Ss. Peter and Paul’s historic run is set to come to an end in 2025. However, some people are disparaging the official announcement by the diocese with some of the Jamestown closings.

“Devastating to our faith community and the city. They are in effect dissolving the entire parish of Holy Apostles,” wrote Tony Dolce, a long-time member of the Catholic church and Jamestown City Council president. “We’re all just devastated. The Diocese is taking one, if not the oldest (Ss. Peter and Paul) church, in the area, which just last week had 200 or more people worshiping there, and closing it. I would think they would want to sell a more modern building, not an old, gothic-style cathedral, that is a city-historic landmark.”

The decision was first shared in a Facebook post shared by Catholic Neighbors in Faith late Monday before the official announcement Tuesday by the Buffalo Diocese.

“As you are aware, the Diocese of Buffalo has been undergoing significant changes,” wrote Father Paul Cygan of the Catholic Neighbors In Faith Family Of Parishes. “One of these changes involves the rightsizing and reshaping of the diocese, which has necessitated the sale and closure of various buildings, including some of our worship sites. The diocese made recommendations to each family of parishes and allowed for counter proposals. There was much prayer, numerous meetings and listening sessions during this past summer. The diocese took all these elements and recommendations into account. In the end, a difficult decision was made.”

St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, located at 508 Cherry St. is set to be closed by the Catholic Church Diocese of Buffalo in 2025. The old, gothic, historical building is one of the oldest churches in Jamestown and has been on the cutting edge of social justice and change. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

By 2030 there will be two active priests for the Catholic Neighbors in Faith region. That will be accomplished by closing St. Peter and Paul, the site of Holy Apostles Parish, on Fourth and Cherry streets and sell the entire campus. Holy Apostles will merge with St. James Roman Catholic Church at 27 Allen St. Our Lady of Loreto in Falconer will also merge with St. James and its campus sold.

The Buffalo Diocese is also following through with closing the Our Lady Of Snows in Panama and selling the property. Our Lady of Victory in Frewsburg will also close and be sold.

The only parishes to remain open in the south county are St. James, Sacred Heart in Lakewood and St. Patrick in Randolph. St. John’s Roman Catholic Church on Newton Avenue will remain open as a secondary site. It’s a reversal from the diocese’s original announcement, which saw St. John’s closing and Ss. Peter and Paul remain open on Fourth and Cherry streets and sell the entire campus.

Holy Apostles will merge with St. James Roman Catholic Church at 27 Allen St. Our Lady of Loreto in Falconer will also merge with St. James and its campus sold. The Buffalo Diocese is also following through with closing the Our Lady Of Snows in Panama and selling the property. Our Lady of Victory in Frewsburg will also close and be sold. The only parishes to remain open in the south county are St. James, Sacred Heart in Lakewood and St. Patrick in Randolph. St. John’s Roman Catholic Church on Newton Avenue will remain open as a secondary site. It’s a reversal from the diocese’s original announcement, which saw St. John’s closing and Ss. Peter and Paul remain open.

Dolce wasn’t alone in his sentiments regarding the diocese choice of building closures.

In comments on the Catholic Neighbors In Faith Facebook post, Maria Perron wrote, “Unfortunately, St. James is now the central site for all of Jamestown, but such an historic, beautiful beacon of our faith is to be sold off to become what? A past symbol of the beauty of God to sit idle, empty, maybe a commercial property for what purpose? Such majesty…incredibly sad, all to pay for the sins of a few.”

Kelly Briffa, of Jamestown wrote, “That’s awful! My kids were baptized there.” Briffa was referencing the Ss Peter and Paul church being on the closure list.

“The church was always on the cutting edge when it came to social justice, charity and community involvement,” said Dolce.

However, speaking words of encouragement, Roseann Himes of Jamestown said, “Stay strong everyone. We need to come together now more than ever.”

“This is the end of an era,” said Dolce. “100 plus years of history and service will come to an end.”