St. Gabriel

About St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church is a large, active parish in the Village of Blossom, in the Town of Elma, Erie County, New York — about six miles east of the Buffalo city line and a quarter mile east of Transit Road. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Buffalo and is a member of Blessed Family 7, a Family of Parishes that links it with Fourteen Holy Helpers, Queen of Heaven, and St. John XXIII in West Seneca, and St. John Vianney in Orchard Park. The Family Moderator is Fr. Greg Faulhaber, supported by a senior parochial vicar, three parochial vicars, and five deacons serving all five parishes. The parish's mission statement describes it as 'a family that is welcoming and caring, that celebrates our faith,' nourished by prayer and the Eucharist and joyfully committed to carrying out the mission of Jesus. St. Gabriel's is known for its deeply devotional daily Mass schedule, multiple weekend Masses, daily Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, First Friday Adoration, a strong Polish-American Catholic heritage, and a wide range of lay ministries.

History & Centennial (1925–2025)

St. Gabriel's was born out of a 1925 mission to serve Catholic families who had moved east of Buffalo into the Village of Blossom. On May 1, 1925, Rev. John Glazik celebrated the first Mass at the old Blossom Hook and Ladder Hall; 36 families (about 100 people) enrolled and each pledged $200 to get the parish started. The parish was incorporated on September 25, 1925 under the title St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin, with John Mary and John Rozeski as the first trustees. Rev. John Zenczak was appointed the first pastor on November 1, 1925 by Bishop Turner. The Gebhard family sold 12.5 acres of land on Clinton Street, and local families themselves supplied the labor to excavate and build the church basement. The first church was a prefabricated frame structure, pieced together in time for services to begin in November 1925, with the rectory completed shortly after. The Holy Name Society was organized in 1926, and the canonical erection of the parish was celebrated on June 20, 1926. In 2017, Fr. Walter Grabowski was named pastor and led the parish until his retirement in June 2025, paying off more than $2 million in debt in three years. The parish marked its 100th anniversary in 2025, with a Centennial Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael Fisher on September 28, 2025.

• First Mass: May 1, 1925 at the Blossom Hook and Ladder Hall (Rev. John Glazik)
• Parish incorporated: September 25, 1925 (first trustees: John Mary and John Rozeski)
• First pastor: Rev. John Zenczak, appointed November 1, 1925 by Bishop Turner
• Land: 12.5 acres purchased from the Gebhard family on Clinton Street
• Holy Name Society organized: 1926
• Canonical erection: June 20, 1926
• Centennial Mass with Bishop Michael Fisher: September 28, 2025

Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership

St. Gabriel's is pastored as part of Blessed Family 7. The Family Moderator is Fr. Greg Faulhaber, who leads the five-parish grouping in coordination with the Diocese of Buffalo. He is supported by Fr. Jerry Skrzynski as Senior Parochial Vicar and parochial vicars Fr. Sam Giangreco, Fr. Mark Itua, and Fr. Ryan Keating. Five deacons — Kevin Smith, Tony Vilardo, Michael Katilus, John Ruh, and Thomas Scherr — minister across the Family. The most recent pastor assigned solely to St. Gabriel's was Fr. Walter Grabowski, who retired June 14, 2025 after 44 years of priestly service.

• Fr. Greg Faulhaber — Family Moderator, Blessed Family 7
• Fr. Jerry Skrzynski — Senior Parochial Vicar, Blessed Family 7
• Fr. Sam Giangreco — Parochial Vicar, Blessed Family 7
• Fr. Mark Itua — Parochial Vicar, Blessed Family 7
• Fr. Ryan Keating — Parochial Vicar, Blessed Family 7
• Deacons: Kevin Smith, Tony Vilardo, Michael Katilus, John Ruh, Thomas Scherr
• Trustees: Jerry Oczek and Mary Bitka
• Rectory Secretary: Toni Wittmeyer
• Bookkeeper: Kris Iwankow
• Director of Faith Formation: Denise York, M.Th.
• Faith Formation Administrative Assistant: Sandra Schneider
• Music Coordinators: Emma Dus and Melanie Beback
• Maintenance: Mike Tulumello

Devotions & Prayer Life

Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish sustains a strong traditional devotional life rooted in Catholic custom and its Polish-American heritage. The Most Holy Rosary is prayed in common twice each weekday, the Divine Mercy Chaplet is recited at noon, and First Friday Adoration with all-day Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament closes with Benediction at 6:00 p.m. The parish also hosts a monthly Prayer Group and a Prayer Shawl Ministry and a Prayer Cloth Ministry for the sick.

• Daily Rosary — 7:20 a.m. and 10:55 a.m.
• Saturday Rosary — 7:20 a.m.
• Daily Divine Mercy Chaplet — 12:00 p.m. (Noon)
• First Friday Adoration & Closing Benediction — 6:00 p.m.
• Monthly Prayer Group — 1st Monday, 7:00 p.m. in the Church (contact Ron Karwick, 716-997-9277)
• Prayer Shawl Ministry and Prayer Cloth Ministry
• Annual Polka Mass and Dyngus Day Party (Easter Monday) — a beloved Polish-American tradition

Faith Formation & Religious Education

St. Gabriel's Faith Formation Office, directed by Denise York, M.Th. with administrative assistant Sandra Schneider, accompanies families as they form their children and young people in the Catholic faith, following curriculum guidelines from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Diocese of Buffalo. Programs run from Grade 1 through Grade 10, including OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), Vacation Bible School, and a two-year high school Journey to Confirmation program. Home Study is not available during Sacramental Preparation years (Grades 2, 3, 9, and 10).

• Grades 1–5 — Saturday 9:00–10:30 a.m.; Monday 4:30–5:45 p.m. and 6:00–7:30 p.m.
• Grades 6, 7 & 8 — Monday or Tuesday 6:00–7:30 p.m.
• Grade 9 / Journey to Confirmation 1 — Wednesday 6:00–7:15 p.m. (Sept.–Dec.) and Sunday 9:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. (Jan.–Apr.)
• Grade 10 / Journey to Confirmation 2 & Confirmation Preparation — Sunday 9:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
• OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults
• Sacramental Preparation for First Communion (Grade 2/3) and Confirmation (Grade 10)
• Vacation Bible School (summer)
• Faith Fest family gatherings in November and March for grades 1–5
• Summer Intensive Faith Formation Week at Fourteen Holy Helpers for grades 6–10
• Faith Formation Office hours: Mon 3:00–8:00 p.m.; Tue–Thu 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; phone 716-668-2070

Liturgical Ministries & Music

Parishioners serve the liturgy as Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (including to the sick and home bound), Altar Servers, and Ushers. The parish Music Ministry is coordinated by Emma Dus and Melanie Beback and supports the regular Mass schedule, the annual Polka Mass, Holy Week liturgies, and other special celebrations.

• Lectors
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (including Communion to the Sick and Home Bound)
• Altar Servers
• Ushers
• Music Ministry — Coordinators: Emma Dus and Melanie Beback

Parish Organizations & Service

Lay life at St. Gabriel's is broad and intergenerational. The Holy Name Society (the parish's oldest organization, founded 1926) and Ladies Guild sponsor church and community events; St. Vincent de Paul helps the poor in the parish and wider community; the Respect Life Committee promotes the dignity of every human person; the Fraternita di Francesco gathers parishioners around Italian-Polish heritage; and the Bereavement Committee walks with families who have suffered loss.

• Holy Name Society — men's group (general meetings typically 7:30 p.m.)
• Ladies Guild — women's group
• St. Vincent de Paul Society
• Respect Life Committee — meets 2nd Thursday, 12:15 p.m., St. Joseph's Room, Parish Hall (contact Mark Bittner, 716-901-0595)
• Bereavement Committee
• Fraternita di Francesco — Italian/Polish heritage group (meets Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.)
• Prayer Shawl Ministry
• Prayer Cloth Ministry

Youth & Young Adult Ministry

The parish invests heavily in the next generation. A senior-high Youth Group is led by a team of young adult leaders and meets monthly. Faith Formation for high schoolers is built around a two-year Journey to Confirmation, with annual retreats and Confirmation preparation in 10th grade. A separate young-adult group called Ignite the Light gathers young adults for faith, fellowship, and service.

• Senior High Youth Group (monthly meetings)
• Ignite the Light — young adult group
• Youth Leaders: Isabella Carlino, Stephanie Couchman, Daniella Harhigh, Leo Mendel, Connor Powell, Tyler Stodolka
• Journey to Confirmation 1 (Grade 9) and Journey to Confirmation 2 (Grade 10)
• Confirmation retreat (annual) — dates posted on the parish website
• Summer Intensive Faith Formation Week at Fourteen Holy Helpers (grades 6–10)

Sacraments

St. Gabriel's prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation is coordinated through the Faith Formation Office following Diocesan of Buffalo guidelines; OCIA welcomes adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full communion with the Catholic Church; and the rectory assists couples preparing for Matrimony and those in need of Anointing of the Sick.

• Baptism — contact the rectory
• First Communion & First Reconciliation — preparation in Grades 2 and 3
• Confirmation — preparation in Grade 10 after two years of adolescent faith formation
• Reconciliation (Confession) — see posted times or by appointment
• Anointing of the Sick
• Matrimony — contact the rectory to begin preparation
• Holy Orders — vocation discernment encouraged; contact the rectory
• OCIA (RCIA) for adults seeking initiation

Visiting, Contact & Centennial

The Rectory at St. Gabriel's is open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed for major holidays); weekend and evening hours are by appointment. The Faith Formation Office keeps separate hours. Masses are livestreamed on the parish's YouTube Live channel, and during the pandemic the parish broadcast outdoor Masses on FM 107.9 from the back parking lot — a tradition some parishioners still associate with the parish. The Centennial Celebration Year page collects photos and memories of the 100-year anniversary, including the Centennial Mass with Bishop Michael Fisher on September 28, 2025.

• Rectory: 716-668-4017; Fax: 716-656-0616; email [email protected]
• Faith Formation Office: 716-668-2070
• Rectory hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (evenings/weekends by appointment)
• Faith Formation Office hours: Mon 12:00–6:00 p.m. (also 3:00–8:00 p.m. noted on FF page); Tue 12:00–6:00 p.m.; Wed–Thu 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Livestream: YouTube Live channel (link on the parish homepage)
• Centennial Year page: stgabeschurch.com/centennial.html
• Scam alert: priests will never solicit gift cards by text, email, or social media