Newsletter March 2, 2026

• We continue to await a response from the Dicastery regarding our appeal of the Decree for Merger.  The extension they provided earlier has an April 1 (as confirmed by Save Our Buffalo Churches) due date.  Should they rule in favor of the Diocese or remain silent, our appeal has already been sent to the Apostolic Signatura, which is the last step in the appeal process.

• Our appeal regarding the Assessment ($211,800) has been sent to the Apostolic Signatura.  This is due to no response from the Dicastery in the prescribed time frame.  We may yet receive a ruling from the Dicastery, as they have acknowledged to other parishes in our Diocese that they are running behind in their reviews.  We will continue to work with the Save Our Buffalo Churches team and the St. Joseph Foundation to monitor these appeals.

• Our Cattaraugus Regional Community Foundation (CRCF) fund continues to receive excellent support from our parishioners.  As of March 1, the fund has a balance of $12,786.  February was the best month for contributions since the fund was established.  These funds are for our local use only and are administered by Larry Pavlock and Mike Kelley.  They may be used to retain a required lawyer in Rome should we get to the point of needing one for an Apostolic Signatura appeal.

• We are supporting the Save Our Buffalo Churches Vos Estis effort.  Vos Estis is short for Vos Estis Lux Mundi, an Apostolic Letter issued by Pope Francis in 2023.  It makes provision for the investigation of bishops specific to the mismanagement of the sexual abuse crisis in their respective dioceses.  It can include the mismanagement of sexual abuse settlements and bankruptcy procedure agreements, along with the psycho-emotional abuse of clergy and the alienation of the Faithful. This may include the illicit/invalid solicitation and collection of parish assets (up to 80%) to pay the bankruptcy settlement.  To participate in this effort, individuals must sign a mandate appointing a procurator to act on their behalf.  This is a similar process to when mandates were signed with me as the procurator for the St. John’s effort.  The procurator for Vos Estis is a member of a parish in Williamsville, who also is an attorney.  When the Vos Estis mandates are signed, the procurator files a petition requesting the Holy See conduct a visitation of the diocese, investigating the actions of the bishop and taking corrective action up to and including removal.  There are two different mandates: (1) Catholic, (2) Non-Catholic.  To sign a person must be 14 years old or older and reside in the Diocese of Buffalo.  There are a dozen St. John’s parishioners who have volunteered to help get mandates signed.  If you would like to sign a mandate, please contact me at 716-307-1440 or dhinz52@gmail.com.

• Father David has approved the announcement, in Masses, of update meetings regarding our recourse.  A meeting was held on March 1^st at 10:30am at St. John’s and additional meetings are scheduled for 4:30pm on March 14 and 10:30am on March 15 at St. John’s, in the Hall.  Additional meetings may be scheduled at the Basilica and at St. Bonaventure.  Father David attended the meeting on March 1^st and was very supportive.  We are blessed that he is our new Pastor and are also blessed with Father John.  Please continue to pray for them both every day.

Thanks and blessings for all during this Lenten season.

Dan

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