Immaculate Conception

Welcome to Immaculate Conception Parish

Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic parish of about 1,561 families in the village of East Aurora, New York, in the southern tier of Erie County. Founded in 1882 and rededicated in its present form in 1978, the parish sits at 520 Oakwood Avenue, next door to its parish school, and belongs to the Diocese of Buffalo. The parish worships in English, offers three Sunday Masses and a daily morning Mass, and shares its pastoral team with three other local parishes through the diocese's 'Family #6 — WHEAT Scattered and Sown' collaborative.

Parish History

The Catholic community at East Aurora took root in the early 1880s among the descendants of Revolutionary War veterans and Dutch, English, and French immigrants of the Holland Land Purchase. On August 14, 1882 the congregation bought its first piece of property on Oakwood Avenue from Christopher Peek for $300, and on November 19, 1882 Bishop Stephen V. Ryan, the second Bishop of Buffalo, laid the cornerstone of the original frame church, which seated 180–190 people. Catholics had been gathering for Mass in the 1810 District No. 1 schoolhouse — whose 1811 records explicitly permitted 'meetings of Public Worship for all orders of religious worship' — and continued to do so while the new church was being built. The parish remained a mission of St. Vincent's in Springbrook for the next seven or eight years, with the priest from Springbrook coming to East Aurora about once a month.

• 1882: First Catholic property purchased on Oakwood Avenue ($300 from Christopher Peek)
• November 19, 1882: Cornerstone laid by Bishop Stephen V. Ryan
• 1884 & 1887: Bishop Ryan administered Confirmation in Springbrook during Father Reilly's pastorate
• 1976: Original 1882 church demolished; cornerstone tin box opened
• October 15, 1978: New Immaculate Conception Church dedicated; 111-page parish history compiled by Rev. Alfons M. Osiander

Clergy and Staff

The parish is currently led as part of Family #6 of the Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal, with a pastor, senior parochial vicar, and parochial vicar serving Immaculate Conception along with neighboring parishes. Permanent deacons assist with the liturgy and parish life. The parish also relies on lay directors for faith formation, evangelization, music, outreach, and respect life. In 2023 the parish school even produced a welcome video — with kindergarteners on rhythm sticks, first graders on ukuleles, and second graders on rhythm buckets — to greet the new priests.

• Pastor: Rev. Gerard Skrzynski (appointed 2023 as pastor of Family #6)
• Senior Parochial Vicar: Rev. Karl E. Loeb
• Parochial Vicar: Rev. Aaron Kulczyk (appointed 2023)
• Permanent Deacons: Daniel U. Golinski, David E. Clabeaux, James Jaworski, Bill Broderick, Martin Hackford
• Evangelization / Family Faith Formation / Religious Education Director: Jennifer Kreutzer
• Music Director: Anthony Kalinowski
• Outreach Coordinator: Anthony Rozak
• Respect Life Coordinator: Florence Hoffman
• School Principal: Dr. Mary Pauly

Immaculate Conception School

The parish school is located right next door to the church at 510 Oakwood Avenue and is an important part of parish life. Students participate in liturgical life at the parish, including the Tuesday 9:15 a.m. school Mass. The school's music teacher, Glenn Colton (a Buffalo Music Hall of Fame inductee), is well known for creating school and parish videos, including a 2023 welcome video for the new priests. School inquiries and tuition questions are handled through the Parish Rectory at (716) 652-6400.

• Address: 510 Oakwood Avenue, East Aurora, NY 14052
• Phone: (716) 652-5855
• Principal: Dr. Mary Pauly
• Music teacher Glenn Colton, Buffalo Music Hall of Fame member

Faith Formation and Adult Initiation

The parish's Family Faith Formation program, under Director Jennifer Kreutzer, prepares children and youth for the sacraments and walks them through the Catholic faith year by year. Adults interested in becoming Catholic, completing their initiation, or returning to the faith participate in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA). A separate Adult Confirmation program is offered for Catholics who have not yet been confirmed, with sessions held both in person and on Zoom.

• Family Faith Formation / Religious Education (Director: Jennifer Kreutzer)
• OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
• Adult Confirmation program (in-person and Zoom)
• Sponsor Letters for Godparents and Confirmation Sponsors (available to registered parishioners after three months of attendance)

Youth Ministry (ICY)

Immaculate Conception runs a vibrant parish youth ministry known as ICY (Immaculate Conception Youth), which has been active for more than a decade. ICY provides middle school and senior high gatherings, service opportunities, retreats, and trips (including the National Catholic Youth Conference), and meets regularly for community, faith, and fellowship. A planning team of youth and adult leaders shape the program each year, reflecting on papal documents like Pope Francis's Christus Vivit.

• Middle school and senior high groups
• Service, community, and leadership focus
• Annual retreats and Reconciliation Retreat
• NCYC trips and Seminary 'Walk in the Woods' events
• Contact: [email protected]

Parish Ministries and Outreach

Beyond the sacraments and faith formation, Immaculate Conception parishioners are active in music, evangelization, respect life, and outreach to those in need. The music ministry (led by Anthony Kalinowski) supports liturgies year-round, while the Respect Life and Outreach coordinators organize parish efforts to accompany mothers, the elderly, and the poor. As a member of Family #6, the parish is also linked to St. Vincent de Paul parish in Springbrook — historically the mother parish from which Immaculate Conception was first served.

• Music Ministry (Director: Anthony Kalinowski)
• Evangelization (Director: Jennifer Kreutzer)
• Respect Life Ministry (Coordinator: Florence Hoffman)
• Outreach Ministry (Coordinator: Anthony Rozak)
• Bible studies and prayer groups
• Men's Faith Sharing group (Wednesday)
• Baptism preparation for parents

Sacraments

The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Parents wishing to baptize their child must first attend a baptism preparation session. Children typically receive First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation through the Family Faith Formation program, and adults through the OCIA process or the Adult Confirmation program. Couples preparing for marriage, and the sick or homebound wishing to receive Anointing, should contact the Parish Office.

• Baptism (with required parent preparation session)
• First Communion and First Reconciliation (Family Faith Formation)
• Confirmation (youth through Faith Formation; adults through Adult Confirmation)
• Matrimony (contact Parish Office)
• Anointing of the Sick (by appointment)
• Reconciliation (Saturdays 3:30 PM)

Family #6 — WHEAT Scattered and Sown

Immaculate Conception is one of four parishes that make up 'Family #6 — WHEAT Scattered and Sown' under the Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal pastoral plan, which groups parishes into collaborative 'families' that share priests and resources. Family #6 stretches across the southern Erie County villages of East Aurora, Elma, Springbrook, and West Falls.

• Immaculate Conception, East Aurora (520 Oakwood Avenue)
• Church of the Annunciation, Elma (7580 Clinton St.)
• St. Vincent de Paul, Springbrook (the original 'mother parish' for East Aurora missions)
• St. George Chapel, West Falls

Visit, Contact, and Stay Connected

Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at 520 Oakwood Avenue in East Aurora. The parish office can be reached by phone or email, and the parish school is right next door. Live-streamed Masses are available online, and a parish app keeps parishioners connected to bulletins, events, and giving. Youth ministry has its own dedicated Facebook page and website, and the school maintains its own web presence as well.

• Parish Office: 520 Oakwood Avenue, East Aurora, NY 14052-2394
• Phone: (716) 652-6400 | Fax: (716) 652-7168
• Email: [email protected]
• Live Mass camera: church-center.click2stream.com
• Youth Ministry: icyouthea.org and Facebook @icyouthea
• School: icschoolea.org