About Our Lady of Czestochowa · North Tonawanda, New York
Our Lady of Czestochowa is a Roman Catholic parish in North Tonawanda, New York, founded in 1901 to serve the Polish-American community of the Tonawandas. Established under the Diocese of Buffalo, the parish opened its first church (a former Presbyterian building) in 1903 and dedicated its present church on December 9, 1928. Since 2023, Our Lady of Czestochowa has been part of the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas (RCCT), a family of parishes that shares worship, formation, and outreach across several local churches. The parish is named for the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, the icon venerated at Jasna Gora in Poland, and is known locally for its peaceful Grotto prayer garden with a shrine to St. Francis and the fourteen Stations of the Cross.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- Our Lady of Czestochowa (the Black Madonna)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael LaMarca
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
Our Lady of Czestochowa offers a faithful Catholic home in the heart of North Tonawanda, with a daily Mass schedule, Saturday confessions, and a deeply rooted tradition of Polish-Catholic devotion. The parish grounds include the Grotto prayer garden with a St. Francis shrine and the fourteen Stations of the Cross, providing a quiet outdoor space for meditation. As part of the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas (RCCT) since 2023, the parish now shares faith formation, youth ministry, liturgical ministries, and outreach with neighboring Catholic parishes, giving parishioners many ways to get involved — from serving as an altar server, lector, or Eucharistic minister, to joining the parish pierogi sales, bible studies, Praise & Worship evenings, or pro-life and outreach initiatives.
Mass times at Our Lady of Czestochowa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
- Anytime upon request
Adoration times
- 1st Friday of the month, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon (per Diocese of Buffalo adoration schedule)
Parish History
Founded May 1, 1901, with the first Mass on May 3, 1903, Our Lady of Czestochowa is one of the historic Polish-American Catholic parishes of the Tonawandas. The parish school opened in 1903 under the Sisters of Saint Joseph, who were succeeded by the Felician Sisters in 1906. After a fire destroyed the original school in 1920, a new school opened that October, and the present church was dedicated on December 9, 1928. The parish merged with St. Joseph Parish in 2008 and became part of the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas (RCCT) in 2023.
- Established: May 1, 1901
- First Mass: May 3, 1903 (Rev. Peter Lotocha)
- School opened: September 1, 1903
- Fire destroyed original school: March 9, 1920
- New school opened: October 13, 1920
- Current church dedicated: December 9, 1928
- Merged with St. Joseph Parish: 2008
- Joined RCCT family of parishes: 2023
The Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa
The parish takes its name from the Black Madonna icon of Czestochowa, one of the most beloved Marian images in Catholic devotion. According to parish tradition, the icon was painted on wood by St. Luke after witnessing the Assumption of Mary. It was found in the Holy Land in 326 by St. Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine, who brought it to Constantinople. In 1382 it was given in gratitude to the Prince of Poland, who entrusted it to the Pauline Monks at the Monastery of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa, where it remains today.
- Painted by St. Luke (parish tradition)
- Discovered by St. Helen in 326 AD
- Brought to Constantinople, then to Poland in 1382
- Housed at Jasna Gora Monastery, Czestochowa, Poland
- Feast day: August 26
The Grotto & Outdoor Shrine
Adjacent to the church, the Grotto is a meditation and prayer garden dedicated to Our Lady of Czestochowa in 1966. A shrine to St. Francis was added in 1992, and the fourteen Stations of the Cross — each set in a wooden structure reminiscent of country wayside shrines — were erected in 1996, encircling the shrine.
- Grotto garden dedicated: 1966
- St. Francis shrine added: 1992
- Fourteen Stations of the Cross erected: 1996
Sacraments
Our Lady of Czestochowa prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, and Holy Matrimony. Sacramental preparation is family-centered and coordinated through the RCCT Family Faith Formation office.
- Baptism: celebrated 2nd and 4th Sundays; not during Lent
- First Reconciliation & First Communion: 2-year prep; 4 Saturday sessions + retreat
- Confirmation: after 9th grade; twice-monthly classes + retreat
- Marriage: Premarital Investigation, baptismal certificate, and Pre-Marital Preparation Program required; Friday evening or Saturday 11 a.m.–2 p.m. weddings
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministries enrich the worship life of the parish and are open to new members of all ages. Altar Servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Greeters, and Sacristans all serve at Mass, with separate training offered for youth and adult altar servers.
- Altar Servers (youth and adult; training offered regularly)
- Eucharistic Ministers (training required)
- Lectors
- Greeters
- Sacristans
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is offered at the Our Lady of Czestochowa campus through the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas (RCCT) and is led by Director of Family Faith Formation Marie Sajsa. Programs are designed to support parents as the primary catechists of their children and to meet Diocesan family-catechesis requirements.
- Growing our Faith Family (GOF) — first Sunday of the month plus two additional Sunday sessions or home units (Pre-K–9)
- Faith Formation in the Home — K–9
- In-person weekday classes — Mondays and Tuesdays, 6:00–7:30 p.m. (K–9)
- Confirmation prep — twice monthly for 10th graders (public school)
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — separate four-session Saturday program with retreat
- Vacation Bible School — summer program at OLC Parish
- Summer Faith Formation option
RCCT Family-Wide Ministries & Outreach
As part of the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas, Our Lady of Czestochowa parishioners can take part in shared ministries that serve the wider community, including outreach to those in need, youth ministry, and pro-life work. The parish also supports traditional Polish-Catholic fellowship through pierogi sales and other fundraisers.
- RCCT Youth Ministry (grades 6–12)
- RCCT Inreach/Outreach
- RCCT Hospitality Ministry
- Praise & Worship evenings at OLC Church
- Young Adult Bible Study (ages 18–39)
- Pro-Life baby shower collections
- Quilting Hearts Ministry
- SoulCore (faith-and-fitness gatherings)
- Pierogi Sales (parish fundraiser)
Buildings & Facilities
The OLC campus includes the 1928 church, a school building (opened 1920), the original first rectory (1913), a second rectory (c. 1960), the former convent now serving as the Ministry Center (completed December 12, 1953), and the parish hall in the school basement. The parish hall at 74 Center Avenue hosts faith-formation classes, bible studies, parish events, and pierogi sales.
- Church: dedicated December 9, 1928
- School building: opened October 13, 1920
- First rectory: 1913
- Second rectory: c. 1960
- Ministry Center (former convent): completed December 12, 1953
- Parish Hall: 74 Center Avenue, North Tonawanda
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Peter LetochaMay 1903 – July 1911
First pastor; celebrated the first Mass on May 3, 1903
- Rev. Stanley C. BubaczJuly 1911 – August 1920
- Rev. Bernard A. BendkowskiSeptember 1920 – October 1931
- Rev. Michael R. WalekOctober 1931 – March 1952
- Rev. Vincent P. DudekMarch 1952 – May 1957
- Rev. Vincent CymanMay 1957 – May 1966
- Rev. Chester KotkiewiczMay 1967 – November 1978
- Rev. Edward SobierajskiFebruary 1979 – January 1986
- Rev. Louis S. DolinicFebruary 1986 – May 1995
Returned for a second term, June 2008 – October 2010
- Rev. Dennis FronckowiakAugust 1995 – June 2008
- Rev. Louis S. DolinicJune 2008 – October 2010
Second term as pastor
- Rev. Gary J. SzczepankiewiczOctober 2010 – June 2023
- Rev. Michael LaMarcaJune 2023 – Present
Current pastor; first pastorate under the new RCCT family-of-parishes structure