About Our Lady of Charity · Buffalo, New York
Our Lady of Charity Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the South Buffalo neighborhood of Buffalo, New York, formed in 2010 through the merger of three historic South Buffalo parishes: St. Agatha, Holy Family, and St. Ambrose. The combined parish is part of the Diocese of Buffalo and currently serves as one of the worship sites within Family #31, the Catholic Family of South Buffalo, led by Father Bill Quinlivan. The parish operates from two active worship sites — the St. Ambrose site (260 Okell Street) which also serves as the parish office, and the Holy Family site (1901 South Park Avenue) — and is recognized for its strong commitment to social justice and feeding programs that have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for children overseas.
- Established
- 2010
- Patron
- Our Lady of Charity (Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Charity)
- Rector
- Rev. William J. Quinlivan (Father Bill Quinlivan)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
Our Lady of Charity offers two beautiful, historically significant worship sites within walking distance of each other in South Buffalo, allowing parishioners to choose between the Modernist stained-glass beauty of St. Ambrose and the Romanesque Revival grandeur of Holy Family. The parish has a strong tradition of social-justice outreach — its committees have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to feed children overseas and continue to gather food, clothing, and basic necessities for those in need. As part of the Catholic Family of South Buffalo, the parish is supported by an active staff including a faith-formation program for grades K–8, a music and worship director, three permanent deacons, and a senior parochial vicar, all under Pastor Father Bill Quinlivan.
Mass times at Our Lady of Charity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM at St. Ambrose Site (and by appointment)
- Thursday 6:00 PM at Holy Family Site (and by appointment)
Adoration times
- First Friday 12:00–6:00 PM, with Benediction at 6:00 PM at St. Ambrose Site
- Thursday 5:30–6:30 PM Eucharistic Adoration at Holy Family Site
Parish History and 2010 Merger
Our Lady of Charity Parish was formed in 2010 as the result of the merger between St. Agatha, Holy Family, and St. Ambrose parishes in South Buffalo, part of the Diocese of Buffalo's "Journey in Faith and Grace" consolidation program. Although the merged parish is relatively new, its three predecessor congregations trace their origins to the early twentieth century and the great waves of Irish and Italian Catholic immigration into the neighborhoods near the Lackawanna Steel Plant and the South Buffalo Triangle.
- Formed 2010 by merger of St. Agatha, Holy Family, and St. Ambrose
- St. Agatha complex sold to private developer Sam Savarino in 2018
- Became part of Catholic Family of South Buffalo (Family #31) in 2022
St. Ambrose Worship Site (Parish Office)
The St. Ambrose site at 260 Okell Street serves as the principal worship site and houses the parish office. The parish traces its roots here to 1930, when the first pastor, Rev. David A. Coughlin, dedicated a modest frame church. After delays caused by the Great Depression and World War II, the present combination church/school was dedicated by Bishop John F. O'Hara on 7 December 1950, designed by the architectural firm Foit & Baschnagel in a Modernist style.
- 260 Okell Street, Buffalo, NY 14220
- Modernist combination church/school, dedicated 1950
- Stained-glass windows by local artist Russell Vacanti, 1992, inspired by Vatican II reforms
- Hosts Saturday Vigil Mass, one Sunday Mass, and most weekday Masses
Holy Family Worship Site
The Holy Family site at 1901 South Park Avenue is a striking 1908 rough-cut limestone church that remains the only building the parish has ever worshipped in. It was built in a Romanesque Revival-influenced style by architects Lansing & Beierl to serve the growing Irish-American Catholic community drawn to South Buffalo by the Lackawanna Steel Plant. The interior features murals by Danish artist Holvag Rambush depicting scenes from the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospels, and sanctuary windows from the Tiroler Glasmalerei company of Innsbruck, Austria.
- 1901 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14220
- Built 1908 by Lansing & Beierl, described as one of the finest Romanesque Revival-influenced Catholic churches in Buffalo
- Interior murals by Holvag Rambush; sanctuary windows from Tiroler Glasmalerei, Innsbruck
- Hosts one Sunday Mass and Thursday evening Mass and Adoration
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. William J. Quinlivan (Father Bill Quinlivan), who also serves as pastor of the Catholic Family of South Buffalo (Family #31). He is assisted by Senior Parochial Vicar Rev. James W. Kirkpatrick Jr., three permanent deacons — Daniel Denecke, Robert A. Dobmeier, and Timothy Maloney — and a lay staff led by Pastoral Associate Dawn M. Iacono.
- Rev. William J. Quinlivan — Pastor
- Rev. James W. Kirkpatrick Jr. — Senior Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Daniel Denecke
- Deacon Robert A. Dobmeier
- Deacon Timothy Maloney
- Dawn M. Iacono — Pastoral Associate
- Elaine Williams — Business Manager
- Cheryl McNerney — Director of Faith Formation (Grades K-8)
- Brian Meyer — Director of Music and Worship
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation for children in grades K–8 is directed by Cheryl McNerney and is held at St. Teresa's Parish Center, 33 Mineral Springs Road, Buffalo (716-822-1702). The program supports the sacramental preparation of First Communion and Confirmation and is shared with the rest of the Catholic Family of South Buffalo.
- Faith Formation Director: Cheryl McNerney ([email protected])
- Grades K–8
- Classes held at St. Teresa's Parish Center, 33 Mineral Springs Road
Music and Liturgy
Brian Meyer serves as Director of Music and Worship for Our Lady of Charity, coordinating liturgical music across both worship sites. The parish celebrates Mass in English, with the regular Mass schedule and devotions described above.
- Music Director: Brian Meyer
- All Masses celebrated in English
Social Justice and Outreach
Our Lady of Charity is widely known for its commitment to social justice and its outreach to those in need. The parish's various committees have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to feed children overseas and continue to gather food, clothing, and other basic necessities for distribution to local families and individuals facing hardship.
- Has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to feed children overseas
- Committees dedicated to social causes (food, clothing, basic necessities)
- Local food, clothing, and material assistance ministries continue today
Catholic Family of South Buffalo (Family #31)
In 2022, Our Lady of Charity became part of the Catholic Family of South Buffalo (Diocesan Family #31), one of the pilot families in the Diocese of Buffalo's Families of Parishes model. The family is led by Father Bill Quinlivan and includes St. Martin of Tours, St. Teresa, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, in addition to Our Lady of Charity and its St. Ambrose and Holy Family worship sites. A parochial vicar and three deacons (Robert A. Dobmeier, Daniel Denecke, and Timothy Maloney) serve the individual parishes of the family.
- Pastor: Rev. William J. Quinlivan
- Senior Parochial Vicar: Rev. James W. Kirkpatrick Jr.
- Member parishes: Our Lady of Charity, St. Martin of Tours, St. Teresa, St. Thomas Aquinas, Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Three deacons assigned across the family: Daniel Denecke, Robert A. Dobmeier, Timothy Maloney
- Family website: catholicsouthbuffalo.com
Contact and Visiting the Parish
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at the St. Ambrose site, 260 Okell Street, Buffalo, NY 14220-2223, by phone at (716) 822-5962, or by email at [email protected]. The parish website at ourladyofcharityparish.com and the family website at catholicsouthbuffalo.com provide current bulletins, Mass times, and ministry information. The Holy Family worship site is at 1901 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14220.
- Mailing address: 260 Okell Street, Buffalo, NY 14220-2223
- Phone: (716) 822-5962
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish website: ourladyofcharityparish.com
- Family of Parishes website: catholicsouthbuffalo.com
- Holy Family site: 1901 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14220
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. David A. Coughlin1930 – c.1950s
First pastor of St. Ambrose (one of the predecessor parishes). Oversaw construction of the 1930 frame church and the 1950 permanent church/school, insisting the sanctuary be on the first floor for elderly parishioners.