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Newsletter January 5, 2026

This update picks up where our December 20 and 21 meetings in our Church Hall left off.

  • Our merger decree appeal to the Apostolic Signatura has been submitted since we had not received a ruling from the Dicastery within the time limit specified in the process.

    • While this appeal was in route, we did receive an update from the Dicastery. They have extended their review for another three months. This means they now have until April to rule on our merger decree appeal. We expect that the Apostolic Signatura will await the Dicastery decision prior to reviewing our request to them. If the Dicastery rules in our favor, then the Apostolic Signatura will take no action. Should the Dicastery rule against our appeal, then the Apostolic Signatura will review our request to them and decide if they will accept it for review.

  • Given the extension by the Dicastery, we will be sending additional information to them to support our case. Included in this will be the Presbyteral Council minutes that have indisputable errors, such as showing Sacred Heart in Portville having merged into St. John’s. [Sacred Heart merged into St. Mary’s.] We will also mention that our envelopes for weekly collection have not been provided on time. When questioned, our Operations Manager, Philippe Yates, explained that envelopes will now be mailed to parishioners’ homes. When this will happen wasn’t provided. He advised that he will be putting an announcement in the bulletin. This is ridiculous; timely ordering and receipt of envelopes is a basic and critical action. We have been told collections are important for demonstrating our viability and that envelopes are also used for calculating our Mass attendance. How can this be done if envelopes haven’t been provided? We know of one family who had registered and received envelopes for St. John’s in 2025, who were mailed envelopes for St. Mary’s for 2026. (They were previously parishioners at St. Mary’s.) Several attempts were made by St. John’s parishioners to update our active parishioner list but that help was not accepted. This is more of the same from our very poor management team.

    • Please be reminded there are other options regarding giving.

  • The bankruptcy hearing that is scheduled for this month does not have a confirmed date yet. When it is confirmed, it is expected that Procurators will attend and provide the court our comments regarding this entire process. I look forward to telling our story to the judge.

  • Regarding our assessment: Sadly, Father Dennis has taken the money and put it into the fund that is to be used to settle the bankruptcy, the St. Joseph Fund. He first told our Trustees and Finance team that he, as administrator, had authority to do this. After much discussion and push-back, it was agreed that instead of taking the money, our team would put the entire amount into one account, which would make it easily accessible should our appeal fail. Father Dennis then pivoted and advised our team that he was ordered by his superiors to take it. All of this occurred after we were granted a suspension by the Dicastery. The Diocese and Father Dennis will stop at nothing. This is shameful and should not be tolerated. All interested parishioners are encouraged to SPEAK UP and tell Father Dennis (and the diocese) this action is unacceptable and that you do not support it or any of the other Road to Renewal actions that are proving to be incredibly detrimental to St. John’s. He can be reached at dmancuso@buffalodiocese.org or by calling the EMCC office at 716-372-4841.

  • Our CRCF account has taken in just over $7300 with 74 donations received.


Prayers and actions are needed now by you and everyone you know at St. John’s.

Spread the word!


Please pray for Father David and Father John upon their return.


Thanks – Dan

716-307-1440


Or check us out on Facebook at Save St John's Olean



Whatever the future holds, we remain committed Catholics.                

 

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