Published: February 24, 2008 10:13 pm      

RELIGION: Newfane, Olcott, Wilson churches merging

St. Bridget’s of Newfane, Our Lady of the Rosary of Wilson and St. Charles Borromeo of Olcott are 9 country miles apart, but getting closer together.

A transition team, with members from all three Catholic churches meets every Monday. The new parish plans its first service to celebrate the merger on the Vigil of Easter, March 22 at St. Bridget’s. It’s the first time the three churches will all be together.

“We will be one faith community with two worship sites and one oratory,” said the Rev. Robert Wozniak. “We are not closing any one of the physical churches.”

St. Bridget’s will have Mass at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. on Sunday. Our Lady of the Rosary will have Mass at 4 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday. St. Charles, which now has Mass at 5:30 on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday, will become an oratory. The church at 5969 Main St. in Olcott will celebrate Mass from Memorial Day to Labor Day, at a time to be determined.

“These are not easy days,” said Wozniak, 48, who was assigned to the three parishes after serving at St. Edmund’s in Tonawanda. St. Edmund’s merged into St. Christopher’s on Niagara Falls Boulevard last year. “I’m trying to get to know everyone. Any one item leads to countless things you don’t know about. There’s a ripple effect. It affects many other things.”

St. Bridget’s was chosen for the Easter Vigil because it’s the biggest church. The rectories in Wilson and Olcott will be sold.

The target date for the completion is the Memorial Day weekend. The 13-member transition team, with three members from each parish, is working on a new name that will be decided a town meeting after Easter.

“We’re working systematically through it,” said Mike Moley of Our Lady of Rosary. “We’re working through the process.”

All parishioners received a questionnaire and about 65 replied.

“We are identifying issues and concerns, compiling information,” said Moley, who has been a member of the Wilson parish for 52 years. “It’s premature to say we have consensus. We have to be careful with the transition process. We have to be sensitive and still accomplish the goal. We are starting slowly but have strong faith we will end up getting there.”

He is a vice president of Catholic Health Services.

Parishioners of the three churches were asked:

• What concerns you most?

• What are you afraid of losing in transition?

• What opportunities are provided us?

• What are other concerns?

Wozniak said parishioners are concerned about losing their identity, but they liked seeing the growth and people working together and being strong.

“The people who make the most noise are the minority,” said Jack Dickenson, 77, a Lockport native who has been a member of St. Charles since 1943. “The majority of people see the handwriting on the wall. They understand the problem.”

A concern is the maintenance cost of the church. St. Charles is not closing and there are hopes of having an occasional Mass at the oratory during the off-season.

Dickenson noted that St. Charles is a popular place for Mass on Saturday evenings in the summer, and visitors are accustomed to the 5:30 p.m. service.

“So far, all’s going well,” said Angie Hahn, who has been at St. Bridget’s for 14 years and is a trustee. “People are working well together, and considering the feedback from the parishes. It’s a challenge to make sure we serve all the people in all the parishes. Our end goal is to serve Christ.”

Hahn is the retired administrator at Lockport Presbyterian.

The Rev. James Haslett, the pastor at St. Charles Borromeo, and Wozniak take part in the transition meetings. Haslett was pastor at linked parishes St. Charles and St. Patrick’s in Barker.

The Journey of Faith and Grace is taking small steps in the rural churches. Stations of the Cross have been rotated at the three churches. The first common church bulletin will be ready for the March 1-2 weekend. There will be one parish council and one finance committee.

“I’m exited about this. This is a new endeavor,” Wozniak said. “Change isn’t easy, but we’re comfortable about the way it’s going. We’re seeing something positive.”

Wozniak noted that St. Bridget’s was once the mission church of St. Charles.

“It’s going very well,” Wozniak said. “Everybody is concerned about the people of Olcott. They’re the ones who will lose the most. Everything is base equality. We’re very positive about it.

The Rev. John J. Leising, who was pastor of St. Bridget’s and Our Lady of the Rosary, is now serving at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Clarence.