About St. Amelia · Tonawanda, New York
St. Amelia is a Roman Catholic parish in the Town of Tonawanda, New York, part of the Diocese of Buffalo and one of three parishes — along with St. Christopher in Tonawanda and Our Lady of Czestochowa in North Tonawanda — that together form the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas (RCCT). Founded in 1953 by Bishop Joseph A. Burke and named for the patron saint of his mother, Amelia Burke, the parish grew rapidly with the post-WWII suburban boom and built one of the largest Catholic elementary schools in the diocese. Its current 1,500-seat worship church, opened in 1970, remains the largest by seating capacity in the Diocese of Buffalo. Today the parish is led by Rev. Michael P. LaMarca as pastor, with Rev. Robert J. Orlowski as senior parochial vicar and a team of deacons.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- Saint Amelia
- Rector
- Rev. Michael P. LaMarca
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. Amelia offers daily Mass (Monday through Saturday at 8:00 a.m.), a full weekend schedule (Saturday Vigil at 4:30 p.m. and Sundays at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.), Saturday confessions, and Monday evening Eucharistic Adoration with Rosary and Evening Novena. The parish maintains a robust Catholic elementary school (St. Amelia School) under principal Lori Jonas, a faith formation program for grades Pre-K through 9 plus Confirmation preparation (Growing our Faith Family, in-person weekday classes, and a 'Faith Formation in the Home' option), and active outreach through St. Vincent de Paul and a parish food pantry. With one of the largest worship spaces in the diocese and a strong identity as part of the Tonawandas' RCCT family of parishes, St. Amelia is a welcoming community grounded in mid-century Catholic tradition and contemporary evangelization.
Mass times at St. Amelia
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
Adoration times
- Monday 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Adoration includes the Rosary, Evening Novena)
Our History
St. Amelia was founded in 1953 by Bishop of Buffalo Joseph A. Burke to serve the booming post-WWII suburbs of the Town of Tonawanda. Bishop Burke named the parish for the patron saint of his mother, Amelia Burke, and appointed his own secretary, Monsignor John Lodge McHugh, as its founding pastor. The first Sunday Mass was celebrated on September 13, 1953, on the grounds of the Brighton Fire Department on Jamaica Road, before the community moved to Mount Saint Mary Academy on Delaware Avenue and finally to its own buildings. The parish school opened in 1955 under the Felician Sisters and grew into the largest Catholic elementary school in the diocese (over 1,600 pupils), while the current, much larger church opened in the fall of 1970 — designed by parishioner-architect Ed Egan and seating 1,500 worshipers, the largest in the diocese. St. Amelia marked its Golden Jubilee in 2003 with Bishop Henry J. Mansell and its 60th anniversary in 2013 with then-Bishop Gregory Hartmayer, a son of the parish.
- Founded September 13, 1953
- First Mass: outdoors at Brighton Fire Department, Jamaica Road
- Saint Amelia School opened September 1955 by the Felician Sisters
- New church opened fall 1970 — 1,500 seats, designed by parishioner Ed Egan
- Golden Jubilee: September 13, 2003 (Bishop Mansell)
- 60th Anniversary: September 13, 2013 (Bishop Hartmayer)
Our Patron Saint
Saint Amelia was born in 741 in the Ardennes region (present-day Belgium–Luxembourg) and raised in a deeply religious home together with her brother Roden. While preparing to enter the Benedictine Abbey at Munsterbilsen, she caught the attention of Pepin, king of the Franks, and his son Charles — later known as Charlemagne — who pursued her for years; in one struggle, Charles broke Amelia's arm, which was miraculously healed, after which Charles resigned himself to her religious vocation. Amelia journeyed to Temsche on the River Schelde, about 15 miles southwest of Antwerp, where she built a church dedicated to Mary. Many miracles are attributed to her, before and after her death in 772; she is often depicted with a Bible or venerating a crucifix, sometimes with a fish at her feet from the legend that she crossed the Schelde on the back of a fish. She is the official patron of farmers and fishermen and is invoked by young people striving to remain faithful to Jesus and for healing of arm and shoulder injuries. Her feast day is July 10.
- Born 741 in the Ardennes
- Benedictine religious at Munsterbilsen
- Built a church at Temsche on the River Schelde
- Died 772
- Feast Day: July 10
- Patron of farmers, fishermen, young people, and healing of arm/shoulder injuries
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Amelia shares its pastoral team with sister parishes St. Christopher (Tonawanda) and Our Lady of Czestochowa (North Tonawanda) within the RCCT family of parishes. The clergy team is supported by a sizable family staff and faith formation team.
- Rev. Michael P. LaMarca — Pastor
- Rev. Robert J. Orlowski — Senior Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Paul Bork
- Deacon Daniel Brick
- Deacon Michael Ficorilli — Deacon, Pastoral Associate
- Deacon David McDermott
- Deacon Kenneth R. Monaco
- Deacon John Steiner
- Marie Schwab — Business Manager
- Catie Wagner — Office Manager
- Arlene Meyerhofer — Bulletin Editor
- Liz Sanderson — Director of Youth Ministry / Media Director
- Jonathan Seel — Technology Director
- Sr. Francis Claire Flahive — Ministry of Care Coordinator
- Lynn Reed, Kathy Kocsis — Administrative Assistants
- Debbie Kwarciany — Pastoral Assistant
- Sheri Ingraham, Diane Peterson — Bookkeepers
Faith Formation & Religious Education
RCCT Faith Formation (serving St. Amelia, St. Christopher, and Our Lady of Czestochowa) offers a family-oriented program built on the conviction that parents are the primary catechists of their children. Options include 'Growing our Faith Family' (GOF) monthly family sessions plus optional Sunday classes or at-home units (Pre-K through 9), 'Faith Formation in the Home' (K–9), and in-person weekday classes on Monday and Tuesday evenings from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, end of September through April. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation (Grade 2) and First Communion (Grade 3) is conducted separately from grade-level faith formation and includes parent meetings and a retreat, while Confirmation preparation (Grade 10) requires completion of 9th-grade faith formation for public-school students and meets twice a month. The team is led by Director of Religious Education Marie Sajsa, with Sr. Ryszarda Wittbrodt, SSCJ coordinating the OLC site and sacramental prep, Jennifer Burton (Family Faith Formation & Home Coordinator), Liz Sanderson (Youth Ministry), Deedy Allinson (Middle/High School Assistant), and Ashley Herlein (Elementary Coordinator/Office Manager). Program fee is $80 per family, with small additional fees for sacramental books and retreats.
- Director of Religious Education: Marie Sajsa ([email protected])
- Growing our Faith Family (GOF) — first-Sunday sessions, Pre-K through 9
- Faith Formation in the Home option, K–9
- In-person Monday/Tuesday classes, 6:00–7:30 PM, Sept–April
- First Reconciliation prep (Grade 2)
- First Communion prep (Grade 3)
- Confirmation prep (Grade 10, public-school students must complete 9th grade)
- OCIA (RCIA): call 716-692-2660
- Faith Formation contact: [email protected] / 716-694-0540
St. Amelia School
St. Amelia School has served the parish and the wider Tonawanda community since it opened in September 1955. Originally staffed by the Felician Sisters (who led the school until 1995, when leadership passed to a lay principal), the school became the largest Catholic elementary school in the Diocese of Buffalo, once enrolling over 1,600 pupils and requiring several additions to the original building. Today the school continues to offer a faith-centered education with academics, athletics, liturgical ministry, and a range of clubs and activities, including annual Chiavetta's Dinner fundraisers and recognition of an Honor Roll each quarter. Lori Jonas serves as the current principal.
- Opened September 1955 by the Felician Sisters
- Lay principal since 1995
- At its peak: 1,600+ pupils, largest school in the diocese
- Principal: Lori Jonas — 716-836-2230
- Student life: Faith, Academics, Athletics, Liturgical Ministry, Clubs & Activities
- School website: stameliaschool.org
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music at St. Amelia is led by Music Directors Steven Gruhalla and Michael Hauser (the latter serving both OLC and St. Amelia). The parish livestreams its 8:00 AM daily Mass as well as the Saturday Vigil (4:30 PM) and the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass through the RCCT media ministry, directed by Liz Sanderson, with Jonathan Seel as Technology Director. Liturgical Ministry is also a key part of student life at St. Amelia School.
- St. Amelia Music Directors: Steven Gruhalla and Michael Hauser
- Daily 8 AM Mass livestreamed from St. Amelia
- Saturday Vigil 4:30 PM and Sunday 10 AM livestreams
- Media Director: Liz Sanderson
- Technology Director: Jonathan Seel
Outreach & Charity
St. Amelia runs an active outreach ministry through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which operates a parish food pantry at 210 Saint Amelia Drive, Tonawanda, NY 14150 (Mon–Fri 9 AM–8 PM; Sat 9 AM–4 PM per directory listings). The parish phone line is (716) 836-0011. The Ministry of Care, coordinated by Sr. Francis Claire Flahive, brings the Church's presence to the sick and homebound.
- St. Vincent de Paul — St. Amelia food pantry
- Address: 210 Saint Amelia Drive, Tonawanda, NY 14150
- Phone: 716-836-0011
- Ministry of Care Coordinator: Sr. Francis Claire Flahive (814-525-4346)
Part of the RCCT Family of Parishes
St. Amelia belongs to the Diocese of Buffalo's Family #18, the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas (RCCT), alongside St. Christopher in Tonawanda and Our Lady of Czestochowa in North Tonawanda. The three parishes share clergy, faith formation, music, and family staff under a single pastoral and administrative structure, allowing for more flexible ministry and combined sacramental preparation.
- Family #18: RCCT (Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas)
- Parish partners: St. Christopher (Tonawanda) and Our Lady of Czestochowa (North Tonawanda)
- Pastor: Rev. Michael P. LaMarca
- Senior Parochial Vicar: Rev. Robert J. Orlowski
- Six deacons serve across the family
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor John Lodge McHugh1953–1982
Founding pastor; Bishop Burke's own secretary; previously associate at the Cathedral Parish for 22 years. Retired 1982; lived in the rectory until his death in August 1999.
- Monsignor Rupert A. Wright1982–1994
Succeeded Monsignor McHugh.
- Rev. William R. Bigelow1994–1995
Brief pastorate before Monsignor Maloney.
- Monsignor Thomas F. Maloney1995–~2017
Came August 1995; previously pastor at Annunciation (Elma) and St. Joseph's (University Heights). Served St. Amelia 22 years.
- Rev. Michael P. LaMarcapresent
Current pastor under the Diocese of Buffalo Family of Parishes model (RCCT, Family #18).