About St. Christopher · Tonawanda, New York
St. Christopher Parish is a Roman Catholic parish located at 2660 Niagara Falls Boulevard in Tonawanda, New York, in the Diocese of Buffalo. Founded in 1928 as a mission of St. John de La Salle Parish in Niagara Falls and established as a parish in 1935, St. Christopher is today part of the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas (RCCT), a Family of Parishes formed on July 1, 2023, under the leadership of Father Michael LaMarca. The parish offers Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses, daily morning Mass, a Wednesday evening Mass, weekday Confession and adoration, and operates St. Christopher School. Its long history — particularly the 1988 fire that destroyed the original church and the four-year community rebuilding effort — has shaped a parish culture that says "church" means the People of God, not just the building.
- Established
- 1928
- Patron
- St. Christopher
- Rector
- Rev. Michael P. LaMarca
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. Christopher offers multiple Sunday Masses, daily morning Mass, a Wednesday evening Mass, weekly Confession, and a substantial block of Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration (from noon through the evening). It maintains its own parish school (St. Christopher School) and an active Faith Formation / Youth Ministry program that spans elementary through high school, plus the shared RCCT family-wide ministries (RCIA, Youth Ministry, Respect Life, Hospitality, Inreach/Outreach, Holy Name). As one of the founding members of the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas, the parish combines a deep local history going back to 1928 — including a community that rebuilt itself from fire — with the broader support of a multi-parish family.
Mass times at St. Christopher
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Wednesday 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM (during Adoration hours)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 12:00 PM – 6:15 PM
- Wednesday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Our History
St. Christopher Parish began in May 1928 as a mission of St. John de La Salle Parish in Niagara Falls, with early Masses celebrated in a tent. It became a full parish on July 2, 1935 under Bishop William Turner. The parish expanded under Monsignor William Solleder (1944–1964), weathered the implementation of Vatican II under Monsignor Robert C. Schwab (1967), and lost its church to fire on September 26, 1988 — the night after which Parish Council and Renovation Committee members met to plan the rebuild. Monsignor Francis G. Weldgen (December 1985) led that four-year reconstruction that produced today's church and converted the old building into a parish center, all without debt. Subsequent pastors guided the 2007 merger with St. Edmund Parish and the 2023 entry into the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas.
- Founded May 1928 (mission), 1935 (parish)
- 1988 church fire and four-year rebuild, completed without debt
- September 2007 merger with St. Edmund Parish
- July 1, 2023 entry into the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas
Our Patron Saint
The parish is named for St. Christopher, the early Christian martyr traditionally venerated as the patron saint of travelers.
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Christopher offers a Saturday Vigil Mass, three Sunday Masses, a daily morning Mass Monday through Friday, and an additional Wednesday evening Mass. Holy Day Masses are celebrated at 7:00 AM and 12:00 PM.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM
- Daily Mon–Fri: 7:00 AM
- Wednesday evening: 6:30 PM
- Holy Day: 7:00 AM & 12:00 PM
Clergy & Staff
St. Christopher is shepherded by the clergy of the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas (RCCT). Father Michael LaMarca serves as Pastor and Father Robert Orlowski as Senior Parochial Vicar, supported by six permanent deacons. Music is led by Sean Polen, Music Director of St. Christopher.
- Rev. Michael P. LaMarca — Pastor
- Rev. Robert J. Orlowski — Senior Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Paul Bork; Deacon Dan Brick; Deacon Michael Ficorilli (Pastoral Associate); Deacon Kenneth R. Monaco; Deacon John Steiner; Deacon Dave McDermott
- Sean Polen — Music Director, St. Christopher
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith Formation covers Elementary through High School, with Family Faith Formation coordinated for at-home catechesis. Youth Ministry runs Middle and High School programming, plus an Elementary Coordinator/Office Manager, and supports family-wide events.
- Marie Sajsa — Director of Religious Education
- Sr. Ryszarda Wittbrocht, SSCJ — OLC & St. Amelia faith formation
- Jennifer Burton — Family Faith Formation & Home Coordinator
- Liz Sanderson — Director of Youth Ministry
- Deedy Allinson — Middle and High School Assistant ([email protected])
- Ashley Harlein — Elementary Coordinator/Office Manager ([email protected])
Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
The RCIA program is designed for adults seeking to become fully initiated members of the Catholic Church. Inquiries are directed through the parish office (716-692-2660).
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical life at St. Christopher is supported by a Music Director, an ensemble/choir tradition, and lay liturgical ministers shared across the RCCT family.
- Sean Polen — Music Director, St. Christopher
- Liturgical Ministries (Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, Greeters)
- Contemporary ensemble (Acclamation) and Voice of Faith Choir referenced in earlier parish schedules
Parish School (St. Christopher School)
St. Christopher continues to operate its parish school, an important part of the parish's identity since the Solleder era. St. Christopher School shares in the Catholic-school family of the Tonawandas.
- Denise Cronyn — St. Christopher School Principal
- Phone: 716-693-5604
- Website: saintchrisschool.org
- Sister school within the same family: St. Amelia School (principal Lori Jonas, 716-836-2230, stameliaschool.org)
RCCT Family-Wide Ministries
Since July 1, 2023, St. Christopher has shared several ministries with the rest of the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas, which pairs St. Amelia (Tonawanda), St. Christopher (Tonawanda), Our Lady of Czestochowa (North Tonawanda), St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, and St. Andrew Kim RC Mission.
- RCIA Program
- Youth Ministry (grades 6–12)
- Respect Life
- Hospitality
- Holy Name
- RCCT Inreach/Outreach
- Ministry of Care (Coordinator: Sr. Francis Claire Flahive, 814-525-4346)
Parish Office & Contact
Practical contact information for the parish and key staff who can answer questions about scheduling, sacraments, facility use, and giving.
- Parish Office: 716-692-2660
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 2660 Niagara Falls Blvd., Tonawanda, NY 14150
- Marie Schwab — Business Manager
- Catie Wagner — Office Manager
- Arlene Meyerhofer — Bulletin Editor
- Lynn Reed, Kathy Kocsis, Debbie Kwarciany — Administrative / Pastoral Assistants
- Sheri Ingraham & Diane Peterson — Bookkeepers
- Jonathan Seel — Technology Director; Liz Sanderson — Media Director
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Bertram Trautman1935–c.1944
First pastor; appointed July 2, 1935 by Bishop William Turner. Built the rectory in 1940.
- Monsignor William SollederFebruary 27, 1944 – 1964
Twenty-year tenure; expanded the church and built the parish school. Retired in 1964.
- Monsignor James McCarthy1964–c.1967
Administrator after Msgr. Solleder's retirement.
- Monsignor Robert C. Schwab1967–c.1985
Implemented the changes of the Second Vatican Council in parish life and worship.
- Monsignor Francis G. WeldgenDecember 1985 – c.2006
Recreated the Parish Council in November 1986; led the parish through the 1988 church fire and subsequent rebuilding.
- Fr. Franc.2006
Retired in July 2006.
- Fr. Charles E. Slisz ("Fr. Chuck")July 2006 – April 2015
Guided the parish through a successful merger with St. Edmund Parish in September 2007. Retired April 2015.
- Fr. Steve JekielekJune 2015 – April 11, 2021
Pastor of St. Christopher Parish & School; left to become pastor of Our Lady of Charity in South Buffalo.
- Fr. Michael BrownJune 30, 2021 – c. June 2023
Appointed pastor; assumed duties June 30, 2021.
- Rev. Michael P. LaMarcaJuly 1, 2023 – present
First pastor of the new Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas (RCCT) Family of Parishes, which includes St. Amelia, St. Christopher, Our Lady of Czestochowa, St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, and St. Andrew Kim RC Mission.