An effort to raise money to buy back Roman Catholic churches in Newfoundland is well underway, with out-of-province friends and relations coming to the aid of rural parishioners trying to save their places of worship.

The Diocese of St. George's has placed many of its real estate properties on the market, including seven churches that are still in use.

The diocese is aiming to raise money to cover a $13-million compensation claim by victims of Father Kevin Bennett, who molested boys while working in churches in the diocese. He was convicted in 1990, but the compensation claim was not settled until last year.

The Diocese of St. George's, which is responsible for churches in western and southern Newfoundland, has an additional two years to raise money to pay the claim.

The Roman Catholic church in Highlands, in Bay St. George, has weathered storms before. The first St. Columcille church in the town blew over in the 1950s, and had to be rebuilt.

Parishioners are coming to its aid again.

Organizer Barb McInnis said one of the donors is her sister, who now lives in Alberta and who has put up $4,000 to buy back the building.

"She loves the place here because she used to be out here a lot when she was younger," McInnis said.

"So, it gets emotional. It just means we're going to get to keep our church, thanks to her."

Another church that had to be sold is St. Patrick's, in the south coast community of Ramea.

Parishioner Marlene Augustus says the campaign has not yet raised the $10,000 needed to buy the church and parish hall, but she is confident.

"Oh, we'll do it. God is with us, we'll do it," she said.

She said there is no way the congregation will be outbid for the property.

"We [don't have any] money from diocese to do anything, and this is why it hurts so much. It's ours. Nobody takes it away from us," Augustus said.

The Ramea congregation says it could take up to a year to raise enough money.

She said the response so far to e-mails sent to friends as far away as the U.S. has been good.