About St. Bonaventure · Allegany, New York
St. Bonaventure Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of Allegany, New York, part of the Diocese of Buffalo and a member church of the Enchanted Mountains Catholic Community (EMCC) alongside the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and St. John the Evangelist, both in neighboring Olean. The parish shares its patron and much of its origin story with nearby St. Bonaventure University, founded in 1858 by Italian Franciscan friars brought to the area by Bishop John Timon and Utica financier Nicholas Devereux. Today the parish serves Allegany Catholics at 95 East Main Street with a Saturday Vigil Mass, Sunday Masses, and one weekday Mass, and it operates The Bridge Outreach Program — a food pantry and thrift store rooted in the Franciscan tradition of serving the poor.
- Established
- 1855
- Patron
- St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (Doctor of the Church, Franciscan, Patron of Franciscan Studies and Learning)
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher (Chris) Emminger
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. Bonaventure offers a small-town Catholic community with the warmth of a village parish and the resources of a larger multi-parish family. Weekend and weekday Masses are celebrated in a traditional Roman Rite setting, and the parish lives out a clear Franciscan identity through The Bridge Outreach Program, which runs a food pantry and thrift store serving material need. Active youth ministries (high school and middle school youth groups), a singles ministry, FORMED free membership, a vibrant annual Bonafest parish festival, and devotional life rooted in the same Franciscan tradition that founded nearby St. Bonaventure University make it a faithful home for students, families, and longtime residents of the Enchanted Mountains.
Mass times at St. Bonaventure
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:15–5:30 PM (also by appointment; Saturday 11:30 AM listed on some directories)
About St. Bonaventure Parish
St. Bonaventure is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of Allegany, New York, in the Diocese of Buffalo. Since 2023 it has been served together with St. John the Evangelist in Olean and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels as part of the Parish Family of the Enchanted Mountain Community, under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Chris Emminger. The parish's identity is inseparably Franciscan: the same Italian friars who in 1855 came to the Allegany valley at the invitation of Bishop John Timon and Nicholas Devereux went on to found what is today St. Bonaventure University just up the hill.
History & Franciscan Roots
Catholic life in Allegany began with the arrival of the first Franciscan missionaries in 1855. The cornerstone of the first college building was laid on April 20, 1856, and St. Bonaventure's College formally opened to students in 1859. Through the late 19th and 20th centuries the Franciscans continued to staff the parish as the school grew into a major Catholic university. In 2023, Bishop Michael Fisher reorganized the region's parishes, and Fr. Chris Emminger was appointed pastor/rector of the new Enchanted Mountain Community configuration.
- 1855 – Fr. Pamphilius da Magliano, O.S.F., arrives with three friars and a brother; named first pastor of the mission.
- 1856 – Cornerstone of the first college building laid (April 20).
- 1858 – College formally dedicated on the Feast of St. Francis (October 4).
- 1859 – College opens to students.
- 1867 – Fr. Diomede Falconio, O.S.F., succeeds Fr. Pamphilius; later becomes Cardinal and Apostolic Delegate.
- 2023 – Bishop Fisher appoints Fr. Chris Emminger to lead the Parish Family of the Enchanted Mountain Community.
Parish Life & Ministries
Parish life at St. Bonaventure is organized through the Enchanted Mountains Catholic Community's Parish Life Coordinator. Ministries span faith formation for children and youth, outreach to those in need, opportunities for adult fellowship and study, and liturgical service. The parish has an active St. Vincent de Paul conference and a vibrant youth ministry program for both middle school and high school students.
- High School Youth Group
- Middle School Youth Group
- Singles Ministry / Singles Get Together
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- FORMED free online Catholic content membership
- Liturgical ministry sign-ups (Reader, Eucharistic Minister, Altar Server)
- Parishioner Registration / Welcome
Outreach: The Bridge Outreach Program
The Bridge Outreach Program is the parish's signature social ministry, named in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. It runs a food pantry open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM (2 times per month for some services), and a thrift store to serve the material needs of neighbors in the Allegany area. The program exists to affirm the gifts of people of all ages and to minister to those with material, physical, and spiritual needs.
- Food Pantry — Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Thrift Store
- Rooted in the Gospel and the Franciscan tradition of St. Francis of Assisi
Sacraments & Parish Family
St. Bonaventure shares sacramental preparation and pastoral staff with the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and St. John the Evangelist under one pastor/rector. Families can register through the parish and update records through the EMCC Central Office. For baptisms, weddings, anointing, RCIA, and other sacramental needs, contact the Central Office at 716-372-4841.
- Baptism
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- RCIA and adult faith formation
- Parish registration and family updates via the EMCC Central Office
Events & Community
The parish calendar is anchored by Bonafest, the parish's annual summer festival that draws families from across the Enchanted Mountains region. Throughout the year there are youth group nights, singles ministry gatherings, Rosary-Making projects in support of the World Mission Rosary, and seasonal devotions tied to the liturgical year.
- Bonafest annual parish festival
- High School and Middle School Youth Group nights
- Singles Ministry Get Togethers
- World Mission Rosary Project / Rosary Makers
- Seasonal devotions and Holy Day observances
Clergy & Staff
St. Bonaventure is led within the Parish Family of the Enchanted Mountain Community by pastor/rector Fr. Chris Emminger, appointed by Bishop Michael Fisher in 2023. The parish shares deacon and lay staff with the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and St. John the Evangelist. Day-to-day parish life is coordinated through the EMCC Central Office in Olean.
- Pastor/Rector — Rev. Christopher (Chris) Emminger
- Deacon Matt — featured 'Deacon Matt's Reflections' contributor
- Parish Life Coordinator — Cathy Pressimone (ministry inquiries)
- Central Office staff — Katie ([email protected])
Visiting & Contact
St. Bonaventure Church is located in the heart of the village of Allegany, immediately adjacent to the St. Bonaventure University campus. Mass-going visitors and pilgrims are warmly welcomed. For mail, sacramental records, and general business, the EMCC Central Office in Olean is the main hub; the parish itself is reachable by phone at (716) 373-1330 and by email at [email protected].
- Address — 95 East Main Street, Allegany, NY 14706
- Parish Phone — (716) 373-1330
- Parish Email — [email protected]
- EMCC Central Office — 202 South Union Street, Olean, NY 14760; (716) 372-4841; [email protected]
- Office Hours — Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM (closed weekends and legal holidays)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. Pamphilius da Magliano, O.S.F.1855–1867
First pastor; led the initial Franciscan missionary band from Rome; also first president of St. Bonaventure's College.
- Very Rev. Diomede Falconio, O.S.F.1867–
Second leader of the foundation; later Cardinal and Apostolic Delegate — first American appointed to the Roman Curia.
- Rev. Christopher (Chris) Emminger2023–present
Appointed by Bishop Michael Fisher as pastor/rector of the Parish Family of the Enchanted Mountain Community (St. Bonaventure, St. John the Evangelist, Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels).