About Our Lady of the Sacred Heart · Orchard Park, New York
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic parish located at 3148 Abbott Road in Orchard Park, New York, serving a community of more than 4,000 families in the southern suburbs of the Buffalo area. Founded in 1920 as a mission chapel of Our Lady of Victory by Venerable Nelson Baker (Father Baker), it was raised to parish status in June 1949 and has since grown into one of the larger parish families in the Diocese of Buffalo. Today it is part of the Mary of Bethlehem Family of Parishes and offers daily and weekend Masses, a robust parish school and faith formation program, and an extensive ministry network built over more than a century of Catholic life.
- Established
- 1920
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
- Rector
- Rev. Adolph Kowalczyk
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
OLSH is a large, multigenerational Catholic community in Orchard Park that traces its identity back to Father Nelson Baker and offers something for nearly every stage of life: weekday and weekend Masses with a live stream option, a thriving parish school, a multi-style faith formation program (Sunday family-style, Monday-evening, and home study), sacramental preparation from Baptism through Confirmation, RCIA, an active youth ministry and high school youth group, Vacation Bible School, music ministry, and dozens of parish organizations from the Holy Name Society to Christ Renews His Parish. With more than 4,000 families, strong outreach through Catholic Charities and parish ministries, and a clear mission to grow in worship and service together, OLSH welcomes anyone — Catholic or inquiring — to register and get involved.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
- Other times by appointment only (call the rectory at 716-824-2935)
Our History
OLSH traces its origins to 1920, when Irish and German settlers, joined by Italian immigrants from the area's steel mills, asked Father Nelson Baker to provide a regular place for Mass near Lake Avenue in the section known as "The Hill." The original wooden mission chapel also housed a school of 45 students taught by the Brothers of the Holy Infancy. The chapel was destroyed by a tornado on April 1, 1929, and a brick replacement was dedicated October 12, 1929 — that building is still used as the daily Mass chapel and parish offices. In June 1949 the mission was elevated to a parish. Father John S. Doyle was the founding pastor, followed by Monsignor Dino Lorenzetti (who retired in July 1996), Monsignor Paul Burkard (until 2006), and the current pastor, Father Adolph Kowalczyk.
- 1920 – Mission chapel built near Lake Avenue by Father Nelson Baker
- April 1, 1929 – Tornado destroys the wooden mission church
- October 12, 1929 – Brick replacement dedicated (now daily Mass chapel / offices)
- June 1949 – Mission raised to parish status as Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
- 1954 – Rectory built
- 1959 – Parish school completed
- 1962 – Convent on Willet Road purchased for the Sisters of Mercy
- 1965 – New church erected
- 1967 – Sacristy fire; extensive damage, no injuries
- January 3, 1977 – Death of first pastor, Father John S. Doyle
- July 1996 – Monsignor Dino Lorenzetti retires
- 2006 – Monsignor Paul Burkard leaves to lead Our Lady of Victory
- Current – Father Adolph Kowalczyk, pastor
Mary of Bethlehem Family of Parishes
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is part of the Mary of Bethlehem Family of Parishes, which coordinates sacramental preparation, especially Confirmation, across its member communities. Family-wide Mass times give parishioners additional options for weekend worship, including Spanish and Croatian Masses at neighboring churches.
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart — Sat 4:30 PM; Sun 9:00 & 11:00 AM; weekdays 8:30 AM Mon–Fri
- Our Lady of Victory — Sat 4:30 PM; Sun 8:00, 10:00 AM, 12:00 noon, 4:30 PM; weekdays 7:30 AM & 12:10 PM Mon–Sat
- Our Lady of Bistrica — Sat 5:00 PM (English) and 7:30 AM; Sun 10:00 AM (Croatian) and 11:30 AM (English); weekdays 7:30 AM Mon–Fri
- St. Anthony — Sun 9:00 AM (English), 11:30 AM (Spanish)
- Queen of Angels (Secondary Worship Site of OLSH) — Sat 4:00 PM; Sun 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM (Spanish); Fri 8:30 AM
- Our Mother of Good Counsel — part of the family
Faith Formation & Religious Education
OLSH offers three faith formation tracks to fit family life: a Sunday family-based option, a Monday-evening traditional classroom option, and a Home Study option. Children in Grades K–5 attend with parents for part of the Sunday session, while Grades 6–9 meet with catechists. All families attend three parish-wide family events during the year, and students in Grades 6–9 complete at least 5 hours of Christian service annually. Sacramental preparation (First Reconciliation, First Eucharist) is woven into the program for students in the parish school or Faith Formation.
- Sundays, September–April — family-based, 12 classes; meet at 9:00 AM Mass then class until noon
- Monday evenings, late Sept – early May — Grades K–5 6:45–7:45 PM; Grades 6–9 6:45–8:00 PM in two eight-week sessions
- Home Study — scheduled lessons with periodic check-ins
- Faith Formation cost: $80 / 1 student, $140 / 2, $165 / 3+; late registration adds $10 per level
- Office in the Parish Center ('Red School'); open Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
- Phone: (716) 824-8209
- Director of Faith Formation: Lynn Lipczynski
- Youth Minister / Service Coordinator: Sarah Leahy
- Children's Liturgy of the Word offered at 9:00 AM Sunday Mass
Youth Ministry & High School
Beyond parish-school and faith-formation classrooms, OLSH runs active programs for older students, including Confirmation preparation beginning in 9th Grade (done across the Mary of Bethlehem Family) and a High School Youth Group with service requirements. A Liturgical Gesture group for girls in Grade 6 and up offers a beautiful form of prayer that can fulfill the Christian service requirement.
- Confirmation Preparation for high school students across the Family of Parishes
- High School Youth Group
- 5 hours/year Christian service for Grades 6–9
- Liturgical Gesture group (girls grades 6+; counts toward service hours)
Sacramental Preparation
The parish walks families and adults through every sacrament — Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and the sacraments of initiation through RCIA. Sponsors must be registered, confirmed, practicing members for at least three months, and (if married) married in conformity with Church law.
- Baptism: parents call 3 months before birth; baptismal class required (held the 3rd Wednesday of every other month); Baptisms on the 1st Sunday of the month after the 11:00 AM Mass
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist: contact Faith Formation office (716) 824-8209
- Confirmation: 9th Grade+, registered, enrolled in Faith Formation, attending Catholic high school
- Marriage: at least 12 months' notice and pre-marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the Sick: call the Parish Office
- RCIA: adult inquiry; contact Deacon Tim Coughlin or the Parish Office
Liturgical Ministries & Music
OLSH runs the full complement of lay liturgical roles needed for reverent weekend and daily Masses, supported by a Parish Music Ministry led by Keith Kelly. The Ushers' guidelines (one of the parish's published ministry pages) describe greeting, seating, communion assistance, and post-Mass duties.
- Ushers (greet, seat worshippers, assist at Communion, distribute bulletins)
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Altar Servers
- Funeral Servers
- Children's Liturgy of the Word leaders
- Music Ministry (Keith Kelly)
- Prayer Group
- Altar and Rosary Society
Parish Organizations & Outreach
The parish's Parish Council oversees a wide network of faith, service, and community organizations grouped under committees for Evangelization, Education/Faith Formation, Community Building/Communication, Justice/Service, Worship, and Finance/Maintenance.
- Christ Renews His Parish
- Teams of Our Lady
- Pro-Life committee
- Bereavement ministry
- Catholic Charities outreach
- Bingo (parish fundraiser)
- Senior Citizens group
- Home Bureau
- Holy Name Society
- Girl Scouts (all levels)
- Boy Scouts
- KCC (parish group)
- Ecumenical Committee
- Census Committee (welcoming new families)
- Buildings and Grounds
- Finance Committee
- Parish Scheduler (liturgical ministry scheduling)
Parish Leadership & Council
Father Adolph Kowalczyk leads the parish alongside Parochial Vicar Father Sebastian Aristizabal and four permanent deacons. The Parish Council, with 17 members, provides spiritual leadership and policy direction; its committees connect with the parish's ministries. A staff of clergy, deacons, and lay administrators keeps the parish running.
- Pastor: Rev. Adolph Kowalczyk
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Sebastian Aristizabal
- Deacons: Tim Coughlin, Mike Dulak, Mike Quinn, Mark Hooper
- Director of Faith Formation: Lynn Lipczynski
- Youth Minister / Service Coordinator: Sarah Leahy
- Business Manager: Cece Huff
- Business Assistant: Sharon Oddo
- Parish Secretary / Bulletin Editor: Patti Billi
- Office Assistant: Janet Bartkowiak
- Administrative Assistant: Luz Concepcion
- Music: Keith Kelly
- Maintenance & Cleaning: Rick Insalaco, Donna Martin
- Parish Council President: Wally Skrzynski (Vice President: Nancy Zink; Secretary: Lynn Boccolucci)
- Trustees: Ray Waite and Paola Dylik
Visiting & Contact
Parish Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM daily). The church is located on Abbott Road in Orchard Park, just south of Buffalo. Mass is also available via live stream for those at home, and broken links on the website can be reported to the parish office.
- Address: 3148 Abbott Road, Orchard Park, NY 14127
- Parish Office: (716) 824-2935
- Faith Formation Office: (716) 824-8209
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.olshop.org
- Live stream available for Masses
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John S. Doyle1949 – 1977
First pastor; oversaw construction of rectory (1954), school (1959), convent (1962), new church (1965), and the 1967 sacristy fire. Died in office January 3, 1977.
- Monsignor Dino LorenzettiAfter 1977 – retired July 1996
Second pastor; expanded ministries, acquired West Seneca #5 school, converted the old church into the present convent/chapel.
- Monsignor Paul BurkardAfter 1996 – 2006
Third pastor; led parish into the Jubilee year and new millennium, oversaw major renovation including air-conditioning the church and updating school and rectory. Left in 2006 to become pastor of Our Lady of Victory and vice-postulator for Father Baker's canonization.
- Rev. Adolph KowalczykCurrent
Current pastor; launched Christ Renews His Parish and Teams of Our Lady among other ministries.