About Nativity of Our Lord · Orchard Park, New York
Nativity of Our Lord is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Buffalo serving the Village of Orchard Park, New York, and surrounding Southtowns communities. Founded in 1908, the parish worships at 26 Thorn Avenue and operates a Pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic school (founded 1909 by the Sisters of St. Francis) as well as a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel at 43 Argyle Place. Under the pastoral leadership of Father James Ciupek and Parochial Vicar Father Michael Johnson, the parish is known for its family-oriented liturgical life, an active youth ministry, a robust outreach network (WNY Haiti Connection, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach, Loaves & Fishes food pantry), and a parish cemetery on South Buffalo Street covered by perpetual care.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- Nativity of Our Lord (the Birth of Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. James Ciupek
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
Nativity of Our Lord is a multi-generational Catholic community in the heart of Orchard Park that pairs a strong liturgical life — with up to five Sunday Masses, daily Masses Monday through Saturday, and a 24/7 Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel at 43 Argyle Place — with a Pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic school, a Confirmation program serving 9th and 10th graders, and a youth ministry that brings teens together from public, private, and homeschool backgrounds. The parish's mission — 'to know, love, and honor God through the rich traditions of our Catholic faith and be a place of healing and spiritual nourishment that is welcoming to all' — is lived out through outreach to the poor (Loaves & Fishes food pantry, St. Vincent de Paul, Park-Parsons food drives, Panera Bread Doughnation), pro-life work, a twinned sister parish in Haiti, and care for the homebound, the unborn, and the bereaved through Nativity Cemetery.
Mass times at Nativity of Our Lord
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30–4:15 PM (before the 4:30 PM Vigil Mass)
- Saturdays 6:30–6:45 PM (before the 7:00 PM Vigil Mass)
- By appointment / by request
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the Adoration Chapel, 43 Argyle Place (chapel building is locked 8:00 PM–7:00 AM; adorers with overnight hours are given a security code)
- Closed only during the Easter Triduum and occasionally for portions of Christmas/New Year's or for cleaning/repairs
Parish History & Identity
Nativity of Our Lord was established in 1908 in the Village of Orchard Park, New York, as part of the Diocese of Buffalo. The parish's Catholic school was founded a year later in 1909 by the Sisters of Saint Francis, with the founding pastor, Father Crimmens, converting the rectory into the first classrooms to teach forty students across four grades. The parish's mission statement, published on its website, is 'To know, love, and honor God through the rich traditions of our Catholic faith and be a place of healing and spiritual nourishment that is welcoming to all.'
- Founded 1908
- School founded 1909 by the Sisters of St. Francis
- First pastor: Father Crimmens
- Pastor who built the current school: Father Ott (school opened September 9, 1959)
Nativity of Our Lord Catholic School
Nativity of Our Lord School is a Pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic school located at 4414 South Buffalo Street in Orchard Park. Founded in 1909 by the Sisters of Saint Francis, it shares the parish's mission of forming students spiritually, academically, physically, and emotionally. The current school building opened September 9, 1959; the Beasley Center (gym, locker rooms, stage, kitchen, meeting rooms) was dedicated in 1992 after the original 1909 church/school building was demolished in 1991, and the main school building was later upgraded with three additional classrooms, a new main entrance, and a security system.
- Grades: Pre-K through 8
- Phone: (716) 662-7572
- Fax: (716) 662-3483
- Website: nativityschool.net
- Principal: Erin Collichio ([email protected]); earlier roster names Coleen Scott
- School Secretary: Isabelle Carpenter ([email protected])
- Students follow an Honor Code
Pastoral & Administrative Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. James Ciupek (Father Jim) and Parochial Vicar Rev. Michael Johnson, assisted by Permanent Deacons Gary P. Andelora and John Rhein. A team of lay staff handle business, faith formation, youth ministry, music, advancement, facilities, cemetery operations, and school administration.
- Pastor: Rev. James Ciupek (ext. 140)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Michael Johnson (ext. 124)
- Permanent Deacon: Dcn. Gary P. Andelora
- Deacon: John Rhein ([email protected])
- Business Manager: Amy Schoenthal (ext. 125, [email protected])
- Business Administrator: Lori Koenig (ext. 131, [email protected])
- Church Office & Cemetery Administration: Michaela Glynn (ext. 110, [email protected])
- Advancement Director: Melissa Potzler (ext. 145, [email protected])
- Music Director: Robert Kiersz
- Youth Minister: Gina Updike (ext. 141, [email protected])
- Assistant Youth Minister: Tom Blackwell ([email protected])
- Media Coordinator: Joy Kaminski ([email protected])
- Parish Secretary: Sue McDonough (ext. 110)
- Facilities Manager: Carmen D'Alessandro (ext. 117) / Mike King (ext. 117)
- Cemetery Operations: Dennis Peglau (716-818-6875)
- Faith Formation: Mary Barone, OCDS (662-2169 / 868-6631, [email protected])
- Confirmation Coordinator: Darren Longboat ([email protected])
Sacraments
Sacramental preparation at Nativity of Our Lord is available for all seven sacraments. Baptisms are normally celebrated the 2nd and 4th Sundays at 1:00 PM (1:15 PM on the Sacraments page), and parents must be registered parishioners and attend a pre-Baptism class. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are prepared through the Faith Formation program; Confirmation is a two-year program for 9th- and 10th-grade youth (with a summer one-year option), using the Ascension Press 'Chosen' program. Weddings must be arranged at least six months in advance, with a Marriage Preparation Program required.
- Baptism — 2nd & 4th Sundays at 1:00 PM; class required. Contact Sue at 662-9339.
- First Reconciliation & Eucharist — via Faith Formation (Mary Barone, 662-2169)
- Confirmation — Two-year program, 'Chosen' curriculum (Darren Longboat)
- Confession — Saturdays 3:30–4:15 PM and 6:30–6:45 PM, and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by request to the parish office
- Matrimony — 6 months' notice; Marriage Preparation Program required
- Ordination — Vocation discernment supported
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith Formation at Nativity is now delivered in partnership through the Eternal Flame Catholic Community (EFCC), which combines Nativity, Sts. Peter and Paul/St. John/St. Mary, and St. Bernadette parishes. Sessions are based at St. Bernadette's Church (5930 S. Abbott, Orchard Park) and use a shared online enrollment and payment process. The parish also runs a separate Confirmation program (two-year) and an active youth group that brings Catholic teens together from public, private, and homeschool backgrounds to grow in faith, apologetics, and community.
- Eternal Flame Catholic Community (EFCC) — shared faith formation with neighboring parishes
- Director of Discipleship and Faith Formation: Jennifer Golinski (716-648-1720 ext. 127)
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Mary Barone (ext. 126)
- Faith Formation Admin Assistant: Evangelista Schmarder (ext. 125)
- Confirmation Coordinator: Darren Longboat ([email protected])
- Curriculum: 'Chosen, Your Journey Toward Confirmation' by Chris Stefanick / Ascension Press
- Youth Minister: Gina Updike; Assistant: Tom Blackwell
Music & Liturgical Life
Music at Nativity of Our Lord is directed by Music Director Robert (Bob) Kiersz. The parish offers a Youth Choir for children ages 9–14 and a separate choir for the 9:00 AM Family Mass on the first Sunday of each month (contact Dan Danforth at [email protected]). The Family Mass emphasizes family participation, with children serving as lectors and in other ministries.
- Music Director: Robert Kiersz (r…@nativityschool.net)
- Youth Choir — ages 9–14
- Family Mass Choir — sings at 9:00 AM Mass on the 1st Sunday of each month
- Family Mass — 1st Sunday at 9:00 AM, children as lectors/cantors
Outreach & Social Ministry
Outreach is a defining feature of parish life at Nativity of Our Lord, organized through the Advancement Director and numerous lay-led ministries. Locally, the parish operates the Loaves & Fishes food pantry, supports the Lackawanna Food Pantry (hot dinner on the fourth Monday of the month), participates in the Park-Parsons semi-annual food drive and Panera Bread Doughnation, brings Communion to the homebound, and runs a Health Ministry offering flu vaccine clinics, blood pressure screenings, and a Health Fair. The St. Vincent de Paul conference meets the last Tuesday of each month, the St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach collects baby items, and the Pro-Life Group engages in prayerful witness at local facilities and the Erie County Fair. Internationally, the WNY Haiti Connection supports twin parish St. Michael the Archangel in Coq Chante, Haiti, with water purification, a medical clinic, animal husbandry, and school support, in partnership with St. George's Haiti Committee.
- WNY Haiti Connection — twin parish: St. Michael the Archangel, Coq Chante, Haiti
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — last Tuesday of each month
- St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach — baby item donations in the narthex
- Loaves & Fishes Parish Food Pantry
- Panera Bread Doughnation — Sun/Mon/Thu evenings to Bread of Life and St. Simon's
- Park-Parsons Food Drive — semi-annual ecumenical collection
- Lackawanna Food Pantry — hot dinner, 4th Monday of the month
- Eucharistic Outreach — Communion to homebound
- Nursing Home Outreach — Communion services at two local nursing homes
- Health Ministry — flu clinic, BP screenings, Health Fair, coat drive
- Pro-Life Group — prayer protests, Erie County Fair booth, petition drives
Nativity Cemetery
Nativity of Our Lord Cemetery is located at the corner of South Buffalo and Highland Street, just one block from the church in the Village of Orchard Park. The cemetery offers in-ground burial plots as well as niches in a columbarium and is covered by perpetual care — funds placed in trust to generate income for maintenance in perpetuity. Inquiries about space for oneself or a loved one are handled by Sue McDonough in the parish office.
- Address: South Buffalo & Highland Street, Orchard Park, NY 14127
- Burial options: in-ground plots and columbarium niches
- Covered by perpetual care
- Inquiries: Sue McDonough, 662-9339
Parish Governance & Getting Involved
Parishioner leadership is organized through the Parish Advisory Council, which meets every two months to advise the pastor on parish life, and the Via Fidei Initiative — a healing and renewal effort under the Holy Spirit that develops new or strengthened social, faith formation, and administrative ministries (coordinated by Deacon Gary Andelora). The parish's stewardship model encourages parishioners to share their time, talent, and treasure, with the Advancement Director (Melissa Potzler) serving as the point of contact to connect volunteers with ministries that match their gifts.
- Parish Advisory Council — meets every two months
- Via Fidei Initiative — healing/renewal initiative under the Holy Spirit
- Advancement Director: Melissa Potzler (ext. 145, [email protected])
- Stewardship of Ministry — Time, Talent, and Treasure
Becoming a Parishioner & Visitor Info
Father Jim Ciupek invites newcomers: 'Welcome to Nativity of Our Lord Parish. I pray that you will find Nativity of Our Lord a place of peace and friendship, its people gracious and kind.' Newcomers can register through the 'Become a Parishioner' page on the website, where they may submit their information via an online form. The parish also welcomes visitors at all Masses, livestreams selected Masses and devotions (including First Friday Devotion), and provides online giving through the parish website.
- Registration: via the 'Become a Parishioner' form on the parish website
- Livestream: Available for select Masses and First Friday Devotion (6 PM)
- Online Giving: Accessible from the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Crimmenscirca 1908–1909 (founding era)
Founding pastor who converted rectory living/dining areas into the first classrooms; oversaw the 1909 launch of the school under the Sisters of St. Francis.
- Father Ott
Recognized the need for a larger school and opened the current Nativity of Our Lord School building on September 9, 1959.