For 12 years, Father Ronald Pecci was the pastor at my home church, Saints Rita and Patrick’s. This beloved Franciscan was the man who raised me. Our church community loved Father Ron deeply.
Stefan Mychajliw is a parishioner at Saint Vincent de Paul in Elma.
It broke my heart when Father Ron was transferred to a parish in New Jersey. Tears were shed at his last Mass.
What also saddened me was what I heard some parishioners say, “Church won’t be the same without Father Ron. I can’t go anymore.”
I understand the emotional attachment to a particular priest. It is the same feeling shared by many Catholics about their neighborhood parish, especially after learning of closings and mergers of parishes as part of the Diocesan “Rightsize and Reshape” initiative.
Some well-intentioned folks are hurt upon hearing the news that their home parish will be no more. But it’s a misguided sentiment to talk of abandoning faith and not going to Mass because a parish is closing.
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Moving forward we must focus on two critically important points concerning this transition.
- Just like a business, the Diocese must “adapt or die” to the harsh realities of a declining population.
Our Catholic faith and salvation are deeper than a brick-and-mortar building where we celebrate Mass.
The City of Buffalo lost half its population since 1950 when 580,132 people populated the Queen City. Now 276,807 live here. The Diocese cannot pay for the same amount of buildings as it did 70 years ago. I applaud Bishop Michael W. Fisher for making the bold, difficult, yet necessary decision to rightsize infrastructure.
As Catholics, we cannot abandon our faith because a priest left or a building closed. We should have our heads and hearts examined if the only reason we attend Mass is because of a physical structure.
We have a thriving Diocese where our mission of service helps thousands daily. The St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center serves the needs of young mothers. Many Catholics from our Buffalo Cursillo Community are volunteers at the Collins Christian Ministries prison ministry program. Catholic Charities serves an estimated 145,000 people in need every year.
Let’s embrace challenging but necessary change and remain focused on the tenets of our faith. Our Diocese will be in a strong position to grow and continue to serve thanks to rightsizing its current infrastructure.
