About Sacred Heart of Jesus · Bowmansville, New York
Sacred Heart of Jesus Diocesan Shrine is a Roman Catholic parish and diocesan shrine in Bowmansville, New York (town of Lancaster, Erie County), in the Diocese of Buffalo. Founded in 1920 to serve about thirty-five families, the parish grew around an architecturally distinctive rectory designed in an Oriental pagoda motif by Dr. Theodore Lewis. In addition to its parish church, the grounds contain two outdoor shrines — to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Conception (Our Lady of Lourdes) — built in 1926–1927 by Father Edward L. Ott and his parishioners from local fieldstone. Designated the official Diocesan Shrine of the Sacred Heart by Bishop Edward D. Head in 1991, the site draws pilgrims from across Western New York for its outdoor Masses, triduums, First Friday and First Saturday devotions, and Marian processions.
- Established
- 1920
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas M. Mahoney
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is one of the most distinctive devotional sites in the Diocese of Buffalo — a parish church surrounded by fieldstone outdoor shrines, a stone Holy Trinity archway, and a thirty-three-step stairway to a Christ the King statue that welcomes outdoor Masses in good weather. The community is small but devoted (about 664 families) and offers a rich devotional calendar: a weekly Friday novena to the Sacred Heart, First Friday Adoration from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with Benediction, First Saturday morning Mass, and an annual Feast Day Triduum that draws priests from across the diocese. Pilgrims and parishioners alike value the shrine's quiet, prayerful character and its Marian processions, particularly around the Lourdes Grotto during its 100th anniversary celebration.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- By appointment (call the rectory office to schedule)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration), with Benediction at 6:00 PM
Our History: Church and Shrine
The parish was canonically erected in 1917 when Bishop Dennis Dougherty approved the formation of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, with Father Francis Scherer of Our Lady Help of Christians in Cheektowaga assisting. The Gipple family sold the first parcel in 1919, and a small wooden church was dedicated in 1920. Father Edward L. Ott arrived in 1923, expanded the property (including the c.1870 Lewis house that became today's rectory), and in 1926–1927 organized the parishioners in building the two fieldstone outdoor shrines — one to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, one to the Immaculate Conception (Our Lady of Lourdes) — together with the stone fence and the triple-arched Holy Trinity gateway. In September 1991 Bishop Edward D. Head designated the site the official Diocesan Shrine of the Sacred Heart, and the shrine continues to host pilgrimages, outdoor Masses, and Marian processions, with a centennial celebration of the Lourdes Grotto in May 2026 and of the Sacred Heart Shrine in June 2027.
- 1917 — Parish approved by Bishop Dennis Dougherty
- 1919 — First land purchased from the Gipple family
- 1920 — Original wooden church dedicated; ~35 families
- 1923 — Father Edward L. Ott appointed
- 1926–1927 — Outdoor shrines, stone fence, and arches built by parish
- September 1991 — Designated Diocesan Shrine of the Sacred Heart by Bishop Edward D. Head
- 2026 — Centennial of the Lourdes Grotto (Immaculate Conception Shrine)
- 2027 — Centennial of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Shrine
Shrines, Grounds & Architecture
The defining feature of Sacred Heart is its pair of fieldstone outdoor shrines and the surrounding devotional architecture. The Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus faces east and is built of local fieldstone; the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, popularly known as the Lourdes Grotto, faces Genesee Street. The connecting stone fence and arches were laid out in groups of three whenever possible, with dimensions deliberately divisible by three to honor the Holy Trinity. A winding stone stairway of thirty-three steps climbs the side of the shrines to a Christ the King statue in the belfry, recalling the traditional count of Christ's years on earth. Stone benches on the grounds allow outdoor Masses in good weather.
The Lewis Rectory
The current rectory is the c.1870 Lewis house, acquired by the parish in the early 1920s when Father Ott purchased the adjoining parcel east of the church. The house was designed by Dr. Theodore Lewis, a scholar of the Far East, and built in an Oriental pagoda motif. Its roof curves back upward — said, in oriental tradition, to ward off evil spirits — and the interior continues the theme with open-mouthed gargoyles used as fireplace andirons and oriental-style trim over the windows. Inside the pagoda-like tower is a cistern for collecting rainwater. The rear portion of the rectory parcel became the parish cemetery.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is coordinated by Julie Manheim, working in concert with the Diocese of Buffalo's family-of-parishes model. The program prepares children and adults for the sacraments (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) and supports ongoing catechesis in cooperation with the parishes of Family #15. Inquiries about registration and sacramental preparation can be directed through the parish office.
Parish Life, Staff & Ministries
Sacred Heart is served by a parish team that includes Pastor Rev. Thomas M. Mahoney, Senior Parochial Vicars Rev. Arthur E. Mattulke and Rev. Walter J. Szczesny, Parochial Vicars Rev. Peter N. Bassey and Rev. John E. Stanton, and Permanent Deacon Arthur Sullivan. Lay staff include Administrative Assistant Ellen Peters, Communications Coordinator Debbie Lesinski, Sacristan / Funeral Coordinator Linda Hall, and Faith Formation Coordinator Julie Manheim. The Parish Council is chaired by Herb Godschalk, with Beth Eley as Vice Chair and Sue Godschalk as Secretary; ministry leads cover Worship (Eileen Judah), Community Life (Deborah Lambert), Justice & Peace (Tom Misiak), and Grounds & Maintenance (Louis Pokrywka). The Altar and Rosary Society is a long-standing women's devotional and social group, and is well known for hosting the annual Feast Day reception following the Sacred Heart Triduum Mass.
- Parish Council — Herb Godschalk, chair
- Worship — Eileen Judah
- Community Life — Deborah Lambert
- Justice & Peace — Tom Misiak
- Grounds & Maintenance — Louis Pokrywka
- Altar and Rosary Society
- Sacristan / Funeral Coordinator — Linda Hall
- Cemetery — Ellen Peters
Family of Parishes (Road to Renewal)
As part of the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Road to Renewal' restructuring, Sacred Heart of Jesus was realigned into Family #15 and is now served in solidum by a team of priests under Pastor Rev. Thomas M. Mahoney. Family #15 includes Our Lady of Peace in Clarence, St. Teresa of Avila in Akron, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Williamsville, St. Mary in Swormville, and Sacred Heart of Jesus in Bowmansville. The arrangement allows the parishes to share clergy and resources while each retains its own identity, devotions, and Mass schedule.
- Our Lady of Peace, Clarence
- St. Teresa of Avila, Akron
- Nativity of the BVM, Williamsville
- St. Mary, Swormville
- Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bowmansville
Sacraments
Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and RCIA are arranged through the parish office. Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons from 3:00 to 3:45 PM and by appointment; First Communion and Confirmation preparation are coordinated through the Faith Formation program. The parish continues to respond to in-emergency requests through the parish team, with Father Lukenge noted in recent bulletins as the in-emergency contact.
Cemetery
The parish cemetery occupies the rear portion of the Lewis rectory parcel and has been part of the property since the parish acquired it in the 1920s. Cemetery records and arrangements are handled through the parish office (coordinator Ellen Peters).
Visiting & Pilgrim Information
Pilgrims and visitors are welcome to walk the grounds year-round to see the fieldstone shrines, the triple-arched Holy Trinity gateway, the thirty-three-step stairway, and the Christ the King statue in the belfry, as well as the distinctive Lewis rectory. The parish office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Special pilgrimage events are scheduled around the Marian and Sacred Heart feasts; the 2025–2027 centennial of the Lourdes Grotto (2026) and Sacred Heart Shrine (2027) includes Fatima Masses, processions, a virtual Lourdes pilgrimage, and a Pentecost Vigil Extended Mass.
- Parish office hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 9 AM – 3 PM
- 100th Anniversary of Lourdes Grotto: May 2026
- 100th Anniversary of Sacred Heart Shrine: June 2027
- Featured event: Fatima Mass & Procession (opening ceremony)
- Featured event: Our Lady of Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage
- Featured event: Pentecost Vigil Extended Mass
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Scherer1919–1923
Pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians, Cheektowaga; recruited by Bishop Dennis Dougherty in 1917 to help establish the new parish; oversaw purchase of first parcel from the Gipple family (1919) and dedication of the first small wooden church (1920).
- Father Edward L. Ott1923–
Appointed 1923; acquired additional parcels, remodeled the first rectory, took over the c.1870 Lewis house as the current rectory, and in 1926–1927 built the two outdoor shrines (Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Conception), the stone fence, and the arches.
- Rev. Thomas M. Mahoney
Current pastor; appointed additional responsibility as pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bowmansville effective October 15 (Road to Renewal), serving as pastor of newly aligned Family #15.