About St. Benedict · Amherst, New York
St. Benedict Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Eggertsville, a hamlet in the Town of Amherst, New York, within the Diocese of Buffalo. Founded in 1920 by Monsignor William F. Tobin at the request of Bishop William Turner, it was the first Catholic church established in the Eggertsville–Snyder area. The parish sits on a 266-foot Main Street / 329-foot Eggert Road corner lot and today serves roughly 1,500 registered families through weekend and daily Mass, a parochial school (PreK3–Grade 8), lifelong faith formation, and a wide range of lay ministries and outreach groups.
- Established
- 1920
- Patron
- St. Benedict (named in honor of Pope Benedict XV, then-reigning Pope)
- Rector
- Fr. David Bellittiere
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. Benedict's is a parish that takes care of its own — a 105-year-old Catholic community that still celebrates daily Mass, runs a thriving PreK3–Grade 8 parish school, and welcomes families into a full sacramental and faith-formation program from Generations of Faith classes and Sacramental Preparation (Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation) through adult Bible studies and seasonal retreats. With a strong social-outreach tradition through St. Vincent de Paul, Ladies of Charity, a Nurse Ministry, a Respect Life Committee, and a Rosary Altar Society, plus 24/7 access to live-streamed Masses for the homebound, it offers both rootedness and reach for anyone seeking a parish home in the Amherst area.
Mass times at St. Benedict
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Additional opportunities at nearby locations — see weekly bulletin
Adoration times
- Our parish family offers more opportunities at nearby locations — see weekly bulletin (parish notes additional adoration opportunities beyond St. Benedict)
Our Parish
Saint Benedict Parish is a community of baptized believers dedicated to the teachings of Jesus Christ as proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church. We are called to gather as a Eucharist people and proclaim the Word of God in our world, accepting the challenge to live in the Gospel and to love others as Christ loves us. The parish is located at 1317 Eggert Road at the corner of Main Street in Eggertsville (Town of Amherst), and currently serves roughly 1,500 registered families.
- Address: 1317 Eggert Road (at Main Street), Amherst, NY 14226
- Phone: (716) 834-1041
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor: Fr. David Bellittiere
History of the Parish
Founded in 1920 by Monsignor William F. Tobin at the request of Bishop William Turner, St. Benedict's grew from thirty Catholic families surveyed door-to-door into a thriving 1,500-family parish serving Eggertsville and Snyder. The original 300-seat wooden church was built by the parish's volunteer 'Twilight League' in 1921; a combination church-and-school replaced it in 1930–31, and the present Late Gothic Revival church — designed by Mortimer Murphy — was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day 1952 by Bishop Joseph A. Burke. The full parish history, including its founding families and the construction 'Twilight League,' is published in detail by the parish and by the parish school.
- 1920 — Father Tobin surveys Eggertsville; appointed pastor by Bishop Turner
- Nov. 21, 1920 — First Mass celebrated in the Eggertsville Fire Hall (50 people, $52 collection)
- April 1, 1921 — First $5,000 payment on the Jacob Brunner property at Main & Eggert
- Aug. 7, 1921 — Original wooden church dedicated by Bishop Turner (300 seats, ~$5,472.55)
- 1928 — First rectory built
- 1930–31 — Combination church-and-school built
- June 3, 1950 — Ground broken for present church and seven-room school addition
- Nov. 27, 1952 — Present Late Gothic Revival church dedicated by Bishop Joseph A. Burke
- Nov. 11, 1970 — Church consecrated by Bishop James A. McNulty
- 1973 — Msgr. Tobin retires after 53 years as pastor; dies 1976
- 2025 — Decreed to merge into St. Leo the Great under 'Road to Renewal'; appeal pending in Rome
Architecture & Sacred Spaces
The present church of St. Benedict is a Late Gothic Revival building designed by the prominent Buffalo architect Mortimer Murphy. Notable features include irregular masonry patterns on the stone façade and crenellations atop the steepleless tower. It sits on the northeast corner of the parish's Main Street / Eggert Road property, replacing the 1930–31 combination church-and-school (the latter of which still serves the parish school). On November 11 each year, parishioners light candles around the interior walls to mark the 1970 consecration by Bishop James A. McNulty.
- Architect: Mortimer Murphy (Buffalo)
- Style: Late Gothic Revival
- Dedicated: Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1952
- Consecrated: November 11, 1970
Mass & Sacraments Schedule
St. Benedict's offers Saturday Vigil, two Sunday, and weekday Masses year-round, with all services live-streamed on the parish's WatchMass page for the homebound and sick. Confessions are heard every Saturday afternoon before the Vigil Mass.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday Masses: 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
- Daily Mass: Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.
- Holy Day Masses: see weekly bulletin
- Confessions: Saturdays 4:00–4:30 p.m.
- Sacrament of the Sick: arranged by calling the rectory
WatchMass — Live-Streamed Liturgies
Most Masses and services at St. Benedict's are live-streamed daily through the parish website for the benefit of the community, the homebound, and the sick. A companion camera streams liturgies from neighboring St. Leo the Great (Saturday 4:00 p.m.; Sunday 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.; weekdays 8:00 a.m.). Online collections are welcomed through the same page.
- St. Benedict Church Cam: Saturday 5:00 p.m., Sunday 8:00 & 10:00 a.m., weekdays 7:00 a.m.
- St. Leo the Great Church Cam: Saturday 4:00 p.m., Sunday 9:00 & 11:00 a.m., weekdays 8:00 a.m.
Clergy, Staff & Parish Directory
The parish is currently led by Pastor Fr. David Bellittiere, supported by two Senior Parochial Vicars (Fr. Joseph Gatto and Msgr. Paul Litwin) and Parochial Vicar Fr. Moses Ikuelogbon. Day-to-day operations are handled by Director of Operations Martin Card, Pastoral Associate of Evangelization and Catechesis Andrew Pitisi, and Administrative Assistant Laura Matulich. Lay trustees are Amy Bradley and Matthew Georger; James Maher is Parish Council President.
- Pastor — Fr. David Bellittiere
- Senior Parochical Vicar — Fr. Joseph Gatto
- Senior Parochial Vicar — Msgr. Paul Litwin
- Parochial Vicar — Fr. Moses Ikuelogbon
- Director of Operations — Martin Card
- Pastoral Associate of Evangelization and Catechesis — Andrew Pitisi
- Administrative Assistant — Laura Matulich
- Trustees — Amy Bradley & Matthew Georger
- Parish Council President — James Maher
St. Benedict School (PreK3 – Grade 8)
Founded by two Franciscan Sisters a century ago and still subsidized by the parish, St. Benedict School is a PreK3 through Grade 8 Catholic elementary school at 3980 Main Street in Eggertsville. It is consistently ranked as one of WNY's top private schools — and the top private school in Amherst — by Business First. The school is a STREAM school (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Math) and offers Spanish beginning in Grade 1, Chinese in Grade 5, plus Art, Music, Library, Physical Education, and Computers. Students may earn high school credit in Living Environment (Biology), Integrated Algebra, and Studio in Art. Extracurriculars include Catholic League sports such as swimming, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, and cross country. An Extended Day Program is available.
- Address: 3980 Main Street, Eggertsville, NY 14226
- Phone: (716) 835-2518
- Principal: Ryan Kloetzer ([email protected])
- Enrollment: ~425 students (PK3–8)
- Founded by two Franciscan Sisters ~100 years ago
- STREAM curriculum; Spanish (Gr. 1) and Chinese (Gr. 5)
- Extended Day Program available
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The Faith Formation Office coordinates the parish's lifelong catechetical mission, under the direction of Pastoral Associate Andrew Pitisi. Programs serve children, teens, adults, and entire families — with a strong emphasis on intergenerational learning and on sacramental preparation done in tandem with regular Mass participation.
Generations of Faith (Whole-Family Program)
Generations of Faith is a Sunday whole-family faith formation program that gathers for Mass, a shared meal (usually Paula's Donuts), a large-group activity, and age-appropriate breakout sessions. It is open to parents, children, teens, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, and is not a drop-off program — parents are expected to stay and participate, and Mass attendance is required. Sacramental Preparation (Reconciliation in Grade 2, First Eucharist in Grade 3, Confirmation in Grades 9 & 10) is offered in parallel with separate registration. Catholic school students do not need the general sessions but do participate in the additional sacramental prep.
- Trunk or Treat (October)
- Our Lady of Victory Pilgrimage
- Our Lady of Fatima Shrine Festival of Lights trip (December)
- Living Rosary & Ice Cream Social
- Movie (Pizza with a Purpose) Night — winter
- Pot Luck Family Picnic — April/May
- Little Portion Friary service (October, January, March, May)
- Thanksgiving Dinner Food Drive
- Giving Tree (December)
- Lenten Journey Drive
- Valentine's Day cards for nursing homes
Adult Faith Formation
Adult Faith Formation offers ongoing study and prayer opportunities for parishioners of every stage of life, complementing Sunday Mass with seasonal retreats and devotional practices.
- Adult Bible Study
- Yearly retreats around Advent and Lent
- Stations of the Cross — Fridays during Lent
- St. Vincent de Paul service and prayer experience
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Benedict's runs an active lay ministry program with both liturgical and outreach arms, all coordinated through the rectory office and faith formation office.
- Altar Servers — Andrew Pitisi
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — Sara & Kate
- Eucharistic Ministers — Alexandria
- Lectors — Shelly
- Ushers — Leonard Swiat
- Ladies of Charity
- Rosary Altar Society — Mary Long
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — Marion Kopin (716) 238-3204
- Nurse Ministry — Carol Mathner (716) 633-1693
- Respect Life Committee
- Young Adults
- Bible Study
- Home School Association — [email protected]
- School Board — Leonard Swiat (716) 835-4625
- Pastoral Council and Officers
Outreach & Charity
Parishioners at St. Benedict's maintain a long tradition of caring for neighbors in Eggertsville, the wider Buffalo area, and beyond. The parish's social-action groups include St. Vincent de Paul, Ladies of Charity, a Nurse Ministry, and a Respect Life Committee, and the parish regularly serves at Little Portion Friary and supports food drives, nursing-home visits, and refugee resettlement.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Ladies of Charity
- Nurse Ministry
- Respect Life Committee
- Little Portion Friary service (Oct., Jan., Mar., May)
- Thanksgiving Dinner Food Drive
- Lenten Journey Drive
- Valentine's Day cards for nursing homes
- Refugee resettlement collaboration
Road to Renewal — Current Status
In 2025, as part of the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Road to Renewal' pastoral planning initiative, St. Benedict Parish was decreed to be merged into neighboring St. Leo the Great Parish in Amherst, where it would survive as a secondary worship site. The parish has appealed the decision to the Vatican, and St. Benedict's continues to operate as an independent parish with its own pastor, staff, school, and ministries while the appeal is pending. The parish website features ongoing news and resources about the appeal and the community's response.
- Decree: merger into St. Leo the Great Parish as a secondary worship site
- Status: appealed to the Vatican; parish remains independent during appeals process
- Parish website keeps parishioners updated on the appeal and renewal efforts
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. William F. Tobin1920–1973 (53 years)
Founder; native of County Waterford, Ireland; appointed by Bishop William Turner; organized the parish from scratch, celebrated first Mass in Eggertsville Fire Hall Nov. 21, 1920; oversaw construction of three successive church buildings; died 1976.
- Msgr. John M. RyanJanuary 31, 1981 – c. 2001 (20 years)
Former diocesan director of education; pastor for two decades.
- Fr. Gary Bagley
Succeeded Msgr. Ryan.
- Fr. Joseph Porpiglia
Succeeded Fr. Bagley.
- Fr. Robert M. Mock
Served with Deacon William Hynes and Msgr. Francis Weldgen as weekend associate.
- Msgr. Robert E. ZapfelApril 27, 2021 –
Appointed pastor for a six-year term while continuing as pastor of St. Leo the Great.
- Fr. David Bellittiere
Current pastor per parish directory.