About St. Charles Borromeo · Olcott, New York
St. Charles Borromeo in Olcott, New York, is the lakeside oratory of the merged parish of St. Brendan on the Lake. It is one of three worship sites that together serve Catholics in the rural Newfane–Olcott–Wilson area of Niagara County along Lake Ontario. The oratory site celebrated Mass seasonally (summer Sundays) even before the 2008 merger, and today it remains an active worship location within the Central Niagara Catholic Family of Parishes #10 in the Diocese of Buffalo. The Olcott building itself dates to 1859 and once served as the mother parish for St. Bridget's (Newfane) and the Immaculate Conception Mission (Cambria).
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- Saint Charles Borromeo
- Rector
- Fr. Matt M. Nycz (Moderator of Priests In Solidum, Central Niagara Catholic Family)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. Charles Borromeo and its sister sites welcome Catholics seeking a small, lakeside faith community with deep rural roots. The merged parish combines seasonal Olcott worship (summer Sunday Mass) with year-round liturgies at St. Bridget's in Newfane, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays, a Reconciliation schedule, and a Faith Formation program for Pre-K through Grade 10. Three priests In Solidum, a permanent deacon, and a committed lay staff ensure that even the smallest oratory site is cared for as part of the larger Central Niagara Catholic Family.
Mass times at St. Charles Borromeo
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM–3:50 PM at St. Bridget's, Newfane (Nov–Apr)
- Sunday 7:40 AM–7:55 AM at St. Bridget's, Newfane
Adoration times
- Monday 4:00 PM–7:00 PM at St. Bridget's, Newfane
About St. Brendan on the Lake
St. Brendan on the Lake is a merged Catholic parish in Niagara County, New York, formed in 2008 from the union of St. Bridget's in Newfane, Our Lady of the Rosary in Wilson, and St. Charles Borromeo in Olcott. Its patron is Saint Brendan the Navigator. The parish's stated mission is 'to create a spiritual atmosphere, with a prophetic vision, that educates and challenges the community to build the Kingdom of God.' Worship is offered at three sites; Olcott is designated an oratory with seasonal Mass.
- Parish formed in 2008 by merger of three Olcott-area congregations
- Patron: Saint Brendan the Navigator
- Three worship sites: St. Bridget (Newfane), Our Lady of the Rosary (Wilson), St. Charles Borromeo (Olcott)
- Member of the Central Niagara Catholic Family (Diocesan Family #10)
St. Charles Borromeo Oratory (Olcott)
The Olcott site at 5972 East Main Street is the historic 1859 church, now an oratory of St. Brendan on the Lake. As an oratory it has no resident priest but remains an active place of worship during the summer months, with Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The phone line at the Olcott location is (716) 778-9822. The village of Olcott sits on the Lake Ontario shoreline and is a popular summer destination, which historically made St. Charles a well-attended Saturday-evening Mass site for visitors.
- Address: 5972 East Main Street, Olcott, NY 14126
- Phone: (716) 778-9822
- Sunday Mass 11:00 AM, May through October only
- Designated an oratory under the 2008 merger
History of the Olcott Parish
St. Charles Borromeo was established in 1859 to serve the small farming and fishing communities along Lake Ontario's Niagara shore. It functioned as the mother parish of the area: St. Bridget's in Newfane was its mission church, and the Immaculate Conception Mission in Cambria (1870–1907) also had its sacramental records housed at the St. Charles rectory. By 2007 the rural parish could no longer sustain itself alone, and a transition team led by Rev. Robert Wozniak (with then-pastor Rev. James Haslett participating) guided the three Olcott-area churches into merger. The new parish was inaugurated at the Easter Vigil of 2008 at St. Bridget's.
- Parish founded 1859 on Lake Road
- Served as mother parish of St. Bridget's, Newfane and the Cambria mission
- Rectory historically stored records from St. Bridget's and Immaculate Conception (Cambria)
- Transition team formed 2007; merger effective Easter Vigil 2008
Central Niagara Catholic Family (Diocesan Family #10)
In 2023 Bishop Michael W. Fisher grouped several Niagara County parishes, including St. Brendan on the Lake, into the Central Niagara Catholic Family. Three priests share pastoral responsibility for the family as priests In Solidum — a Latin term meaning 'as a whole' denoting joint canonical liability. All three pastors have the faculties of a pastor, exercised under the Moderator.
- Family includes St. John the Baptist and All Saints (Lockport), Immaculate Conception (Ransomville), Our Lady of the Lake (Barker), and St. Brendan on the Lake (Newfane, Olcott, Wilson)
- Moderator: Fr. Matt M. Nycz (3-year moderator term)
- Priests In Solidum: Fr. Andrew R. Lauricella and Fr. Daniel E. Ogbeifun
- Active Deacon: Deacon Howard Morgan
- Appointments effective May 1, 2023, for six-year terms
Parish Staff
Day-to-day operations of the merged parish are supported by a small staff at the Newfane office and a maintenance team. Faith Formation is coordinated across the family of parishes by Meg Thompson, who serves St. Brendan on the Lake and Our Lady of the Lake. Music at St. Brendan is led by Paul Brauer.
- Fr. Matt Nycz — Priest In Solidum & Moderator ([email protected])
- Fr. Andrew Lauricella — Priest In Solidum
- Fr. Daniel Ogbeifun — Priest In Solidum
- Fr. Joseph C. Dumphrey — Retired Priest
- Shannon Shaw Justo — Business Manager / Bookkeeper
- Eileen Szratter — Secretary / Bulletin ([email protected]; ext. 110)
- Meg Thompson — Faith Formation Coordinator ([email protected])
- Tim Hillman — Maintenance / Custodian
- Paul Brauer — St. Brendan Music Director
- Deacon Howard Morgan — Permanent Deacon
- Kevin Pothier — Director of Mission (Central Niagara Catholic Family)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation classes are offered at St. Brendan on the Lake for students from Pre-K through Grade 10. Classes meet Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 10:00 AM at the Newfane site. The program coordinates sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Families in the wider Central Niagara Catholic Family may also register for programs at St. Joseph's Campus in Lockport.
- Pre-K through Grade 10 Faith Formation
- Sunday 9:00–10:00 AM at Newfane
- Coordinator: Meg Thompson
- Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation
- Alternative Faith Formation options at St. Joseph's Campus, 391 Market Street, Lockport (716-302-3966)
Sacraments
The parish coordinates preparation and celebration of the sacraments through its office and Faith Formation program. Reconciliation is regularly scheduled at the Newfane site. Couples should contact the parish office for marriage preparation; the sick may request Anointing through the office.
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30 PM and Sunday 7:40 AM at St. Bridget's, Newfane
- Baptism: arranged through the parish office
- Marriage: contact the parish office for preparation
- Anointing of the Sick: available on request
- First Eucharist and Confirmation: through the Faith Formation program
Live Stream & Online Worship
The parish live-streams its Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM from the Newfane site via its Facebook page, with additional video content available on its YouTube channel. This ministry extends the reach of the small lakeside community to homebound parishioners and seasonal visitors.
- Sunday Mass live-streamed at 8:00 AM via Facebook
- Recorded videos available on the parish YouTube channel
- Office: PO Box 87, 3455 Ewings Road, Newfane, NY 14108
Contact & Visiting
Parish mail and office visits are directed to the Newfane campus, which serves as the administrative hub for all three worship sites. The Olcott oratory remains open for the summer Mass schedule and for occasional liturgies; visitors in the off-season are encouraged to worship at the Wilson or Newfane sites.
- Parish Office: 3455 Ewings Road, Newfane, NY 14108 (mailing: PO Box 87)
- Phone: (716) 433-8118 ext. 110
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 9 AM–4 PM; closed Fri–Sun
- Olcott phone: (716) 778-9822
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Haslettpre-2008
Pastor of linked parishes St. Charles Borromeo (Olcott) and St. Patrick's (Barker); participated in the merger transition meetings.
- Rev. Robert Wozniak2007–2008
Assigned to the three Olcott-area parishes after St. Edmund's in Tonawanda merged; led the formation of St. Brendan on the Lake.
- Rev. John J. Leisingprior pastor
Former pastor of St. Bridget's and Our Lady of the Rosary; subsequently assigned to Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Clarence.
- Fr. Andrew R. Lauricella2020–
Pastor of St. Brendan on the Lake from 2020; appointed Priest In Solidum in 2023.