About Ascension · Batavia, New York
Ascension Roman Catholic Church (formerly Sacred Heart of Jesus) is a parish in the City of Batavia, Genesee County, New York, part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. Founded in 1904 to serve the Polish and Italian Catholic communities on Batavia's south side, the parish merged with neighboring St. Anthony of Padua in 2007 to take the name Ascension. Today the parish community worships at 19 Sumner Street (the historic Sacred Heart building on South Swan Street) and is led by Fr. Matthew J. Zirnheld as Priest In Solidum, with Permanent Deacon Walter Szczesny and a small parish staff. Their stated mission is to be 'a community where all are welcome and inspired to live the Good News of Jesus Christ — where worship leads to service, service leads to love, and love leads to eternal life.'
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) / formerly Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Matthew J. Zirnheld (Priest In Solidum)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
Ascension is a small, family-style parish with deep roots in Batavia's Polish and Italian Catholic heritage and a track record of faithfully serving south-side families for more than 120 years. The community welcomes new members through a simple registration process, keeps parishioners connected through Flocknote, and gathers around a single Sunday Mass — supported by ministries such as the Knights of Columbus, Lifelong Faith Formation, the St. Vincent dePaul Bereavement Society, parish funeral-planning help, and the long-running Oktoberfest community celebration. If you want an accessible, traditional Catholic home in Genesee County that worships in a beautifully restored 1954 church, Ascension offers a warm place to belong.
Mass times at Ascension
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish Identity & Mission
Ascension Roman Catholic Community is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo centered on the historic 1954 church at 19 Sumner Street in Batavia, New York. The parish's self-stated mission — visible on the parish website and bulletin — is 'United in Christ, Growing in Faith, Hope and Love,' and the community describes itself as a place where 'all are welcome' and 'worship leads to service, service leads to love, and love leads to eternal life.' The parish carries forward the heritage of two earlier parishes, Sacred Heart of Jesus (Polish, founded 1904) and St. Anthony of Padua (Italian, founded 1908), both rooted in Batavia's south-side immigrant Catholic community.
History of the Parish
The parish traces its origins to October 1, 1904, when Bishop Charles Colton of the Diocese of Buffalo assigned Rev. Peter Pitass to organize a new parish for the Polish and Italian families living on Batavia's south side. Father Pitass built the first chapel from a house on South Jackson Street, with an adjacent barn serving as the school. By 1917 the parish had moved to Sumner and Swan Streets. The basement-only church of 1917 stood in place for decades, and in March 1942 was destroyed when Tonawanda Creek flooded — only the foundation survived. The present church, designed by Buffalo architect Frank Mazurowski in a Colonial/Gothic Revival style, was built on that same 1915 foundation and blessed on December 12, 1954. (See the 'Merger with St. Anthony's' and 'Restoration of 2021' sub-sections below for the modern chapters of the story.)
Merger with St. Anthony of Padua (2007)
In 2007 Bishop Edward U. Kmiec merged Sacred Heart with the neighboring Italian-American St. Anthony of Padua Parish (founded 1908) under the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Journey in Faith and Grace' consolidation program. The combined entity took the name Ascension Parish, and Masses continued at both church buildings — known informally as 'Ascension west' (Sacred Heart, Swan Street) and 'Ascension east' (St. Anthony, Liberty Street). In 2012 the Ascension Parish Council, citing financial pressures, fewer priests, and declining population, recommended closing St. Anthony's to Bishop Richard Malone; the doors of the 104-year-old Italian church closed permanently on December 31, 2012.
Restoration of 2021 & the 2024 Merger
Father David Glassmire, pastor since 2011, directed a full interior and exterior renovation of the Swan Street church through the Diocese of Buffalo's Upon This Rock Campaign — new roof, interior paint, handrails, restored stained-glass windows, a new sanctuary lamp, and a refurbished crucifix. Bishop Michael W. Fisher blessed the renewed church and a new altar on December 12, 2021, nearly 67 years to the day after Bishop Joseph Burke blessed the original 1954 building. In November 2024, Bishop Fisher issued a further decree merging Ascension into neighboring Resurrection Parish effective November 22, 2024; Ascension continues to operate as a worship site and Sunday Mass venue for the merged community.
Mass & Worship Schedule
The parish celebrates Sunday Mass at 12:00 noon at the Ascension church on Sumner Street / South Swan Street. Holy Day Masses are 'As Announced' through the parish bulletin and Flocknote. Travelers visiting Batavia are referred to MassTimes.org by the parish website. Confession and adoration times are not published online — visitors should call the parish office at (585) 343-1796 to inquire about the sacrament of reconciliation or any current devotional schedule.
- Sunday Mass — 12:00 PM (English)
- Holy Day Mass — As Announced
Clergy & Parish Staff
Ascension is currently served by Fr. Matthew J. Zirnheld as Priest In Solidum under the 2024 merger with Resurrection Parish, assisted by Permanent Deacon Rev. Mr. Walter Szczesny. The lay staff listed on the parish website includes Marcia Derck (Business Manager), Pat Becker (Bulletin Coordinator), Sue Hartrick (Office Administrator), and Dan Maxwell (Maintenance). The parish office is open during regular weekday hours and can be reached at (585) 343-1796 or [email protected].
- Fr. Matthew J. Zirnheld — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Mr. Walter Szczesny — Permanent Deacon
- Mrs. Marcia Derck — Business Manager
- Mrs. Pat Becker — Bulletin Coordinator
- Mrs. Sue Hartrick — Office Administrator
- Mr. Dan Maxwell — Maintenance
Parishioner Life & Getting Involved
New parishioners can register through the parish website or by calling the office; an online registration form is available at ascensionrcc.com/join-our-community-1 with options for heads of household, spouses, and dependents (including confirmation status). The parish encourages newcomers to sign up for Flocknote, the parish's electronic communication tool, for the most up-to-date information on parish activities. Donations are accepted online via the parish's WeShare giving portal (ascensionrcc.weshareonline.org). Parish hall and meeting space is also available through the Ascension Parish Hall at 17 Sumner Street.
Ministries & Community Outreach
The parish supports a wide network of ministries both inside and outside its walls. The Knights of Columbus council is active locally; Lifelong Faith Formation provides catechesis for children and adults; the St. Vincent dePaul Bereavement Society ministers to grieving families. Funeral Planning resources are offered as a practical outreach. Every fall the parish hosts Oktoberfest, a long-running community gathering that has become a signature south-side Batavia event.
- Knights of Columbus
- Lifelong Faith Formation
- St. Vincent dePaul Bereavement Society
- Funeral Planning
- Oktoberfest (annual)
- Flocknote electronic communications
Sacraments & Devotional Life
Information on baptisms, confirmation preparation, marriage, and other sacraments is handled through the parish office at (585) 343-1796. Holy Day Masses are offered as announced in the bulletin and via Flocknote. The parish website lists links to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Mercy Spirituality Center as resources for daily prayer and spiritual reading. Confession, adoration, and devotional prayer times are not published online; parishioners and visitors are encouraged to contact the office for current schedules.
- Baptism — by appointment through parish office
- Confirmation preparation
- Marriage — contact parish office
- Holy Day Masses — as announced
- Funeral Planning resources
Location, Contact & Practical Information
The Ascension parish office and church are located at 19 Sumner Street, Batavia, NY 14020 (the historic building is also referenced as 135 South Swan Street at the corner of Sumner Street). Phone (585) 343-1796; fax (585) 343-0919; email [email protected]. The Ascension Parish Hall (community/rental space) sits at 17 Sumner Street, Batavia, NY 14020. Online giving is handled through the WeShare portal linked from the parish site's main menu. Visitors driving in should use the address 19 Sumner St. for navigation.
- Parish Office / Church: 19 Sumner Street, Batavia, NY 14020
- Parish Hall: 17 Sumner Street, Batavia, NY 14020
- Phone: (585) 343-1796
- Fax: (585) 343-0919
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://ascensionrcc.com
- Online Giving: https://ascensionrcc.weshareonline.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Peter Pitass1904–1917 (approx.)
Founded Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish on Oct. 1, 1904; established first chapel from a house on South Jackson Street; moved parish to Sumner/Swan Streets in 1917.
- Rev. Stanislaus Cichowski1928 – approx. 1954
Longest-serving pastor (26 years); guided parish through the 1942 Tonawanda Creek flood.
- Rev. Alexander Jankowskiafter Cichowski
Succeeded Cichowski in rebuilding the church and school after the 1942 flood.
- Rev. Leo Smithby 1954
Blessed the cornerstone of the present church (built on the 1915 foundation) and the building was consecrated Dec. 12, 1954.
- Fr. David Glassmire2011 – (pastor since 2011)
Led the 2021 inside-and-out renovation of the church via the diocesan Upon This Rock Campaign; new altar blessed by Bishop Fisher in Dec. 2021.
- Fr. Matthew J. Zirnheldpresent
Current Priest In Solidum following the 2024 merger of Ascension into Resurrection Parish.