​​​BUFFALO, N.Y. — ​Weeks after we told you about the Diocese of Buffalo Road to Renewal initiative, parishioners like Marie Carrubba of Jamestown who attend Scared Heart in Lakewood, Chautauqua County, anticipates a few bumps along the way and is not very optimistic.

"I think there's been too much of a focus on buildings, rather than the reason why so many people seem to be leaving the church," said Marie Carrubba, of Jamestown.

The diocese say the program encourages parishioners to renew a spiritual relationship, as well as to group churches to form parish families, share resources and rotate priests.

Carrubba says, not only have many parishioners of all ages lost a connection to the church community, but shuffling priests around as administrators removes them from their ministry, a stark contrast to when she grew up in a church where the priest knew everyone.

"With the nature of the Bishop re-assigning people, they don't always have the time to get to learn the families, and to get to know people. And I think that's where the connection has been lost," said Carrubba.

Mike Taheri is a parishioner of Saint Brendan on the Lake in Niagara County, comprised of three parishes for now, four under the Renewal, including Saint Bridget in Newfane.

He's calling for Bishop Michael Fisher to put the program on hold and says it's not going to help people of faith grow, not going to bring people back to the church and not going to excite younger parishioners.

"Although well intended, and I pray for the Bishop to be successful,” Taheri said. “We in the Diocese of Buffalo need a spiritual revolution and this is really an administrative situation of really what I call re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic."

He also has a problem with, one, shuffling priests, and disagrees with the diocese that there's a shortage, even after Buffalo no longer has a seminary. And two, the rescheduling and canceling of masses.

"My faith and my wife's faith, it's the cornerstone of our life," said Taheri. "Cutting out a mass is almost anti-Catholic, we should have more masses not fewer masses. And this is resulting in fewer masses."

Even though Carrubba says the church has changed, what hasn't is her faith and commitment to it, thanks to her late mother.

"If you weren't dying, you were expected to be at church on Sunday or Saturday," said Carrubba. "I couldn't imagine going to any other church anywhere. I know there are times it's been a struggle. I do get a spiritual fulfillment from coming and attending or I wouldn't be here."

Father Todd Remick is urging parishioners to give it a chance, as Buffalo joins more than 70% of dioceses across the nation going through similar changes.

"We just have to be willing to be open to that change," said Father Remick. "It is difficult. It is challenging. I just pray the people would have an open mind to this movement of trying to change so that we can have a stronger community of church and faithful."

Taheri is also calling on the Bishop Fisher to spend more time in the parishes, be more vocal, be the one on TV and not delegate that to other priests and advocates.

Even though Father Todd addressed the concerns, we did reach out to the diocese for comment, and leaders issued the following statement from Father Bryan Zielenieski:

"It is natural that not everyone agrees with the Road to Renewal. The reality of the Catholic Church in Western New York and the diminishing resources available to staff, support and sustain our parishes requires us to implement best practices for the survival and the good of all. The Road to Renewal is providing a way through turbulent times by bringing collaboration among our parishes utilizing the best of what each parish has to offer so that our Catholic faith remains vibrant for the future."