Newsletter February 12, 2025

Thank you for your attention and support in this regard.

Highlights:

• Father Chris is expected to have a handout available at Masses this weekend, confirming we are still a Parish and will remain so until the Diocesan Decree is sent by the Bishop.  Upon receipt of the Decree (expected end of April/early May timeframe) our appeal will be sent.

• We have an active website, https://www.savestjohnsolean.com/ and also have a Facebook page, Save St John's Olean. We intend to contact local news agencies to further communicate the Save St John's story.  Please check them out.  Big Thanks to Mary Fofanah!!!

• We continue to participate in Save Our Buffalo Churches weekly meetings and gain valuable information by doing so.  We continue to await results of the SOBC appeal that was sent to Rome.

  
  

Appeal Document Status:

• Procurator Mandates (petition) - we currently have 123 from parishioners and 85 from interested parties.  Please advise if you have not signed and would like to.  You must be 14 years old or older to sign.  We must get signed mandates from a minimum of 50% of our parishioners.

• Financial Review package - 5 year look back and forecast - we must show we have been and will continue to be financially viable as a parish.  Action for Dan Hinz to work with our finance council to create this document.

• Sacramental Vibrancy - Vocations/Faith Formation/Sacraments/Southern Tier Catholic School - Mark Quinn leading this action.

• Infrastructure Assessment - Dennis Pezzimenti leading this action - we must show our buildings and grounds are sound and will be maintained going forward.

• Trust Fund Creation - replaces the typical collection process

Why is a Trust Fund needed?

• For long term financial viability

• Gives us the ability to manage and protect our assets.

• To ensure we control our finances such that we can support the St John's parish ministries

• The bylaws will be specifically written to ensure we focus on St John's and our local needs.

• The bankruptcy court set the final settlement cost for the victims of abuse at $200,000,000. [edit: these numbers are unconfirmed]

  • Of that amount $100,000,000 will be funded from insurances and $60,000,000 from Diocesan cash reserves and the sale of assets such as the seminary, chancery, priest retirement homes, Bishop's home, etc.  To raise the remaining 

  • $40,000,000, as stated by the Bishop, parish properties (churches, schools, rectories, convents, etc) would be sold.  Our appeal and the trust will be set up to protect our assets. Many thanks to the team from St Brigid in Bergen, NY for their input regarding the trust.  They established their trust effect January 1, 2025 and have already collected over $6000.

Our intention is to have our appeal documents completed by mid-March so we are ready when the Diocesan Decree is received.

Please consider respectfully writing to the Bishop, showing your support for keeping St John's as a parish.  The address is Most Rev. Michael Fisher, Bishop of Buffalo, Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, 795 Main St, Buffalo, NY  14203.  Please copy Dan Hinz with any letters sent.

Parish Core Group Members include, among others:

Dan Hinz - Procurator, Dawn Pezzimenti, Dennis Pezzimenti, Carol Capito, John and Cathy Baglione, Carm and Rick Mikolajczk, Paul Abdo, Paul Bzdak, John Whelpley, Mark Quinn, Pat O'Malley, Paul and Diane Ksionzyk, Mary Fofanah, Larry Pavlock.

"So do not fear, for I am with you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"  (Isaiah 41:10&13)

Thank You