About St. Andrew · Kenmore, New York
St. Andrew Parish was a Roman Catholic community in Kenmore (Town of Tonawanda), New York, in the Diocese of Buffalo, serving the northern suburbs of Buffalo for 80 years. The parish was founded in 1944 by Bishop John Duffy to accommodate Catholic families moving to the area for war-production jobs, and grew so quickly that its present church was dedicated in 1962. It operated St. Andrew Country Day School (PreK3–Grade 8) on the same Sheridan Drive campus, and its mission centered on Sunday Eucharist, community outreach, hospitality, and lifelong faith formation. After decades of ministry, the Diocese of Buffalo announced in February 2024 that both the parish and the school would close on or before June 30, 2024, with parishioners merged into nearby parishes such as St. Timothy in Tonawanda.
- Established
- 1944
- Patron
- St. Andrew the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew J. Zirnheld
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. Andrew was known for its warm, multigenerational community in the Town of Tonawanda, centered on Sunday and weekday Masses, a robust faith-formation program for grades 1–10 and adult sacramental preparation, and active lay groups such as the Holy Name Society, Marian Ministries, the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, Children's Liturgy of the Word, and a weekly Bingo that supported parish operations. Its mission statement, 'As St. Andrew brought St. Peter to Jesus, we strive to bring others into a deeper relationship with Christ through Sunday Eucharist, Community Outreach, Hospitality, and Catholic Education through lifelong learning and faith formation,' shaped everything from its school to its Christmas outreach to families in need.
Mass times at St. Andrew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00–3:30 PM
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 11:15–11:45 AM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: after the 12:00 PM (Noon) Mass until 1:00 PM
- Evening Adoration and Holy Hour: Last Wednesday of each month, 6:00–7:00 PM (January–October); First Wednesday in December (with Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours and Benediction)
Parish History
St. Andrew's was established in 1944 by Bishop John Duffy of Buffalo to serve the booming Catholic population of Kenmore and the Tonawandas, where war-production plants had drawn thousands of new workers and families during World War II. The original church-and-school building was completed that year, but by 1953 it had already become too small, and the present church on Sheridan Drive was dedicated in 1962. The parish marked its 25th anniversary with a yearbook in 1969 and its Golden Jubilee in 1994 with a 148-page hardcover history book. In the 2020s the parish and school faced severe financial pressure and declining school enrollment; a proposed two-school (elementary/middle) reorganization could not be sustained. On February 16, 2024, Bishop Michael W. Fisher announced that both the parish and St. Andrew Country Day School would close on or before June 30, 2024. St. Andrew was part of Family of Parishes #17 and was merged with St. Timothy, Tonawanda.
- Founded 1944 by Bishop John Duffy
- Present church dedicated 1962
- 25th anniversary yearbook published 1969
- Golden Jubilee history book published 1994 (148 pages)
- Closure announced February 16, 2024; parish closed on or before June 30, 2024
Church Building & Art
The current church, dedicated in 1962, replaced an earlier 1944 structure that had become inadequate by 1953. Its most distinctive interior features are mosaic icons of St. Peregrine and Our Lady of Perpetual Help mounted above the side shrines. According to the Diocese of Buffalo pilgrimage guide, the mosaics were commissioned from Aleksandra Kasuba of Queens, New York, and were originally procured from Christ the King Seminary.
- Dedicated 1962
- Mosaic of St. Peregrine (side shrine)
- Mosaic of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (side shrine)
- Artist: Aleksandra Kasuba (Queens, NY)
Mission & Parish Identity
The parish's printed mission statement read: 'As St. Andrew brought St. Peter to Jesus, we strive to bring others into a deeper relationship with Christ through Sunday Eucharist, Community Outreach, Hospitality, and Catholic Education through lifelong learning and faith formation.' The four pillars—Eucharist, outreach, hospitality, and Catholic education—shaped the parish's bulletin, school identity, and ministry calendar.
Pastoral & Parish Staff
At the time of its final years, the parish was led by a small staff including its pastor, a deacon, a business manager, the Faith Formation director, and the Ensemble Director. The Rectory was open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM.
- Rev. Matthew J. Zirnheld — Pastor
- Mr. Kevin Kabacinski — Business Manager
- Mr. Michael Ficorilli — Deacon
- Mrs. Doris Johnson — Faith Formation Office (ext. 101)
- Mrs. Kathleen Johnson — Ensemble Director
- Prayer Chain — (716) 873-6716, ext. 105
St. Andrew Country Day School
St. Andrew Country Day School was the parish's grammar school, located at 1545 Sheridan Drive, on the same campus as the church. It served students in PreK3 through Grade 8 under Principal Pamela Giannantonio, and was known for its emphasis on religious, academic, social, emotional, and physical development, as well as for use of 'Modern Socratic Teaching Techniques.' Enrollment had declined sharply by the early 2020s, and the school closed alongside the parish on or before June 30, 2024.
- Address: 1545 Sheridan Drive, Kenmore, NY 14217
- Phone: (716) 877-0422; Fax: (716) 877-3973
- Principal: Mrs. Pamela Giannantonio
- Grades: PreK3–Grade 8
- Closed June 2024 with the parish
Faith Formation & Religious Education
In-person religious education for grades 1 through 10 was offered in small classes beginning in the fall, and the parish also ran adult sacrament classes for those exploring becoming Catholic and for baptized Catholics who had not yet received Confirmation. Children's Liturgy of the Word was offered at the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass when Religious Education classes were not in session.
- Faith Formation Office: Mrs. Doris Johnson — (716) 873-6716, option 3, ext. 101
- Grades 1–10 religious education
- Adult sacramental preparation (Inquiry/Confirmation)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (9:30 AM Sunday Mass)
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Lay ministry life at St. Andrew's was anchored by a number of long-running groups. Marian Ministries organized Christmas caroling at Elderwood Assisted Living in Tonawanda and adopted a local family each Christmas for gift and food support. The Holy Name Society met monthly for fellowship and a Christmas party. The St. Vincent de Paul Society operated a parish food pantry, helping families with Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas Tops gift certificates.
- Marian Ministries
- Holy Name Society
- St. Vincent de Paul Society / Food Pantry — (716) 873-6716, option 3, ext. 111
- Prayer Chain — ext. 105
- Parish Ensemble (music) — Kathleen Johnson, Director
Outreach & Charity
Outreach was central to the parish's identity. Marian Ministries organized Christmas caroling at Elderwood Assisted Living on Ensminger Road in Tonawanda, requiring COVID vaccination cards and masks during the pandemic years, and adopted a local family each Christmas for gift and food support. The St. Vincent de Paul food pantry maintained a list of needed staples including instant potatoes, stuffing, pasta, crackers, cereal, pancake mix and syrup. The parish also publicized Catholic Charities' Helpline (716-218-1419) for counseling, substance-use treatment, and marriage and family services.
Bingo & Fundraising
Weekly Bingo on Thursday and Friday evenings was a long-running parish fundraiser that supported operations of the church and school. Bingo operations ended June 14, 2024, ahead of the parish's final closure.
Closure (2024)
After years of financial difficulty, Bishop Michael W. Fisher announced on February 16, 2024, that St. Andrew Parish and St. Andrew Country Day School would close on or before June 30, 2024. Announcement of the closures was made at all Masses through Sunday, February 18, 2024. As part of the Diocese of Buffalo's Family of Parishes reorganization, St. Andrew was merged with St. Timothy in Tonawanda. Final school and parish days were marked with emotional farewells from parishioners and school families covered by local media including WBEN and the Buffalo News.
- Closure announced February 16, 2024
- Parish and school closed on or before June 30, 2024
- Merged into St. Timothy Parish, Tonawanda (Family #17)
- Bingo ended June 14, 2024
Location & Contact
The parish and school shared a campus on Sheridan Drive in the Town of Tonawanda, just outside the Village of Kenmore and a short drive north of the City of Buffalo.
- Parish address: 1525 Sheridan Drive, Kenmore, NY 14217
- Parish phone: (716) 873-6716
- Parish fax: (716) 873-2214
- Rectory hours: Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM
- School address: 1545 Sheridan Drive, Kenmore, NY 14217
- School phone: (716) 877-0422