About Corpus Christi · Buffalo, New York
Corpus Christi is a Roman Catholic parish on Buffalo's historic East Side at 199 Clark Street, founded in 1898 to serve the city's growing Polish immigrant community. The parish is famous for its towering Romanesque Revival church of red Medina sandstone, which rises 175 feet above the neighborhood and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. After being administered for more than a century by Franciscan Conventual friars, Corpus Christi has been under the pastoral care of the Pauline Fathers and Brothers (Order of St. Paul the First Hermit) since January 2004, when the community rallied to save the church from closure. Today the parish is led by Fr. Mariusz Dymek, OSPPE, with Fr. Marek Kreis, OSPPE, as parochial vicar, and continues a strong devotional life centered on the Eucharist, Divine Mercy, and Our Lady of Częstochowa.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- Corpus Christi (Body of Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Mariusz Dymek, OSPPE
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
Corpus Christi offers a richly devotional Catholic life in one of Buffalo's most architecturally significant churches, an 1,650-seat Romanesque Revival landmark on the National Register of Historic Places. Parishioners worship with the Pauline Fathers (Order of St. Paul the First Hermit), whose charism emphasizes preaching, media evangelization, and Marian devotion, and the parish calendar keeps the Eucharist at the center: daily Mass in the chapel, Sunday Mass with the Divine Mercy Chaplet recited in Polish and English, First Thursday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the Perpetual Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa, and a daily Rosary after weekday Mass. It is a parish that welcomes both returning Polish-rooted families and new members — the parish office will personally reach out to anyone who emails [email protected] to register.
Mass times at Corpus Christi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:45–9:10 AM (in church before Mass)
- By appointment (call the parish office at 716-896-1050)
Adoration times
- First Thursday of the month, 6:00–8:30 PM — Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the parish chapel (weather permitting; check bulletin for possible cancellation when priests are on vacation)
History of Corpus Christi Parish
Founded in 1898 by the Franciscan Conventual friar Fr. Hyacinth Fudzinski to serve Buffalo's booming Polish immigrant community, Corpus Christi grew from a remodeled frame house into one of the East Side's landmark parishes, peaking at roughly 2,000 families served by a six-building complex. The present Romanesque Revival church was laid in cornerstone in 1907 and dedicated by Bishop Charles Colton on June 13, 1909, funded at $200,000. After more than a century of Franciscan Conventual leadership — and a brush with closure in 2003 — the Pauline Fathers and Brothers (Order of St. Paul the First Hermit) assumed pastoral care in January 2004 and have since renewed the parish's life.
- Founded 1898 by Fr. Hyacinth Fudzinski, OFM Conv.
- Cornerstone of present church laid 1907; dedicated June 13, 1909
- Saved from closure in 2003 through the Friends of Corpus Christi and Msgr. Matthew Kopacz
- Pauline Fathers took over the parish in January 2004
- School (run by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph) closed 1988 and later demolished
- Complex listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007
Architecture and the Church Building
The Corpus Christi R.C. Church Complex is a series of buildings on Buffalo's East Side, dominated by the great red-sandstone church designed by the noted Buffalo architects Schmill and Gould. Construction is Onondaga limestone faced with rusticated red Medina sandstone, with twin copper-domed bell towers rising 175 feet and a sanctuary apse that adapts Raphael's Disputa. Interior decorative painting is the work of local ecclesiastic artist Jozef Mazur, and the eight large nave windows are by the Franz Mayer studio of Munich.
- Romanesque Revival style, architects Schmill and Gould
- 90 by 175 feet, seating 1,650
- Twin copper-domed bell towers topped by gold crosses
- Apse mural adapting Raphael's Disputa; sanctuary lit by 11,000 light bulbs
- Stained glass by Franz Mayer & Co., Munich
- Interior painting by Jozef Mazur
Parish Staff and Clergy
Corpus Christi is administered by the Pauline Fathers (Order of St. Paul the First Hermit). The current pastor is Fr. Mariusz Dymek, OSPPE, who was appointed on February 1, 2022 and also serves as administrator of nearby St. Stanislaus Parish in Buffalo. Fr. Marek Kreis, OSPPE, is parochial vicar, effective March 1, 2022. Lay leaders include Trustees Henry Bernat and Leonard Sikorski, Parish Council Chairperson Liz Reiser, Director of Music Andrew Kowtalo, and Office Secretary Cathy Bergen.
- Fr. Mariusz Dymek, OSPPE — Pastor (since Feb 1, 2022) and Superior
- Fr. Marek Kreis, OSPPE — Parochial Vicar (since March 1, 2022)
- Henry Bernat and Leonard Sikorski — Trustees
- Liz Reiser — Parish Council Chairperson
- Andrew Kowtalo — Director of Music
- Cathy Bergen — Office Secretary
Marian and Eucharistic Devotions
Devotional life at Corpus Christi is steeped in Polish-Catholic tradition. The Perpetual Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa is offered on Saturdays, and a Rosary follows each weekday Mass. First Saturday brings a special Rosary after Mass. The parish shares joint Lenten devotions (Stations of the Cross and Penitential Services) with neighboring Polish parishes including St. Adalbert, and the Pauline Fathers' charism keeps preaching and Marian devotion at the heart of parish life.
- Perpetual Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa — Saturdays
- Rosary after daily Mass (Mon–Fri)
- First Saturday Rosary after Mass
- Stations of the Cross during Lent (jointly with area parishes)
- Father Justin's Rosary Hour — historic Polish-language radio program begun from this sanctuary in 1931
Pastoral Succession
The parish has been served by a succession of Franciscan Conventual pastors from its 1898 founding until 2003, then by Pauline Fathers since January 2004. Each era left a physical mark: Fr. Hyacinth Fudzinski built the parish complex, Fr. Michael Cieslik painted the interior and built the recreational clubs, Fr. Eustace Bartoszewicz added the bells and sanctuary mural, Fr. Norbert Zonca rebuilt the organ and began stained-glass restoration, and Frs. Tokarz, Konieczny, Mruk, and Kolodziejski shepherded the parish through the post-Vatican II decades. The Pauline era has been led in turn by Fr. Anzelm Chalupka, OSPPE, Fr. Michał Czyżewski, OSPPE, and the current pastor, Fr. Mariusz Dymek, OSPPE.
- 1898–1923: Rev. Hyacinth Fudzinski, OFM Conv. (founder)
- 1923–1939: Rev. Michael Cieslik, OFM Conv.
- 1945–1960: Rev. Eustace Bartoszewicz, OFM Conv.
- 1960–1969: Rev. Norbert Zonca, OFM Conv.
- 1971–1979: Rev. Anthony Konieczny, OFM Conv.
- from 1979: Rev. Walter Mruk, OFM Conv.
- until 2003: Rev. Karl Kolodziejski, OFM Conv.
- 2004–: Rev. Anzelm Chalupka, OSPPE
- until Feb 2022: Rev. Michał Czyżewski, OSPPE
- Feb 2022–present: Rev. Mariusz Dymek, OSPPE
Parish Complex and Facilities
At its height the parish grew into a six-building complex on the East Side, anchored by the great sandstone church. The original elementary school (run by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph) closed in the 1980s and was eventually torn down and replaced by a large parking lot. The rectory (begun 1900) and the sisters' convent (begun 1905) survive, as do the Kolbe Center (the former 'Girls Club' on the second floor of which the Father Justin's Rosary Hour was later broadcast) and the Corpus Christi Club on Sears Street. Since 2004 the Pauline Fathers have renovated the rectory, church, and former convent.
- Church — 199 Clark Street (1907–1909)
- Rectory — begun 1900
- Former sisters' convent — begun 1905
- Kolbe Center (former 'Girls Club')
- Corpus Christi Club on Sears Street
- Former school — closed 1988, demolished; site is now a large parking lot
Joining the Parish and Getting Involved
Anyone interested in joining Corpus Christi is invited to email the parish office at [email protected] or call 716-896-1050; the office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The parish is led jointly by the Pauline Fathers and an active Parish Council chaired by Liz Reiser, with trustees Henry Bernat and Leonard Sikorski, and welcomes returning Polish-rooted families as well as new members drawn by the Pauline charism of preaching, media evangelization, and Marian devotion.
- Parish office: [email protected]
- Phone: 716-896-1050
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
- Parish Council chaired by Liz Reiser
- Trustees: Henry Bernat and Leonard Sikorski
- Director of Music: Andrew Kowtalo
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Hyacinth Fudzinski, OFM Conv.1898–1923
Founder and first pastor; also founder and first Minister Provincial of the Friars Minor Conventual Polish Province of St. Anthony in America. Established the parish for Buffalo's Polish immigrant community at Clark and Kent Streets.
- Rev. Michael Cieslik, OFM Conv.1923–1939 (16 years)
Painted and decorated the church interior; built the 'Girls Club' (now Kolbe Center) and the Corpus Christi Club on Sears Street. During his tenure the Father Justin's Rosary Hour began broadcasting from the sanctuary in 1931.
- Rev. Eustace Bartoszewicz, OFM Conv.1945–1960
Fourth pastor; enlarged the sanctuary, added the Saints over the arches and the central-entrance mural, and added two new bells (St. Francis, St. Anthony, St. Hyacinth) and six clocks in time for the church's 50th anniversary.
- Rev. Norbert Zonca, OFM Conv.1960–1969
Rebuilt the church organ (over $20,000) and began interior renovations and stained-glass repairs for the parish's 75th anniversary.
- Rev. Emil Tokarz, OFM Conv.through Jan 1971
Sixth pastor; long-time assistant at Corpus Christi known for care of the sick and shut-ins; continued renovation plans.
- Rev. Anthony Konieczny, OFM Conv.1971–1979
Focused on renewal of Christian life and the parish community.
- Rev. Walter Mruk, OFM Conv.from Aug 1979
Introduced special ministers of the Eucharist, a new Fraternity of Secular Franciscans, and grew the Rosary Society.
- Rev. Karl Kolodziejski, OFM Conv.until 2003
Last Franciscan Conventual pastor; oversaw parish until the order's June 2003 announcement that it was leaving Corpus Christi.
- Rev. Anzelm Chalupka, OSPPEJan 2004–
First Pauline pastor after the Order of St. Paul the First Hermit took over the parish.
- Rev. Michał Czyżewski, OSPPEuntil Feb 1, 2022
Transferred by the Pauline Fathers to the Archdiocese of New York.
- Rev. Mariusz Dymek, OSPPEFeb 1, 2022–present
Current pastor and Superior; also appointed administrator of St. Stanislaus Parish in Buffalo.