About Queen of Martyrs · Cheektowaga, New York
Queen of Martyrs is a Roman Catholic parish in Cheektowaga, New York, in the Diocese of Buffalo, established in 1946 and located at 180 George Urban Boulevard. It serves approximately 1,325 families as part of the Catholic Family of Cheektowaga (Family #8), which also includes Our Lady Help of Christians, St. Josaphat, and Resurrection parishes, all sharing clergy and ministry under Pastor Rev. Todd M. Remick. The parish has strong Polish-American roots, marked by its connection to the Felician Sisters (in residence since 1947) and sanctuary murals depicting Polish and other modern martyrs commissioned by former pastor Fr. Dan Lapinski in the late 1990s. As part of the Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal, St. Josaphat is being merged into Queen of Martyrs and closed.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- Mary, Queen of Martyrs
- Rector
- Rev. Todd M. Remick
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
Queen of Martyrs offers a faithful Catholic community in Cheektowaga with weekend Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, a Tuesday daily Mass, Generations of Faith religious education, a parish Bible study, a St. Vincent de Paul outreach conference, and a Respect Life ministry. As part of the Catholic Family of Cheektowaga, parishioners share in a wider network of four cooperating parishes under one pastor and benefit from the spiritual legacy of the Felician Sisters who shaped the parish for nearly 80 years. It is a welcoming place for families, with a long tradition of Marian devotion under the title of Mary, Queen of Martyrs.
Mass times at Queen of Martyrs
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- On request or by appointment
- Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (per family bulletin schedule)
Parish Identity and Patron
Queen of Martyrs is a Roman Catholic parish in Cheektowaga, New York, established in 1946 and dedicated to Mary, Queen of Martyrs. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Buffalo and is the largest of the four parishes that together form the Catholic Family of Cheektowaga (Diocesan Family #8). According to the parish's own welcome page, the community describes itself as a welcoming community of faith that seeks to be Christ-like in the world, carrying out the Gospel message through service, joy, and the new life Jesus offers. Members pledge to recognize that all are precious and to share time, talent, and treasure to spread Christian values in homes, workplaces, and the wider community.
- Patron: Mary, Queen of Martyrs
- Diocese: Buffalo
- Family of Parishes: Catholic Family of Cheektowaga (#8)
- Founded: 1946
- Motto-style mission: welcoming community of faith, carrying out the Gospel message
Marian Symbols at the Church Entrance
The parish website explains the Marian iconography that greets visitors at the entrance to the church. The image of Mary Queen of Martyrs is shown with a shield bearing a symbol of the Blessed Mother, drawn from Revelation 12:1–2, 5: a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Mary is crowned Queen in heaven because she is the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of all Saints, and the Mother of the Church — and therefore also our mother. She is honored as Queen of Martyrs because she prayed for martyrs, giving them the strength and courage to profess faith in Christ without fear.
- Mary Queen of Martyrs with shield of the Blessed Mother (Revelation 12)
- Fleur-de-lis — symbol of purity, the Virgin Mary, and the Trinity; also an attribute of the Archangel Gabriel in Annunciation art
- Mystic Rose — symbolizing Mary's mystical participation in the Holy Trinity (Heaven's Rose / Mystical Rose)
- Marian monogram — symbolizing the Mother of God
History and the Felician Sisters
Queen of Martyrs Parish was founded in 1946 in the Diocese of Buffalo. The Felician Sisters arrived in 1947 and lived in the parish convent continuously for nearly 80 years. Over that span, eighteen sisters served as superiors or local ministers, and a total of 146 sisters were missioned or lived at the Queen of Martyrs Convent. The sisters taught in the parish school (which opened in 1947 with 90 students and reached a peak enrollment of 750 in 1964) and in religious education classes, and they cared for the church buildings — cleaning and decorating for every holy day, especially Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter. The parish carries a strong Polish-American heritage and under former pastor Fr. Dan Lapinski in the late 1990s commissioned sanctuary murals depicting Polish and other modern martyrs.
- 1946 — parish founded
- 1947 — Felician Sisters arrive; parish school opens with 90 students
- 1964 — peak parish-school enrollment of 750 students
- Late 1990s — Fr. Dan Lapinski commissions the sanctuary martyr murals
- August 1, 2025 — the last three Felician Sisters leave the Queen of Martyrs Convent, ending 78 years of continuous Felician presence
The Sanctuary Murals and the Polish-American Heritage
The murals in the sanctuary at Queen of Martyrs were commissioned by Fr. Dan Lapinski in the late 1990s. They depict six Catholic martyrs connected to the history of the parish, drawing together the parish's Polish ancestry, twentieth-century suffering, and local New York State history. The saints portrayed reflect the parish's identity as a community formed by Polish-American Catholic immigrants and shaped by the witness of modern martyrs.
- St. Stanislaus — Polish martyr
- Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko — Polish priest-martyr of the 1980s
- St. Maximilian Kolbe — martyr of World War II (Auschwitz)
- St. Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) — martyr of World War II
- Isaac Jaques — martyred in New York State
- St. Maria Goretti — patron of children
Clergy and Pastoral Team
Queen of Martyrs is served by the clergy of the Catholic Family of Cheektowaga. The pastor of the family is Rev. Todd M. Remick, assisted by two senior parochial vicars, Rev. John W. Adams and Rev. Louis Klein. Deacon Thaddeus P. May and Deacon Robert Badaszewski assist in pastoral ministry. The parish office is staffed by Administrative Assistant Mrs. Joanie Boersma; office hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A parish convent (172 Rosewood Terrace, 716-240-9159) has housed the Felician Sisters since 1947.
- Pastor: Rev. Todd M. Remick
- Senior Parochial Vicar: Rev. John W. Adams
- Senior Parochial Vicar: Rev. Louis Klein
- Permanent Deacon: Thaddeus P. May
- Pastoral Associate / Deacon: Robert Badaszewski
- Administrative Assistant: Joanie Boersma
- Parish phone: (716) 892-1746
- Email: [email protected]
Religious Education and Family Faith Formation
Faith formation at Queen of Martyrs is led by Michael Sacilowski, who serves as both Family Faith Formation Director and Religious Education Director for the parish, and also coordinates Safe Environment. The parish uses the Generations of Faith model, a family-based catechetical program that brings together multiple generations for shared learning. Sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage is handled through the parish office and the Family Faith Formation office.
- Generations of Faith (family-based catechesis)
- Family Faith Formation Director: Michael Sacilowski
- Religious Education Director: Michael Sacilowski
- Safe Environment Coordinator: Michael Sacilowski
- Sacramental preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, and Marriage
Music Ministry
Liturgical music at Queen of Martyrs is led by Music Director John Gonsiorek, who serves the parish across its weekend and weekday Masses. The Music Ministry supports the sung liturgy of the parish and contributes to the celebration of Holy Days, Holy Week, Christmas, and Easter.
- Music Director: John Gonsiorek
- Supports weekend Masses and Holy Day liturgies
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Queen of Martyrs has an active network of ministries serving both the parish family and the wider Cheektowaga community. The St. Vincent de Paul Conference, coordinated by Karen Maloney, provides material and spiritual assistance to neighbors in need. The Respect Life ministry, led by Kathy Sacilowski, promotes the Church's teaching on the dignity of human life. A parish Bible Study meets every other Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the church, currently exploring the Book of Exodus. A Healing Ministry offers prayer and support to those in need of spiritual and physical healing.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference (Karen Maloney)
- Respect Life (Kathy Sacilowski)
- Bible Study — every other Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in QM Church
- Healing Ministry
- Safe Environment (Michael Sacilowski)
Catholic Family of Cheektowaga (Family #8)
Queen of Martyrs is part of the Catholic Family of Cheektowaga, also known as Diocesan Family #8, which unites four local parishes under a single pastoral team and the Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal. The four parishes share clergy and collaborate on faith formation, youth ministry, school ministry, and outreach. The Central Office for the family is located at 4125 Union Road, Cheektowaga, NY 14225 (phone 716-276-9288). As part of the Road to Renewal, St. Josaphat Parish is being merged into Queen of Martyrs (which remains open), and Resurrection is being merged into Our Lady Help of Christians (which remains open).
- Our Lady Help of Christians (Diocesan Shrine) — 4125 Union Rd., Cheektowaga, NY 14225
- St. Josaphat — 20 Peoria Ave., Cheektowaga, NY 14206
- Resurrection — 130 Como Park Blvd., Cheektowaga, NY 14227
- Queen of Martyrs — 180 George Urban Blvd., Cheektowaga, NY 14225
- Family office phone: 716-276-9288
- Pastor of Family #8: Rev. Todd M. Remick
Road to Renewal and the Future of the Parish
In June 2024 the Diocese of Buffalo released the full list of recommended parish mergers and closures under its Road to Renewal initiative. In the Catholic Family of Cheektowaga (Family #8), the recommendations were: St. Josaphat to merge with Queen of Martyrs and close; Queen of Martyrs to remain open; Resurrection to merge with Our Lady Help of Christians and close; Our Lady Help of Christians to remain open. A bishop's letter on the final mergers and closures was issued, and the parish community was invited to prayer and meetings to discuss the future. The merger of St. Josaphat into Queen of Martyrs is the most significant recent development affecting the parish.
- Road to Renewal recommendations released by the Diocese of Buffalo in June 2024
- St. Josaphat to merge into Queen of Martyrs (St. Josaphat to close)
- Queen of Martyrs designated to remain open
- Resurrection to merge into Our Lady Help of Christians
- Pastoral meetings held at Queen of Martyrs and St. Josaphat for parishioners to discuss the future
Visiting and Contact Information
Queen of Martyrs Church is located at 180 George Urban Boulevard, Cheektowaga, New York 14225-3095. The parish office is open Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and can be reached at (716) 892-1746 (fax 716-892-3005) or by email at [email protected]. The parish's primary website is queenofmartyrsbuffalo.com; information and the family bulletin are also published through the Catholic Family of Cheektowaga website at cheektowagacatholicfamily.org.
- Address: 180 George Urban Blvd., Cheektowaga, NY 14225-3095
- Phone: (716) 892-1746
- Fax: (716) 892-3005
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish website: http://www.queenofmartyrsbuffalo.com/
- Family website: https://www.cheektowagacatholicfamily.org/
- Office hours: Mon., Tues., Fri. 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Convent phone (Felician Sisters): (716) 240-9159
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Dan Lapinskilate 1990s
Commissioned the sanctuary murals depicting Polish and other modern martyrs.
- Rev. Jozef Dudzik2023
Appointed pastor of the Catholic Family of Cheektowaga (Family #8) in July 2023 under the Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal.
- Rev. Todd M. Remick
Current pastor of the Catholic Family of Cheektowaga, including Queen of Martyrs.