About St. Brendan on the Lake (Our Lady of the Rosary Worship Site, Wilson) · Wilson, New York
St. Brendan on the Lake is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Buffalo that serves three historic worship sites along the Lake Ontario shoreline in western New York: St. Bridget in Newfane, Our Lady of the Rosary in Wilson, and St. Charles Borromeo in Olcott. The parish was christened on May 26, 2008, in an outdoor liturgy celebrated with the backdrop of Lake Ontario, when those three former parishes merged into one faith-filled community. It belongs to Family #10 of the diocese's Family of Parishes program, the Central Niagara Catholic Family, and is shepherded jointly (in solidum) by three priests with Fr. Matt Nycz serving as Moderator. The parish's patron is Saint Brendan the Navigator, the legendary Irish sailor said to have reached North America and called it 'The Promised Land of the Saints.'
- Established
- 2008
- Patron
- Saint Brendan the Navigator
- Rector
- Rev. Matt M. Nycz (Moderator, in solidum); Rev. Andrew R. Lauricella (in solidum); Rev. Daniel E. Ogbeifun (in solidum)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo (Family #10, Central Niagara Catholic Family)
Why belong here
St. Brendan on the Lake is a small, three-site lakeside Catholic community where the Sunday bulletin still names individual parishioners, an annual retreat draws over 400 people, and three priests share pastoral care across the family of parishes. Visitors can worship at any of three historic churches — Our Lady of the Rosary in Wilson, St. Bridget in Newfane, or St. Charles Borromeo in Olcott — and join active programs in Faith Formation for Pre-K through Grade 10, RCIA, Eucharistic Adoration on the first and third Mondays, Vacation Bible School, a Stewardship program, and Respect for Life activities like the Life Chain. It is a parish that takes seriously its patron Saint Brendan's image of sailing together toward the Promised Land.
Mass times at St. Brendan on the Lake (Our Lady of the Rosary Worship Site, Wilson)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM–3:50 PM at St. Bridget, Newfane (November–April)
- Sunday 7:40 AM–7:55 AM at St. Bridget, Newfane
Adoration times
- First and third Monday of each month, 4:00 PM–7:00 PM at St. Bridget, Newfane (Eucharistic Adoration established on the Feast of Corpus Christi)
Parish Identity & History
St. Brendan on the Lake was christened on May 26, 2008, in an outdoor liturgy on the shore of Lake Ontario, uniting St. Bridget's of Newfane, Our Lady of the Rosary of Wilson, and St. Charles Borromeo of Olcott into one faith community. The parish takes its identity from its patron, Saint Brendan the Navigator — an Irish monk born around 486 who founded many monasteries and is reputed to have sailed to North America in 577, calling this continent 'The Promised Land of the Saints.' Brendan's feast is celebrated on May 16, and he is the patron of sailors and shipbuilders. From its first year the parish committed to 'a spiritual atmosphere, with a prophetic vision, that educates, empowers and challenges the community to build the kingdom of God,' a vision that continues to guide its ministries and worship.
- Founded May 26, 2008 (merger of St. Bridget Newfane, Our Lady of the Rosary Wilson, and St. Charles Borromeo Olcott)
- Patron: Saint Brendan the Navigator (feast day May 16)
- Brendan — born c. 486 in Ireland, founder of monasteries, reputed voyage to North America in 577
- Part of Diocese of Buffalo, Family #10 — Central Niagara Catholic Family
Our Three Worship Sites
St. Brendan on the Lake is one parish family expressed across three historic worship sites along the Lake Ontario shoreline of Niagara County. St. Bridget in Newfane (3455 Ewings Road, 14108) is the location of the parish office. Our Lady of the Rosary in Wilson (345 Lake Street, 14172) is the worship site named in this profile. St. Charles Borromeo in Olcott (5972 East Main Street, 14126) serves as the seasonal oratory.
- St. Bridget — 3455 Ewings Road, Newfane, NY 14108 (parish office)
- Our Lady of the Rosary — 345 Lake Street, Wilson, NY 14172
- St. Charles Borromeo — 5972 East Main Street, Olcott, NY 14126
Central Niagara Catholic Family (Diocese of Buffalo, Family #10)
St. Brendan on the Lake belongs to the Diocese of Buffalo's Family of Parishes initiative as Family #10, the Central Niagara Catholic Family, which also includes St. John the Baptist Lockport, All Saints Lockport (with St. Joseph), and Our Lady of the Lake in Barker. Three priests serve the family together in solidum, sharing pastoral responsibility across all four parishes. Fr. Matt M. Nycz is the Moderator; Fr. Andrew R. Lauricella and Fr. Daniel E. Ogbeifun serve alongside him. Permanent Deacon Howard Morgan assists across the family.
- St. John the Baptist, Lockport
- All Saints, Lockport (with St. Joseph)
- St. Brendan on the Lake, Newfane/Olcott/Wilson
- Our Lady of the Lake, Barker
Our Staff
The parish is staffed by the three in-solidum priests of the Central Niagara Catholic Family and supported by a small lay team who keep the office, books, Faith Formation program, and facilities running across the three sites.
- Fr. Matt Nycz — Priest-in-Solidum & Moderator
- Fr. Andrew Lauricella — Priest-in-Solidum
- Fr. Daniel Ogbeifun — Priest-in-Solidum
- Deacon Howard Morgan — Permanent Deacon
- Shannon Shaw Justo — Bookkeeper
- Eileen Szratter — Secretary
- Meg Thompson — Faith Formation
- Tim Hillman — Custodian
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is offered for students in Pre-K through Grade 10, with classes meeting on Sunday mornings from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the Newfane site. Registration is available online through the parish website, and paper forms are also available at the parish office or in the collection basket. The parish maintains an Intergenerational Faith Formation program aimed at lifelong learning, and runs an annual Vacation Bible School — themes have included 'High Seas Expedition' and 'Rome, St. Paul and the Underground Church.' RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) was launched in the parish's founding year of 2008 and has continued to welcome new Catholics each year.
- Pre-K through Grade 10 Faith Formation (Sundays 9:00–10:00 AM, Newfane site)
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
- Liturgy of the Word for Children
- Intergenerational Faith Formation
- Vacation Bible School (annual)
- Director of Faith Formation: Meg Thompson
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church. Baptism is prepared through the parish office, with parents supported in raising their children in the faith through Faith Formation classes. RCIA prepares adults for initiation into the Catholic Church. Reconciliation is offered at the published Saturday and Sunday times at St. Bridget in Newfane. The parish also hosts a Vicariate Anointing Service for the Anointing of the Sick.
- Baptism — preparation and registration through the parish office
- First Communion and Confirmation through Faith Formation
- Reconciliation — see Mass Times section
- Marriage — preparation through the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — Vicariate Anointing Service
Parish Life, Outreach & Devotions
Beyond the Mass schedule, St. Brendan on the Lake runs a steady rhythm of parish life. The Stewardship Program, introduced in 2010, invites parishioners to share time, treasure, and talents. The parish joins the national March for Life each January and witnesses locally through the Life Chain each October. The pastoral council and various parish committees help shape the community's life, and the Lord's Housekeepers care for the worship sites. An annual All Souls Liturgy is celebrated for deceased members of the parish, and the parish regularly makes pilgrimages together — including trips to the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville and the Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna.
- Stewardship Program (time, treasure, talents)
- Life Chain & Respect for Life activities
- March for Life participation
- All Souls Liturgy
- Parish pilgrimages (Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine, Our Lady of Victory Basilica)
- Lord's Housekeepers
- Annual parish retreats (e.g. 'No Greater Love', 'Heart and Mind Spirituality')
- Parish photo directory & 'St. Brendan's Navigator' newsletter
Visit, Contact & Online Worship
Parishioners and visitors can reach the office at (716) 778-9822 (or 716-433-8118 ext. 110) or by mail at P.O. Box 87, 3455 Ewings Road, Newfane, NY 14108. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM; the office is closed Friday through Sunday. Those unable to attend in person can join the live-streamed Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM via the parish's Facebook page; the live-streamed Masses are also archived on the parish's YouTube channel.
- Parish office: (716) 778-9822 / (716) 433-8118 ext. 110
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed Fri–Sun)
- Mailing: P.O. Box 87, 3455 Ewings Road, Newfane, NY 14108
- Live-streamed Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM on Facebook and YouTube