OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen St. Hyacinth’s in Dunkirk is one of five parishes targeted for closure in the city and village of Fredonia.

Fredonia-Dunkirk Catholic parishes will decrease in number, but a final decision kept one added church open.

On Tuesday morning, the Diocese of Buffalo announced its initial recommendation was to have Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Silver Creek and Holy Trinity, Dunkirk, as the remaining parishes serving the area. In the final decision, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Holy Trinity will remain, but St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Dunkirk, will be included as a secondary worship site.

That determination means the closing of two Fredonia parishes — St. Joseph and St. Anthony’s — and two other sites in Dunkirk at St. Hyacinth and St. Hedwig’s, which made up the Blessed Mary Angela parish.

The announcement was made Tuesday in what the diocese called a comprehensive and collaborative planning process involving clergy and laity. A total of 118 worship sites remain open following a merger and closure review.

“The Diocese of Buffalo, like dioceses across our nation and around the world, has had to deal with some harsh realities – a decline in Church attendance, the decline of those pursuing a life in ordained ministry, the rise of secularism and shift away from the parish as the defining center of Catholic identity and the horrendous toll that the sexual abuse scandal by clergy and others has inflicted on parish life and the personal faith of so many; most especially on those who have been forever harmed in body, mind and spirit,” explained Bishop Michael W. Fisher.

Going forward the Diocese will see 79 parishes and 39 secondary worship sites remain after the merger/closure process.

Closings are expected to begin in the spring of 2025.

Here is a breakdown for the county and region:

Parishes staying open: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Silver Creek; Holy Trinity, Dunkirk; St. James, Jamestown; Sacred Heart, Lakewood; St. Patrick, Randolph; St. Mary of Lourdes, Mayville; St. Dominic, Westfield; Christ Our Hope, French Creek; St. Joseph, Gowanda; and Immaculate Conception, Eden.

Secondary worship sites: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Dunkirk; St. Anthony, Fredonia (until Feb. 15, 2026); St. Hyacinth, Dunkirk (until Feb. 15, 2026); Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, St. John site, Jamestown; and St. Mary of Lourdes, Bemus Point.

Parishes/sites merging and closing: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Forestville site; St. Joseph, Fredonia; St. Anthony, Fredonia (Feb. 15, 2026); Blessed Mary Angela, St. Hyacinth site, Dunkirk (Feb. 15, 2026),

Blessed Mary Angela, St. Hedwig site, Dunkirk; Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, SS. Peter and Paul site, Jamestown; Sacred Heart, Panama site; St. James, Frewsburg site; Our Lady of Loretto, Falconer; St. Dominic, Brocton site; Christ Our Hope, Sherman site; Holy Spirit, North Collins; and St. Mary, Cattaraugus.