About St. Francis of Assisi · Tonawanda, New York
St. Francis of Assisi is a historic Roman Catholic parish at 150 Broad Street in Tonawanda, New York, in the Diocese of Buffalo. Founded in 1852, it serves the City of Tonawanda and is now part of the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas (RCCT), Family #18 in the Diocese's Road to Renewal initiative, joined with St. Amelia, St. Christopher, Our Lady of Czestochowa, St. Andrew Kim Mission, and St. Jude the Apostle parishes. The historic chapel (originally restored and rededicated by Bishop Edward D. Head in 1993) sits at 71 Adam Street and continues to host daily Mass, funerals, special liturgical services, choir rehearsals, and small weddings, while the main church building is being converted into the Matthew 25 Ministries outreach center. The parish also maintains an on-site columbarium in its chapel and a historical cemetery on Main Street with an outdoor cremation garden.
- Established
- 1852
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Michael P. LaMarca
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is a long-standing Tonawanda parish (since 1852) with a small, intimate worship experience anchored in its restored 1993 chapel on Adam Street. The parish family is anchored by daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses, and a strong sacramental life — including Saturday confessions, baptisms arranged with Fr. Mike, and weddings prepared for at least six months in advance. Members support Matthew 25 Ministries, the parish's outreach-to-the-poor effort now being built out of the former church building, and benefit from the columbarium and Cremation Garden on the parish grounds — a distinctive ministry for families who want their loved ones interred on parish property.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM (or by appointment)
Parish Identity & Patron Saint
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is named for the Italian saint and founder of the Franciscan order, St. Francis of Assisi (Francesco di Pietro di Bernardone, 1181/82–1226), whose feast is observed on October 4 and who was canonized on July 16, 1228. The parish traces its Catholic witness in Tonawanda back to 1852 and centers its identity in Franciscan spirituality of poverty, reverence for creation, and imitation of Christ.
- Patron: St. Francis of Assisi
- Feast day: October 4
- Founded: 1852
- Diocese: Buffalo
History of the Parish
Established in 1852, St. Francis of Assisi built up both a main church at 150 Broad Street and a separate chapel at 71 Adam Street. Monsignor Richard Wetter and a Restoration Committee dedicated three years to restoring the chapel, which was rededicated by Bishop Edward D. Head on October 6, 1993. The Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal reorganization grouped the parish into Family #18, and in 2023 it became part of the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas (RCCT) under Pastor Rev. Michael P. LaMarca. The final Mass was celebrated in the main church in April 2025, after which the church building was set aside for redevelopment as Matthew 25 Ministries.
- 1852 — parish founded
- 1993 — chapel rededicated by Bishop Edward D. Head
- 2023 — joins RCCT (Family #18) under Fr. Michael LaMarca
- April 2025 — final Mass in main church; church repurposed
The Chapel
The St. Francis of Assisi Chapel at 71 Adam Street is the active liturgical heart of the parish today. After Monsignor Wetter's three-year restoration, Bishop Head rededicated the chapel on October 6, 1993 and it now hosts daily Mass, funerals, special liturgical services, choir rehearsals and small weddings. Even after the main church's closure in April 2025 the chapel continues in use — particularly for the funeral Masses of those whose cremated remains will be inurned in the parish columbarium.
- Address: 71 Adam St, Tonawanda, NY 14150
- Restored and rededicated October 6, 1993
- Houses daily Mass, funerals, choir rehearsals, small weddings
- Entrance to the columbarium
Sacred Art & Statuary
Two devotional statues mark the chapel grounds. The Sorrowful Mother statue remains on the property, and a wooden Pietà — repainted after purchase — came to St. Francis from St. Mary of Sorrows Church in Buffalo after that parish closed. The Pietà is placed at the entrance to the columbarium.
- Sorrowful Mother statue
- Pietà (wooden, repainted, from St. Mary of Sorrows, Buffalo)
Columbarium & Cemetery
St. Francis operates two complementary options for cremated remains. The columbarium is housed inside the restored chapel itself — a structure with niches for the respectful, permanent storage of cremated remains. The historical cemetery on Main Street additionally offers an outdoor Cremation Garden by the cemetery's flag for those who prefer in-ground cremation interment; the Garden is the only remaining interment space in the cemetery.
- Indoor columbarium in the chapel
- Outdoor Cremation Garden at the Main Street cemetery
- Columbarium & Cemetery brochure available from the parish
Sacraments
Baptisms are arranged by calling Fr. Mike at 693-1150; marriages require arrangements to be made at least six months in advance with Fr. Mike; and the sacrament of Reconciliation is available Saturday afternoons and by appointment. Ministry of Care (including Anointing of the Sick) is coordinated through the RCCT Pastoral staff.
- Baptism: call Fr. Mike, 693-1150
- Matrimony: arrange ≥ 6 months in advance with Fr. Mike
- Reconciliation: Sat 3:00–4:00 PM or by appointment
- Ministry of Care / Anointing via RCCT
Pastoral Team
St. Francis of Assisi is shepherded within the RCCT family by Pastor Rev. Michael P. LaMarca, supported by Senior Parochial Vicar Rev. Robert J. Orlowski and a team of deacons — Dcn. Paul Bork, Dcn. Daniel Brick, Dcn. Michael Ficorilli, Dcn. David McDermott, Dcn. Kenneth R. Monaco and Dcn. John Steiner. Family-level staff — Pastoral Assistant, Ministry of Care Coordinator, Business Manager, Director of Religious Education, Director of Youth Ministry, Family Faith Formation & Home Coordinator, Media Director and Technology Director — serve all six parishes of Family #18.
- Pastor: Rev. Michael P. LaMarca
- Sr. Parochial Vicar: Rev. Robert J. Orlowski
- Seven deacons across RCCT
- Shared family staff for Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Music, and outreach
Matthew 25 Ministries — Outreach Center
In response to the call of Matthew 25 to feed, clothe and care for those in need, the former St. Francis church building is being converted into the RCCT Outreach Center, Matthew 25 Ministries. The parish gratefully acknowledges the donors and volunteers making this possible. The new center will continue the parish's Catholic outreach mission in the City of Tonawanda.
- Outreach center being built in the former St. Francis church
- Inspired by Matthew 25 (feed, clothe, visit)
- Supported by donors and volunteers across RCCT
Family of Parishes — RCCT
St. Francis of Assisi is one of six parishes in 'Family #18,' the Roman Catholic Community of the Tonawandas (RCCT). RCCT brings together St. Amelia (Tonawanda), St. Christopher (Tonawanda), Our Lady of Czestochowa (North Tonawanda), St. Andrew Kim Mission (Tonawanda), St. Jude the Apostle (North Tonawanda) and St. Francis of Assisi under a single pastor (Fr. Michael LaMarca) and senior parochial vicar (Fr. Rob Orlowski) as part of the Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal collaborative model.
- Family #18 parishes: St. Amelia, St. Christopher, Our Lady of Czestochowa, St. Andrew Kim, St. Jude the Apostle, St. Francis of Assisi
- Pastor: Rev. Michael P. LaMarca
- Sr. Parochial Vicar: Rev. Robert J. Orlowski
- Initiative: Diocese of Buffalo Road to Renewal
Faith Formation, Youth & Music Ministry
Family-wide ministries support parishioners of every age. Family Faith Formation includes a Home-School Coordinator for grades K–8, a Youth Ministry program for teens, and ongoing Adult Faith Formation opportunities. The Music Ministry rehearses in the chapel and serves weekend liturgies across the family of parishes.
- Religious Education (K–8)
- Youth Ministry
- Adult Faith Formation
- Choir (rehearses in the chapel)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Richard WetterPre-1993–1993 (chapel restoration)
Led the chapel Restoration Committee; Bishop Edward D. Head rededicated the chapel on October 6, 1993 during/following his tenure.