Ss Peter and Paul’s Roman Catholic Church has been slated for closure in 2025, by the Buffalo Catholic Diocese, as part of efforts to reshape and realign the church’s assets with congregational needs. However, parishioners from the church have argued that the church located at 512 Cherry St. and West Sixth St. has a vibrant and growing body of believers. Submitted photo

When the Buffalo Catholic Diocese announced on Sept. 10 that it would be closing 79 churches and an additional 39 secondary worship sites, several parishioners all from the Holy Apostles Parish decided to fight back.

With a Facebook group created and an in-person meeting held recently, a group citing the Catholic Church’s canon law is protesting the closure of their beloved, old, gothic-style, Ss. Peter and Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 512 Cherry St.

“Besides being a vibrant Catholic Church and Parish, Ss. Peter and Paul’s is an integral part of the community fabric,” wrote Tony Dolce, group spokesman in a Facebook posting Thursday. “It’s an absolute travesty to close this historic and vibrant community building.”

The in-person meeting was well-attended and organized according to an event attendee.

“We had around 50 or so people,” said John Champion. “We’re going to remain respectful and use canon law to fight our case. This ruling makes no sense.”

The official public announcement from the Buffalo Catholic Diocese received Sept. 10 stated, out of the 196 worship sites it currently operates, the diocese would shutter or merge a total of 78 of them, bringing the total operating and open sites to 119.

When a closing is considered, the process is guided by specific steps outlined in canon law, or church law. Broadly, canon law plainly states that bishops alone have the authority to erect (open) or suppress (close) any parish. The canons also explicitly assert that a bishop must consult with the diocesan presbyteral (priests’) council prior to making a decision and that parishioners have a right to express their views before a final decision is reached.

Further, canon law allows for an appeal of a bishop’s decision on a closing — as well as other decrees — through a complex set of actions that can take parishioners on a laborious trek through the inner workings of the Vatican.

According to catholicchurch.com, the church is a Jamestown landmark built over a span of six years from 1894 through 1900, SS. Peter & Paul’s Gothic Revivalism features make their requisite appearance – a large rose window with floral tracery; pointed arches aplenty; exterior buttresses; vertical lines predominating – a distinct Romanesque influence shines through in such additional features as the arcaded windows facing Cherry Street between the twin entrances. Established in 1863 to serve a largely Irish-American immigrant community, Ss. Peter and Paul was the first Roman Catholic parish in southern Chautauqua County.

For more information visit Save Holy Apostles Parish (Saints Peter and Paul, St. John’s) official Facebook page.