonymous wrote:

<quoted text>You're still holding a grudge after 41 years? How Christian. I believe that the priests who served, and many of the parishions who may have made you uncomfortabe are dead and buried. And how about a hand for a parish that treasures Catholic Education and is willing to work for it. Go South and look at tutions of four and five thousand dollars and you will know why there is a they need the fund raisers that they have.

What grudge?....we left peacefully and started our own church. Our people dont feel comfortable or welcomed at Q of H they never have...they look down upon us, as if they were so much more holy.
We are talking about a grade school here...not a high school and many families cant afford those steep tuitions, so that factor about treasuring catholic education doesnt even come into play. But that is a great guise to hide behind.

Reality Bites wrote:

<quoted text>
A little carnival every year isn't going to keep Q or H out of debt. The school is a huge burden on their financial situation. However, a big chunck of land in WS could be very helpful. We don't live down south, we live in the most highly taxed state in the country. Parents can't afford catholic education anymore. Even closing all the catholic schools has not increased enrollment at Q of H.

right on!

Irish Luck wrote:

<quoted text>
St. Theresa's need not worry...the diocese will never stir that hornets nest. They know the political implications of overstepping their bounds in Irish Town. They would not want the heat on them in their vulnerable position in sitting on so many real estate problems, particularly with the tax assessment situation. Let's just call it ... the luck of the Irish. Now if it were a poor Polish parish...that would be a different story.

Saint (Teresa's) is not Irish, but is of mixed ethnicity, however you are correct N O B O D Y would want to play games with us. At this point, we have had enough!