I picked this story up when checking into WBEN tonight…
Buffalo, NY (WBEN) – The merger of St. Adalbert and St. John Kanty parishes is one step closer to reality.
The Vatican’s highest canonical court issued a decree saying Bishop Edward Kmiec followed church law in moving ahead with the merger. Parishoners at St. Adalbert had appealed the merger.
Diocesan Spokesman Kevin Keenan says the diocese has been faced with two challenges, dwindling attendance at mass and a smaller number of priests.
I will try to get more on it tomorrow…
UPDATE 11:34 pm: I hope not to confuse you, but pay close attention. If you read the above, you only get part of the story…Buffalo Business First featured a post today which was pretty much the same as the WBEN story except for this…
In a decree written on Feb. 13, 2008, and delivered to diocesan officials on Feb. 25, the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican’s highest canonical court, upheld an earlier Vatican ruling, stating “The recourse presented has been rejected.”
The key sentence there is “The recourse presented has been rejected.” Key because I then found an .pdf file on the Save Saint Adalbert’s website referencing a February 2008 WNY Catholic article which presents the Vatican’s ruling one way apparently without giving all the details of what was exactly ruled.
This is from the .pdf file…
In the article appearing in the February 2008 edition of the Western New York Catholic, the Diocese goes out of its way to confuse the public, and the parishioners of St. Adalbert’s Parish.
In reading their article, you get the distinct impression that the Vatican read our appeal, ruled against us and that we were within days of being merged with St. John Kanty parish and our worship site closed forever.
These are half-truths at best. Our appeal process was turned down because of procedural errors, not on the basis of the facts. The fact of the matter is that because we made errors in when and how we made our initial appeal, it was probably not even read at all.
At this point in time, a letter was sent to the Bishop, informing him that we have contacted the Apostolic Signatura and are continuing our appeal. Somehow this major fact was overlooked in the Western New York Catholic article. (click here to view entire .pdf file)
This gives a different picture than what was painted in the media.
I will follow up more tomorrow.
Discover more from Broadway Fillmore Alive
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
Nice investigative work, Chris! This is an interesting story and I’m looking forward to reading more about it.
I gather that you are as frustrated with the local news media as I am. I’m tired of half stories, no follow ups and shoddy reporting. I guess it’s up to the regular citizen to ferret out the truth.
My understanding is that the latest decision *2/13* turned their appeal down which followed the first response.
Unfortunately, “Roma locuta, causa finita est” – goodbye St. Adalbert’s…
How cruel of the diocese. The Polish basilica taken from us. At least they could have said that it could remain open as long as we pay for it. But that decency wasn’t availed. How absolutely sad and cruel.
It’s not an official basilica – and it’s not like there are Italian or German basilicas either.
See http://buffalodiocese.org for an official release.
AmPol Eagle has english translation of document declaring it a basilica.
The cornerstone says basilica.
Cornerstone was dedicated by bishop of Buffalo.
Documents and historical data prove it a basilica.
Stan I understand you’re from out of town. I live in Buffalo and I’ve also researched. St. Adalbert’s is not actually an official minor basilica.
Brendan, I beg to differ.
Being in town or out of town has no bearing on reading a document.
No but it certainly does make it easier to find out more things, actually see the churches, and makes one privy to the actual goings on.
I studied Polish at Polish Saturday School at St. Adalbert while growing up. My great aunt was a Felician Sister assigned there. I have in my home a statue of St. Stanislaus Kostka that was given me by Fr. Bialek. The statue was from the basilica. I am honored to have it.
I am very familiar with the parish and with Polonia of WNY.
I should also add that I and my family had helped Sr. Desponsata (Despo) when she began the outreach to the poor in the neighborhood, even before Sr. Johnice. I have a 40 year history with the parish.
Also, I am very familiar with the happenings in Buffalo, on a daily basis, even before word reaches the media. I have several pastor friends in the diocese and being “in the business” we speak quite often about what they are enduring these days.
Stan, seriously, have you considered moving back?
Both you guys are very passionate about the church, that is what is important. I think a lot of us were shocked when the Diocese said Saint Aldalbert’s was not officially a basilica…many people who grew up in B-F and Buffalo’s Polonia have always thought it as such because we were brought up thinking it was (is)
– – – –
Stan…you have wealth of older B-F knowledge…if you ever want to submit a story or post, don’t hesitate…please email or use the submit form…I’d gladly post…
– – – –
God bless you both!
Stan, I didn’t mean to start an argument or that your say didn’t matter. If I made it seem like that I’m truly sorry.
Former Buffalo parishioners who now live out of state (or just in the suburbs) say: “What if this” and “Well the church didn’t do that.” I’m used to responding to them. You’re not one of them. I guess it was just habit.
My question to you wasn’t sarcastic either. I hope to see you back one day. Niech cię Bóg błogosławi!
No, Brendan, not at all! No argument was ever even thought of at this end! I think I have written to you before regarding St. Ann’s, right? Or am I confused as to who you are?
Actually, I am 47 and have not lived in Buffalo since I moved to accept a Church position in the south.
However, my father owned a store in the BF area and I spent a lot of time in the area, although grew up in Kaisertown and the suburbs.
Gabalski, Bialek, Wozniak, Kazmierczak, Konieczny, Stachewicz, Kilian, and others were men that were very good to me through my youth. These fine pastors took pride in relating the stories of the parishes of Polonia and showing a kid all the stuff that inspires awe.
At any rate, personally, I think the diocese finds it convenient now to decide that St. Adalbert is not a basilica for the sake of closing it. It seems all roads point to the basilica status. What smacks of oddness is why never, through the years, anyone at the diocese or in the Province had ever called into question the basilica’s status, despite it being listed in every publication locally and nationally as such.
Hi Stan,
I also went to Millenium Saturday School at St. Adalbert’s. My mom taught there, until Pan Siwiak asked her to come over to teach at St. Stan’s. Now very few people remember that we had more than one Saturday School in Buffalo. There was one at St. Luke’s and on in Black Rock too. I’m 49. I wonder if we crossed paths in the school. Write me off list at andywbuffalo@yahoo.com
Andy Golebiowski