About Our Lady of Peace · Clarence, New York
Our Lady of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish in the hamlet of Clarence Hollow, in the Town of Clarence, New York, serving Catholics in eastern Clarence since 1922. Originally a mission of St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Akron, it is one of the older Catholic congregations in this part of Erie County and is part of the Diocese of Buffalo's 'A Catholic Family Together in Christ' (Family #15) / Akron Clarence Roman Catholic Community (ACRCC). Today the parish campus functions as a secondary worship site within the merged Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish family and remains an active place of Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, confession, and outreach in the Clarence community.
- Established
- 1922
- Patron
- Our Lady of Peace (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title 'Our Lady of Peace')
- Rector
- Parish campus now served through Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish; most recent pastor of record at Our Lady of Peace was Rev. Walter J. Szczesny (also Bishop's Delegate for Priestly Life and Care). The Official Catholic Directory listing also names Rev. Thomas M. Mahoney as pastor of the Our Lady of Peace worship site.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo (Roman Catholic); currently grouped as 'A Catholic Family Together in Christ' / Family #15 of the Akron Clarence Roman Catholic Community (ACRCC), and consolidated into Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish under the diocesan 'Road to Renewal' initiative.
Why belong here
Our Lady of Peace offers a small-parish atmosphere in the heart of Clarence Hollow, with a faithful Catholic community rooted in the town since 1922. Worshippers find a traditional Sunday and weekday Mass schedule, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays with the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Saturday confessions — all in a campus that includes the historic 1922 Uriel Hall and a beloved 1936 stone grotto. Parishioners also benefit from being part of a larger family of parishes (the ACRCC / Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary cluster), which keeps Catholic education, religious formation, outreach through Franciscan Sr. Barbara Ann Bogden, and music ministry under the direction of Trudy Wargo available to local families.
Mass times at Our Lady of Peace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM (per Nativity-linked parish page)
- Saturday 3:45 PM and by appointment (per Diocese of Buffalo Official Catholic Directory)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration, with Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 5:30 PM)
- Wednesday 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM (per diocesan directory listing)
History & Heritage of Our Lady of Peace
Our Lady of Peace was born in 1922 as a mission of St. Teresa of Avila in Akron, when ten to fourteen Clarence families asked Father John Uriel to build them a local church so they wouldn't have to drive miles for Sunday Mass. The small church they built that year on East Hill — blessed and dedicated by Bishop William Turner — still stands on the parish campus and is today known as Uriel Hall. By 1963, with Clarence's population having grown six-fold, Father John O'Malley built the present church and a combined rectory/religious education center, dedicated in 1965. The parish marked its 100th anniversary on October 9, 2022 with Bishop Michael W. Fisher, and the entire 19-acre property was granted local historic landmark status by the Clarence Town Board on January 22, 2024.
- Founded 1922 as a mission of St. Teresa of Avila, Akron
- Founding pastor: Rev. John Uriel
- Original 1922 church preserved as Uriel Hall
- Present church and rectory built 1964–1965 by Father John O'Malley
- 100th anniversary Mass led by Bishop Michael W. Fisher, October 9, 2022
- Designated Town of Clarence Local Historic Landmark, January 22, 2024
Worship Site Within the Akron Clarence Roman Catholic Community
Under the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Road to Renewal,' Our Lady of Peace was consolidated into Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Harris Hill. The Clarence campus remains open as a secondary worship site, with parish records and property absorbed into Nativity. The wider Akron Clarence Roman Catholic Community (ACRCC) — also called 'A Catholic Family Together in Christ' (Family #15) — unites Our Lady of Peace (Clarence), Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Harris Hill), St. Teresa of Avila (Akron), and St. Mary's (Swormville) into a single family of parishes that shares clergy, formation, and Catholic education resources.
- Part of Diocese of Buffalo Family #15 / ACRCC
- Merged into Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish under 'Road to Renewal'
- Clarence campus remains open as a secondary worship site
- Sister parishes: Nativity (Harris Hill), St. Teresa of Avila (Akron), St. Mary's (Swormville)
Parish Staff & Offices
The day-to-day life of the parish is supported by a small, dedicated staff. Faith Formation is coordinated by Daniel Pawlak, Outreach is directed by Franciscan Sister Barbara Ann Bogden, OSF, and Music Ministry is led by Trudy Wargo. The office staff includes Sandra Coon and Karen Molitor. The mailing address for parish correspondence (used in the diocesan directory) is 4375 Harris Hill Road, Williamsville, NY 14221.
- Daniel Pawlak — Religious Education Coordinator
- Sr. Barbara Ann Bogden, OSF — Outreach Director
- Trudy Wargo — Music Director
- Sandra Coon & Karen Molitor — Office Staff
- Permanent Deacon: Arthur Sullivan
Ministries & Faith Formation
Our Lady of Peace offers Catholic formation and ministry outreach to people of all ages, from faith formation classes for children and youth to ongoing adult spiritual opportunities. The parish also maintains a strong tradition of lay societies, including the Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus. Father Walter Szczesny's 2022 Catholic Charities Extraordinary Pastoral Leadership Award recognized his work promoting the annual Appeal across the parish family.
- Religious Education program (coordinator: Daniel Pawlak)
- Eucharistic Adoration ministry (Wednesdays)
- Music ministry (director: Trudy Wargo)
- Outreach ministry (Sr. Barbara Ann Bogden, OSF)
- Holy Name Society
- Knights of Columbus
- Catholic Charities Appeal leadership
The Parish Campus: Church, Uriel Hall, and the Grotto
The 19-acre Our Lady of Peace campus stretches along Main Street in Clarence Hollow. The present church, facing Main Street, was constructed 1964–1965 under Father O'Malley. Just behind it stands Uriel Hall, the original 1922 mission church, named for founding pastor Father John Uriel and still used today for community purposes such as early voting. On the grounds is also a stone grotto of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, built in 1936 and refurbished in 2022 as an Eagle Scout project by Jacob Wind. In October 2022 Bishop Michael W. Fisher blessed the church, the organ, and the grotto during the parish's 100th anniversary Mass.
- Present church (1964–1965) facing Main Street
- Uriel Hall — the original 1922 mission church
- Stone grotto of the Virgin Mary (1936), refurbished 2022
- 19-acre property at 10946–10984 Main Street
- Designated Clarence local historic landmark (Jan. 22, 2024)
Sacraments
Our Lady of Peace celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments in its usual schedule. The Eucharist is offered at the daily and weekend Mass schedule below; Reconciliation is heard Saturday afternoons and by appointment; Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick are arranged through the parish office. As a worship site within the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary family of parishes, sacramental preparation is coordinated jointly with the wider ACRCC cluster.
- Eucharist (daily and weekend Mass)
- Reconciliation (Saturday afternoons and by appointment)
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage — by arrangement with parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
- Sacramental preparation coordinated through the ACRCC family of parishes
Stewardship, Giving & Parish Life
Parishioners support Our Lady of Peace through envelope giving and the diocesan Faith Direct online giving program (church code NY260). The parish has historically had a strong culture of lay involvement — from the Holy Name Society and Knights of Columbus to ongoing faith formation, music, and outreach ministries — and the parish community celebrated its 100th anniversary with a year-long program of retreats and events, including a four-night 2022 Lenten retreat on 'Rosary Renewal' led by Father George Knab, OMI.
- Online giving via Faith Direct (church code NY260)
- Holy Name Society and Knights of Columbus
- Lenten retreats and 100th anniversary celebrations (2022)
- Catholic Charities Appeal annual participation
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Uriel1922 (founding pastor; also served St. Teresa of Avila, Akron)
Led the building of the original mission church on East Hill in 1922; the original structure is named Uriel Hall in his honor.
- Rev. John O'Malley1963–(mid-1960s)
Arrived as Clarence's population swelled to ~16,000; built the present church and a combination rectory/religious education center, dedicated 1965.
- Rev. Thomas (Thomas M.) Doyle
Pastor Emeritus; concelebrated the 100th anniversary Mass in 2022.
- Rev. Walter J. Szczesny2019–2023/2024
Long-time diocesan priest (Batavia, East Aurora, West Falls, Clarence); served as pastor since December 2019; also named Bishop's Delegate for Priestly Life and Care in 2021; announced retirement from active ministry.
- Rev. Thomas M. Mahoney
Listed as Pastor in the Diocese of Buffalo Official Catholic Directory entry for Our Lady of Peace (Family #15).