About St. Elizabeth Ann Seton · Dunkirk, New York
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) is a Roman Catholic parish at 328 Washington Avenue in Dunkirk, New York, in the Diocese of Buffalo. The current parish was canonically erected on September 14, 1975, by merging the historic St. Mary's (founded 1850) and Sacred Heart (built 1876) parishes into a new multicultural community named for the recently canonized American saint. The parish serves Dunkirk and the surrounding Northern Chautauqua County region with weekend Masses in English and Spanish, a strong religious-education program, and outreach to the local poor through a parish food closet. As of June 2025, SEAS has entered into a canonical merger with Holy Trinity Parish (Dunkirk) as part of the diocese's Road to Renewal initiative, forming what is now called The Lord's Vineyard Family of Parishes; the church building remains open for Masses and special liturgies under the combined pastoral care.
- Established
- 1975
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Noonan (Parish Administrator since August 1, 2022; parish now merged into Holy Trinity / The Lord's Vineyard Family of Parishes, effective June 8–9, 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a welcoming multicultural Catholic family rooted in 175 years of faith in Northern Chautauqua County. Parishioners are nourished by daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, supported by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and weekly confession, and formed through religious education for children and RCIA for adults joining the Church. A wide range of lay ministries — lectors, altar servers, choirs, ushers, a parish food closet, and a 'Mass Mobile' ride ministry — give practical ways to serve, while the parish continues to use its historic 1854 brick church just a three-minute walk from the Dunkirk pier on Lake Erie.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 4:00 PM (before the 5:00 PM Vigil Mass)
- Wednesday 6:00–7:00 PM at Holy Trinity Parish (per current merged-parish schedule)
- By appointment (call the rectory at 716-366-1750)
Adoration times
- First Friday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 Noon (concludes with Evening Prayer and Benediction)
- Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 Noon (concludes with Evening Prayer)
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament — see bulletin
Parish History — From St. Mary's (1850) to SEAS (1975) to The Lord's Vineyard (2025)
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish has roots stretching back to 1850, when Bishop John Timon of Buffalo sent Father Lennon to organize the first Catholic parish in Northern Chautauqua County. After years of Mass in homes and a converted house-chapel dedicated to the Seven Dolors of Mary, the brick St. Mary's Church on Washington Avenue was first used on St. Patrick's Day, 1854. The Passionist Fathers took charge in 1861 and built a monastery alongside the church; they returned the parish to diocesan control in 1972. The German-speaking faithful founded St. George's in 1858 and replaced it with Sacred Heart Church in 1876; that church served until its last Mass on September 7, 1975, before demolition in 1981 (its bells and tower cross are preserved as memorials). On September 14, 1975 — the same day Pope Paul VI canonized Elizabeth Ann Seton — Bishop Edward Head canonically merged St. Mary's and Sacred Heart into the new St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. Father Kenneth Menge was appointed founding pastor. The parish marked its 40th anniversary in 2015 with a project to scan and publish its historical documents online, and in 2025 celebrated its 175th anniversary jointly with the 50th anniversary of the SEAS name, with Bishop Michael Fisher presiding. Effective June 8–9, 2025, SEAS merged into Holy Trinity Parish to form The Lord's Vineyard Family of Parishes; the church building remains in regular liturgical use.
- 1850 — Father Lennon organizes the first Catholic parish in Northern Chautauqua County
- 1854 — Brick St. Mary's Church on Washington Avenue first used on St. Patrick's Day
- 1858 — German parishioners build St. George's Church
- 1861 — Passionists invited by Bishop Timon; monastery built next to St. Mary's
- 1876 — Sacred Heart of Jesus Church replaces St. George's
- 1972 — Passionists return the parish to the Diocese of Buffalo
- September 14, 1975 — Bishop Edward Head erects St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish; Fr. Kenneth Menge, founding pastor
- 1981 — Sacred Heart Church demolished; bells and tower cross preserved
- 2015 — 40th anniversary; historical documents scanned and published online
- August 1, 2022 — Fr. Mark Noonan appointed temporary parish administrator
- June 8–9, 2025 — SEAS merges into Holy Trinity / The Lord's Vineyard Family of Parishes
- September 14, 2025 — 175th anniversary Mass celebrated with Bishop Michael Fisher
Sacraments
SEAS offers the full range of parish sacraments. Baptisms are scheduled monthly with preparation; Reconciliation is available weekly; First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral Masses are coordinated through the rectory; and the RCIA process welcomes unbaptized adults, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and adult Catholics needing the sacraments of initiation.
- Baptism — Third Sunday of the month at 12:15 PM; Baptism Preparation Program required
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:00 PM, Wednesday 6–7 PM at Holy Trinity, or by appointment
- First Eucharist and Confirmation — via Religious Education program
- RCIA — contact Fr. Dennis (343-5400 / [email protected]) or Wendy Kachermeyer (366-2827 / [email protected])
- Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, Funeral Masses — contact the rectory at 716-366-1750
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Religious Education program forms children in the likeness of God, preparing them to receive the sacraments and to live as witnesses of the Gospel. Catechists are given ongoing training, and an Adult Education / Faith Formation Committee complements the youth program with retreats, lectures, films, evenings of reflection, Bible study, and other parish-wide enrichment.
- Religious Education for youth (First Communion and Confirmation preparation)
- Adult Education / Faith Formation Committee — retreats, lectures, Bible study, evenings of reflection
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Baptism Preparation Program
Parish Ministries and Organizations
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is sustained by a wide network of lay ministries. The Pastoral Council collaborates with the pastor on parish vision and planning; the Liturgy Committee oversees lectors, altar servers, ushers, and Eucharistic ministers; and outreach ministries such as the Food Closet and Mass Mobile serve the Dunkirk community in practical ways. Music is integral to parish life, with both a Traditional Choir and a Youth Folk Choir.
- Pastoral Council
- Liturgy Committee
- Pastoral Council — articulates vision and pastoral plan
- Adult Education / Faith Formation Committee
- Religious Education
- Parish Usher Ministry
- Adult Altar Servers and Altar Servers (youth)
- Special Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Evangelization Committee
- Food Closet
- Mass Mobile (ride ministry)
- Traditional Choir and Youth Folk Choir
Music and Liturgy
Music is described on the parish website as 'an integral part of the Catholic Mass.' A Traditional Choir leads the Saturday Vigil and 8:00 AM Sunday liturgies, while a Youth Folk Choir leads the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass. The Liturgy Committee coordinates lectors, servers, ushers, and Eucharistic ministers to ensure celebrations are beautiful, meaningful, and welcoming.
- Traditional Choir — Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM and Sunday 8:00 AM
- Youth Folk Choir — Sunday 10:00 AM
- Liturgy Committee — coordinates lectors, servers, ushers, EMHCs, and decor
Outreach and Charity
Adult and youth volunteers live the Gospel message through service to the poor and needy in the Dunkirk community, most visibly through the parish Food Closet and Christmas Basket program. The Mass Mobile ministry coordinates rides to weekend Mass for those without transportation.
- Food Closet — weekly food assistance
- Christmas Basket program
- Mass Mobile — ride ministry to weekend Mass
Parish School — Northern Chautauqua Catholic School
A parish school was established at St. Mary's in the 1850s and grew into a K–12 building; the high school eventually combined with Cardinal Mindszenty High School in Dunkirk. The present elementary school is now Northern Chautauqua Catholic School, and notably the historic 1867 parochial school building is still in use today.
- Parish school founded in the 1850s
- K–12 building; high school later merged with Cardinal Mindszenty HS
- Now Northern Chautauqua Catholic School
- The 1867 parochial school building is still in use
Clergy and Staff
Rev. Mark Noonan has served as parish administrator since August 1, 2022, when Bishop Michael Fisher appointed him following the reassignment of Fr. Paul Abhulimen. Following the June 2025 canonical merger, SEAS shares pastoral care with Holy Trinity Parish within The Lord's Vineyard Family of Parishes. Fr. Dennis (Mancuso) is listed as the sacramental / RCIA contact. Parish operations are coordinated through the Central Office at 1030 Central Avenue.
- Rev. Mark Noonan — Parish Administrator (since Aug. 1, 2022)
- Fr. Dennis Mancuso — RCIA / sacramental contact
- Wendy Kachermeyer — Religious Education ([email protected] / 366-2827)
- Central Office — 1030 Central Ave., Dunkirk, NY 14048 (716-366-2306)
Membership and Parish Office
Registration in the parish community is done in person during office hours at the Central Office at 1030 Central Avenue, Dunkirk, NY 14048. Office hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM; the central phone number is 716-366-2306 and the rectory line is 716-366-1750.
- Central Office: 1030 Central Ave., Dunkirk, NY 14048
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Phone: 716-366-2306 (office) / 716-366-1750 (rectory)
- Email: [email protected]
2025 Merger — The Lord's Vineyard Family of Parishes
As of June 8, 2025, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish officially merged into Holy Trinity Parish to form The Lord's Vineyard Family of Parishes as part of the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Road to Renewal' reshaping initiative. The SEAS church building remains open and is regularly used for Masses and special liturgies; Holy Trinity assumes financial responsibility for both worship sites. Per diocesan instruction, the parish continues to use the Holy Trinity name until the diocesan bankruptcy is resolved, after which a new parish name will encompass both sites.
- Effective June 8–9, 2025, SEAS merged with Holy Trinity Parish
- SEAS church building remains open for Masses and special liturgies
- Formed The Lord's Vineyard Family of Parishes under Road to Renewal
- Uses 'Holy Trinity' name pending resolution of diocesan bankruptcy
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Kenneth Menge1975–
Appointed founding pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish on August 2, 1975; celebrated the first Mass of the new parish on September 14, 1975.
- Fr. Paul Abhulimenuntil August 1, 2022
Administrator of SEAS; relieved of diocesan faculties by Bishop Fisher effective August 1, 2022.
- Rev. Mark NoonanAugust 1, 2022 – present
Appointed temporary parish administrator by Bishop Fisher on August 1, 2022; oversaw the 2025 merger into Holy Trinity / The Lord's Vineyard Family of Parishes.