Catholic Churches Face Closures in Greene Schoharie, Otsego, and Delaware Counties - Diocese May Close One-Third of Churches, Schools in Region

By David Avitabile

ALBANY - Facing a "financial and maintenance crisis," the Diocese of Albany announced last week that it will undertake a study that could result in the closure of up to one-third of the diocese's 126 parish churches and other buildings.

Several Catholic churches are in the Mountain Eagle territory in Greene, Schoharie, Delaware, and Otsego counties.

Bishop Edward Scharfenberger released a letter on April 7 to inform the faithful the problems and issues facing the diocese. The letter was included in newsletters in churches over the weekend.

"With a longstanding history of vibrant parish life up until the 2000s, we now face a financial and maintenance crisis as well - we have too many buildings! - which is leading us to realign or relinquish perhaps one-third of 12 parish churches and other buildings, even some of our remaining parish schools," the Bishop wrote.

The diocese, which is facing bankruptcy, is also facing problems of clergy health and advancing age, declining attendance, and other issues.

"Clergy health and well-being, quality sacramental ministry, consistent attendance, participation and volunteerism, well-maintained properties and assets have been heading in the wrong direction” the Bishop wrote.

The Bishop said the planning initiative is focused on evangelization and better stewardship of the Church’s assets.

Decisions have to be made soon, Bishop Scharfenberger added.

“If we are to have a solid, long-term future, we cannot NOT act. We are now launching a process in an effort to implement a newly envisioned future for long-term growth and the formation of mission-focused disciples."

The details of the process will be detailed in the weeks to come and begun on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, he announced.

"It is centered on sound principles of pastoral care," the Bishop wrote, "unified action and evangelization, ensuring every participant feels heard, valued, and supported as we walk together with Christ in this transition."

The study will not be another "'Call to be Church' which served other needs in another time," he wrote. That study resulted in the merger, closure, and sale of several parishes including the one in Schoharie nearly 15 years ago.

This "is a challenge and an opportunity to re-channel our efforts and resources toward a healthier Church focused on service, growth in our relationship with Jesus Christ, personally and communally, and sustainable for the needs we have inside and outside our walls. Through a prayerful, comprehensive and participatory evaluation process, we can ensure that the mission of the Church is carried forward, not left to decline.”

Bishop Scharfenberger wrote that the main objective of the process is that every parish in the diocese will take part in a transparent and honest decision-making process over several months of discernment, taking care to listen especially to the voices of youth and young adults, about “the mission and resources of each parish toward a realistic vision for its future.” The bishop described it as “a process to focus each parish on its mission as the Church, making best use of its personal and material resources.”

Reconfiguration or merging of parishes and the repurposing, closing, or sale of some churches, rectories, and schools “must surely be anticipated” as part of the outcome, he noted, saying they may ultimately need to “realign or relinquish perhaps one-third of 126 parish churches and other buildings, even some of our remaining parish schools.”

“Every resource or asset — buildings, personnel, services, holdings, and expenses — must point to fulfilling the mission Christ entrusts to us,” Bishop Scharfenberger continued.

The diocese previously launched and completed a pastoral planning process beginning in 2006 and concluding in 2011 named "Called to be Church," which resulted in the diocese implementing nearly a dozen parish mergers in response to changing demographics and a shortage of priests.

Bishop Scharfenberger announced in 2023 his decision that the diocese would declare bankruptcy, in part due to a flood of more than 400 lawsuits filed during a two-year period under New York’s Child Victims Act of 2019. Nearly all of New York’s dioceses filed for bankruptcy following the passage of the act.