About Holy Trinity Catholic Church · Dunkirk, New York
Holy Trinity Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 1032 Central Avenue in Dunkirk, New York, in the Diocese of Buffalo. Founded in 1908 to serve the growing Italian immigrant community of northern Chautauqua County, the parish has ministered in Dunkirk for more than a century. Today it is led as part of 'The Lord's Vineyard,' a Family of Roman Catholic Parishes (Family #3) that brings together Holy Trinity with several other parishes across northern Chautauqua County under one pastoral team. The parish welcomes all who come to worship and offers weekend and weekday Masses, a music ministry, and connections to Northern Chautauqua Catholic School.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- Holy Trinity (the Most Holy Trinity)
- Rector
- Rev. Robert J. Owczarczak
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
Holy Trinity is a welcoming, multigenerational parish with deep roots in Dunkirk's Italian-American Catholic community and an active music ministry that includes a Traditional Choir, a Contemporary Choir, and a Youth Choir. As part of The Lord's Vineyard Family of Parishes, parishioners benefit from shared clergy across multiple worship sites, strong religious-education programs for children, and a partnership with Northern Chautauqua Catholic School. The parish's St. Monica Prayer Group, Eucharistic adoration, and outreach through the Lord's Vineyard make it a place where newcomers can quickly find fellowship, formation, and service opportunities.
Mass times at Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
- By appointment
Parish History: From Third Street to Central Avenue
Holy Trinity was organized in June 1908 by Father Vincent Fragomelli, sent by Bishop Charles Colton of the Diocese of Buffalo to care for the Italian Catholic families who had been attending St. Mary's Church. While the cornerstone of the new church on Ruggles Street was being laid in November 1908, Father Fragomelli said Mass in a temporary church on Third Street. The first church was dedicated in June 1909 and served the parish for more than six decades. As the parish grew, it built a primary school on Central Avenue in 1960. When urban renewal reorganized much of downtown Dunkirk in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Ruggles Street church was sold and the present Holy Trinity Church was erected in 1971–72 on Central Avenue, adjacent to the school. The new location gave parishioners off-street parking and a modern worship space.
- 1908 – Parish founded by Rev. Vincent Fragomelli for the Italian community
- 1908 – Cornerstone laid on Ruggles Street by Bishop Charles Colton
- 1909 – Original church dedicated
- 1960 – Parish school built on Central Avenue
- 1970 – Ruggles Street church sold to Urban Renewal
- 1971–72 – Present church built on Central Avenue
- 1973 – Original church and bell tower demolished
- 2022 – Father Daniel Walsh retires; Father Robert Owczarczak named administrator
- 2025 – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton merged into Holy Trinity
The Lord's Vineyard: Family of Parishes
Holy Trinity is the lead parish of 'The Lord's Vineyard,' Family #3 in the Diocese of Buffalo's Family of Parishes program. The Lord's Vineyard unites Holy Trinity (Dunkirk), Blessed Mary Angela (Dunkirk), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Dunkirk), St. Anthony (Fredonia), St. Joseph (Fredonia, closed 2024), St. Rose of Lima (Forestville, final Mass January 2025), and Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Silver Creek). One pastoral team — led by Father Robert Owczarczak — ministers across the family, with Senior Parochial Vicars Father Joseph Walter and Father Daniel Fiebelkorn, and Parochial Vicar Father Stephen Soares.
- Pastor: Rev. Robert J. Owczarczak
- Senior Parochial Vicars: Rev. Joseph A. Walter, Rev. Daniel F. Fiebelkorn
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Stephen Soares
- Business Manager: Rick Donovan
- Family office: 1030 Central Avenue, Dunkirk, NY 14048
Parish Staff and Office
The Lord's Vineyard central office at 1030 Central Avenue serves Holy Trinity and the other parishes in the family. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to noon and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM; the office is closed Thursdays from 10:00 to 11:00 AM for staff meetings and prayer. The main phone line is (716) 366-2306, and the fax is (716) 366-4738. Staff personal cell numbers are posted on the parish answering machine for emergencies only. Religious-education coordinators for the family are JoAnn Catalano and Natalie Hoebener; music directors at Holy Trinity are Tonia Piede and Marie Sedota.
- Office phone: (716) 366-2306
- Office fax: (716) 366-4738
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM–Noon and 1 PM–4 PM
- Religious Education Coordinators: JoAnn Catalano, Natalie Hoebener
- Music Directors: Tonia Piede, Marie Sedota
- Business Manager: Rick Donovan
Ministries and Groups
Holy Trinity supports a wide range of liturgical and pastoral ministries, drawn largely from the heart of its Italian-American founding community. Three music groups — a Youth Choir, a Traditional Choir, and a Contemporary Choir — support the parish's weekend Masses. Liturgical ministries include Ministers of the Eucharist, Lectors, and Altar Servers. Pastoral care is offered through a Grief Support Group, and a Collection Counter Team assists with parish finance. The St. Monica Prayer Group gathers every third Thursday at 6:00 PM; participants are asked to bring a rosary.
- Youth Choir
- Traditional Choir
- Contemporary Choir
- Ministers of the Eucharist
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Collection Counter Teams
- Grief Support Group
- St. Monica Prayer Group
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation for children is coordinated across The Lord's Vineyard family by JoAnn Catalano and Natalie Hoebener. Families wishing to enroll their children in catechesis or to prepare them for the sacraments should contact the parish office.
- Religious Education Coordinators: JoAnn Catalano, Natalie Hoebener
- Contact: 716-366-2306
Sacraments
Holy Trinity celebrates the seven sacraments in the ordinary life of the parish. Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons and Wednesday evenings; baptisms, marriages, and the anointing of the sick are arranged through the parish office.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Reconciliation — Sat 3:15–3:45 PM, Wed 6:00–6:45 PM, or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
Devotions and Prayer Life
Beyond the Mass, Holy Trinity fosters a devotional life rooted in the parish's heritage. The St. Monica Prayer Group gathers on the third Thursday of every month at 6:00 PM for prayer, with members invited to bring a rosary.
- St. Monica Prayer Group — every third Thursday, 6:00 PM
Northern Chautauqua Catholic School (NCCS)
Holy Trinity is closely tied to Northern Chautauqua Catholic School, a Pre-K through Grade 8 Catholic elementary school located at 336 Washington Avenue in Dunkirk. NCCS describes itself as a Christ-centered community committed to academic excellence, family values, and respect for self and others. It offers Spanish, music, computer, and physical education each week, along with extracurricular sports and clubs, smaller class sizes, and an after-school program. The principal is Paul Pinto; Father Bob Owczarczak and Father Dan Walsh (chaplain) sit on the board of trustees.
- Address: 336 Washington Avenue, Dunkirk, NY 14048
- Phone: (716) 366-0630
- Website: www.nccschool.us
- Principal: Paul Pinto
- Grades: Pre-K3 through Grade 8
- Pastor on board: Fr. Bob Owczarczak; Chaplain: Fr. Dan Walsh
Holy Trinity Cemetery
The parish maintains Holy Trinity Cemetery, originally an ethnic-Italian burial ground with records of burials beginning in 1914. The cemetery is still in active use; information about burials can be obtained by writing to Holy Trinity R.C. Church, 1032 Central Avenue, Dunkirk, NY 14048.
- Holy Trinity Cemetery
- Burial records from 1914 onward
- Contact: Holy Trinity R.C. Church, 1032 Central Ave., Dunkirk, NY 14048
Visiting and Contact
Holy Trinity Catholic Church is located at 1032 Central Avenue in the city of Dunkirk, in northern Chautauqua County, New York. The parish office mailing address is 1030 Central Avenue, Dunkirk, NY 14048. The office can be reached at (716) 366-2306 or by email at [email protected]. The 8:30 AM Sunday Mass is broadcast live; visitors are invited to tune in via the parish website.
- Address: 1032 Central Avenue, Dunkirk, NY 14048
- Parish office: 1030 Central Avenue, Dunkirk, NY 14048
- Phone: (716) 366-2306
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.holytrinitydunkirk.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Vincent Fragomelli1908–
Sent by Bishop Charles Colton in June 1908 to organize the Italian parish; celebrated first Masses in a temporary church on Third Street and oversaw construction of the original Ruggles Street church.
- Rev. Daniel Walsh
Retired as pastor of Holy Trinity in June 2022.
- Rev. Robert J. Owczarczak2022–present
Named parish administrator in June 2022 following Father Walsh's retirement; now pastor of The Lord's Vineyard Family of Parishes.