About Blessed Mother of Teresa of Calcutta · Depew, New York
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of Depew, New York (Erie County), in the Diocese of Buffalo. It was created in 2010 by the merger of earlier Depew-area parishes and is part of the Beloved Disciples of Christ the Lord (Family #9) family of parishes. The parish serves about 627 families from its church at 496 Terrace Boulevard and offers weekend and weekday Masses, Saturday confessions, religious education, and outreach to the local Catholic community. It is staffed by priests in solidum under a moderator, working together with sister parishes in the surrounding Cheektowaga–Lancaster–Alden area.
- Established
- 2010
- Patron
- St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Richard W. Siepka (Moderator, priests-in-solidum model)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta is a welcoming, mid-sized parish of roughly 627 families that anchors Catholic life on the west side of Depew. It offers weekend Mass in both its main church and a weekday chapel, regular Saturday confessions, a religious education program for parish children coordinated by Deborah Pirog, and the prayerful ministry of four permanent deacons who serve across the family of parishes. As part of the Beloved Disciples of Christ the Lord (Family #9), it shares priests, deacons, and pastoral resources with five neighboring parishes — so a newcomer finds a stable sacramental life, a music ministry led by Tim Neel, a Knights of Columbus council, and the warmth of a community in the Diocese of Buffalo.
Mass times at Blessed Mother of Teresa of Calcutta
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM (in the main church, before the 4:00 PM Vigil Mass)
Welcome to Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish (Depew, NY) is a Roman Catholic community of about 627 families in the Diocese of Buffalo. The parish takes its name from St. Teresa of Calcutta, the Albanian-born religious sister who founded the Missionaries of Charity and was canonized in 2016. Parishioners worship at 496 Terrace Boulevard in the village of Depew and gather as part of Family #9, the Beloved Disciples of Christ the Lord — a family of six parishes across Depew, Lancaster, Cheektowaga, and Alden.
Parish History
The parish was canonically erected in 2010 when the Diocese of Buffalo consolidated earlier Depew-area parishes. It continues to use the former St. James of Depew church building and property. In December 2020, long-serving pastor Father Lawrence Damian retired, and Father David I. Richards, pastor of Our Lady of Pompeii in Lancaster, was named temporary parish administrator. The parish was then formally placed into the priests-in-solidum family-of-parishes model under Moderator Msgr. Richard W. Siepka.
- 2010: Parish canonically erected by the Diocese of Buffalo
- Dec. 5, 2020: Father Lawrence Damian retires as pastor
- Dec. 6, 2020: Father David I. Richards named temporary parish administrator
- Parish grouped into Family #9 (Beloved Disciples of Christ the Lord)
Clergy, Deacons & Staff
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta is staffed under a 'priests in solidum' arrangement, meaning three priests share pastoral responsibility for the parishes of Family #9. Four permanent deacons from across the family also assist here. A small lay staff supports faith formation, music, and parish operations.
- Rev. Msgr. Richard W. Siepka — Moderator, In Solidum
- Rev. Lukasz Kopala — Priest in Solidum
- Rev. Bart W. Lipiec — Priest in Solidum
- Deacon John Hendricks, Deacon Matthew Hens, Deacon John Owczarczak, Deacon James Trzaska (Permanent Deacons)
- Kim Lewandowski — Business Manager
- Deborah Pirog — Religious Education Coordinator (716-683-2746 ext. 208)
- Tim Neel — Music Director
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a Religious Education program for parish children, coordinated by Deborah Pirog (reachable at the parish office). Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation is offered through this office in collaboration with the other Family #9 parishes. Adult faith-enrichment events such as 'Reignite Your Faith Life' parish missions are scheduled periodically.
- Religious Education Coordinator: Deborah Pirog (716-683-2746, ext. 208)
- First Reconciliation / First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation (Family #9)
- Adult enrichment: 'Reignite Your Faith Life' parish mission series
Music & Liturgy
Music at Mass is led by Music Director Tim Neel, working with parish cantors and instrumentalists. The parish offers a traditional English-language liturgy with sung parts of the Mass.
- Music Director: Tim Neel
- Weekend sung Mass (Vigil 4:00 PM; Sunday 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM)
- Daily chapel Mass at 8:00 AM
Parish Outreach & Community
As part of the Beloved Disciples of Christ the Lord family, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta shares outreach efforts, youth events, and charitable works with sister parishes in Lancaster, Cheektowaga, and Alden. The parish hall and grounds host community events and faith-life programming.
- Family #9 youth and family activities
- Cooperative charitable outreach with Family #9 sister parishes
- Knights of Columbus council active in the parish
Contact & Location
The parish office is at 496 Terrace Boulevard, Depew, NY 14043-3291. Telephone (716) 683-2746; fax (716) 683-3121. A parish convent is maintained at 55 Westfield Avenue, Depew 14043 (716-685-1114).
- Address: 496 Terrace Blvd., Depew, NY 14043-3291
- Phone: 716-683-2746
- Fax: 716-683-3121
- Email: [email protected]
- Convent: 55 Westfield Ave., Depew 14043 (716-685-1114)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Lawrence Damianuntil December 5, 2020
Retired as pastor in December 2020 after long tenure at the parish.
- Father David I. RichardsEffective December 6, 2020
Apostolic administrator of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta while continuing as pastor of Our Lady of Pompeii, Lancaster.