Our Lady of Pompeii

About Our Lady of Pompeii

Our Lady of Pompeii is a Catholic church in the Village of Lancaster, Erie County, New York, founded in 1909 as an Italian mission church for immigrants in the Lancaster-Depew area. After 115 years of independent parish life it merged in September 2024 with neighboring St. Mary of the Assumption Parish as part of the Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal. Today the Pompeii campus at 129 Laverack Avenue continues to operate as a secondary worship site within the BDCL (Beloved Disciples of Christ the Lord) Family of Parishes, where weekend Masses, funerals, and weddings are still celebrated, and faith-enrichment and outreach programs continue.

Parish History

The parish was established in 1909 as the Italian Mission Church of St. Mary of the Assumption, dedicated March 14 by the Rt. Rev. Nelson Baker, Vicar General of the Diocese, and named for the famous Shrine of the Rosary of Pompeii in Italy. A modest 125-seat church was built on the corner of Laverack and Cowing Streets; it was later lengthened and renovated, and after a 1934 fire was repaired, repainted, and expanded. In 1932 the mission was elevated to parish status.

• 1909 — Mission Church dedicated by Nelson Baker as 'Our Lady of Pompeii'
• 1932 — Elevated to parish; Rev. Leo Pulling named first pastor
• 1934 — Fire damage repaired; church expanded with side extensions
• 1942 — Rev. Alfonso J. Bernardo named second pastor by Bishop John Duffy
• 1953 — Present sandstone church built in the style of the Shrine of Pompeii
• 1960 — School and convent completed
• 1966 — Msgr. Bernardo dies (May 18); remains interred near the shrine
• 1966 — Msgr. Samuel Lombardo named third pastor by Bishop James McNulty
• 1988 — Msgr. Lombardo retires after 22 years
• 2001 — Msgr. Lombardo dies (April 25); remains interred near the shrine
• 2006 — Rev. Leon Biernat appointed sixth pastor
• 2008 (Nov 30) — Merged with SS. Peter and Paul; parish grows to 1,700+ families
• 2014 — Rev. Dennis Fronczak appointed seventh pastor
• 2017 — Rev. David Richards named Priest Administrator
• 2022 — Msgr. Richard Siepka named pastor and moderator of Family #9
• 2024 (September) — After 115 years, Our Lady of Pompeii merges into St. Mary of the Assumption Parish

Sandstone Church and Buildings

The present church is a sandstone building completed in 1953 and modeled on the general plan of the Shrine of the Rosary of Pompeii in Italy. A school and convent were completed in 1960, and the rectory — where Msgr. Bernardo moved in 1963 — remains in use. The parish also retains a shrine area where two beloved former pastors, Msgr. Bernardo and Msgr. Lombardo, are interred.

• 1953 sandstone church (modeled on the Pompeii shrine in Italy)
• 1960 school and convent
• 1963 rectory
• On-site shrine with the remains of Msgr. Bernardo and Msgr. Lombardo

Pastor and Clergy

Following the 2024 merger, Our Lady of Pompeii is served by the priests and deacons of Family #9, the Beloved Disciples of Christ the Lord. Msgr. Richard W. Siepka is pastor and moderator of the family, joined by Rev. Bartholomew W. Lipiec and Rev. Lukasz Kopala (In Solidum). Pastoral care on the Pompeii campus is supported by Sister Joyce King, CSSF, pastoral associate, who has long been associated with the parish's bereavement ministry.

• Rev. Msgr. Richard W. Siepka — Pastor & Moderator
• Rev. Bartholomew W. Lipiec — In Solidum
• Rev. Lukasz Kopala — In Solidum
• Rev. Paul W. Steller — In Residence
• Deacon Jim Trzaska
• Deacon John H. Hendricks
• Deacon John Owczarczak — Permanent Deacon
• Deacon Matthew A. Hens — Family Permanent Deacon
• Sister Joyce King, CSSF — Pastoral Associate

Faith Formation

Faith Formation for the parish family is coordinated through St. Mary's, with classes for students in kindergarten through grade 10 running from September through April. Becky Hoag serves as Director of Faith Formation. K–5 classes meet on Saturday mornings at St. Mary's Elementary School, and middle-school classes (Grades 6–8) are also held there. A Family Program engages the whole household in faith formation together.

• Faith Formation K–5 — Saturday mornings at St. Mary's Elementary School
• Middle School Faith Formation (Grades 6–8)
• Family Faith Formation Program
• First Reconciliation / First Eucharist preparation
• Director of Faith Formation: Becky Hoag — [email protected], (716) 683-8564

GriefShare Bereavement Ministry

Our Lady of Pompeii is well known for its GriefShare program, a 13-session video-based grief support series using expert presentations and discussion. Sessions meet Wednesdays at 6:30 PM at the parish, with a daytime session offered Tuesdays at 10 AM under 'Daytime @ OLP' for those who cannot attend evenings. The ministry, led by Sister Joyce King, CSSF, and Deacon Gregory Feary, also offers a special 'Surviving the Holidays' session each November. Participants may join at any point during the cycle.

• GriefShare — Wednesdays 6:30 PM
• Daytime @ OLP — Tuesdays 10 AM
• 'Surviving the Holidays' special holiday session
• Led by Sister Joyce King, CSSF, and Deacon Gregory Feary

Caring & Sharing Outreach Ministry

The Caring & Sharing Ministry is housed on the Our Lady of Pompeii campus (129 Laverack Avenue) and serves the parish family and surrounding community with food assistance, the Care Closet (clothing, toys, household items, personal care essentials), and seasonal drives for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, birthdays, and back-to-school needs. Volunteers are always welcome.

• Food Assistance — 2nd Thursday of each month
• Care Closet — 4th Saturday of each month
• Seasonal drives: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, birthdays, back-to-school
• Location: left building at the back of the main parking lot; enter via Door 4
• Contact: 716-341-8277 / [email protected]

Sacraments

Sacraments, registrations, and parish records are coordinated through St. Mary of the Assumption, while weddings, funerals, and weekend Masses continue to be celebrated at the Our Lady of Pompeii campus. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are prepared through the Family Faith Formation Program.

• Baptism — coordinated through St. Mary's
• First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — via Faith Formation
• Marriage — weddings still celebrated at the Pompeii campus
• Funerals — still celebrated at the Pompeii campus
• Anointing of the Sick — coordinated through St. Mary's
• RCIA / Adult Faith Formation — coordinated through St. Mary's

Merger and the BDCL Family of Parishes

In September 2024, after 115 years of independent parish life, Our Lady of Pompeii merged into St. Mary of the Assumption Parish as part of the Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal. The Pompeii campus remains open as a worship site and home to its outreach ministries, while pastoral care is shared across the BDCL Family — the 'Beloved Disciples of Christ the Lord' (Family #9). The family also includes St. Philip the Apostle (Cheektowaga), Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Depew), St. Martha (Depew), and St. John the Baptist (Alden).

• Family #9 — Beloved Disciples of Christ the Lord (BDCL)
• Merged parishes: St. Mary of the Assumption + Our Lady of Pompeii
• Sibling parishes: St. Philip the Apostle, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Martha, St. John the Baptist
• Moderator: Msgr. Richard W. Siepka