About St. James · Jamestown, New York
St. James Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Buffalo located at 27 Allen Street in Jamestown, Chautauqua County, New York. Founded on June 8, 1910 by Msgr. James Carra to serve the city's growing Italian immigrant community, the parish has grown from Masses celebrated in a converted wood-frame house on Victoria Avenue to the present-day church built in 1968 on Allen Street. Today St. James is part of the Catholic Neighbors in Faith (CNIF) Family of Parishes — Family #4 — together with St. Patrick (Randolph), Sacred Heart (Lakewood), and Holy Apostles (Jamestown), and welcomes around 850 registered families.
- Established
- 1910
- Patron
- St. James (the Greater, Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Paul S. Cygan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. James offers a faithful Catholic community with a strong sacramental life — including daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration (Wednesdays 9 a.m.–7 p.m.), Saturday Vigil and Sunday Mass, regular Reconciliation, and a Wednesday Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena. Rooted in its 1910 Italian-immigrant heritage and now part of the Catholic Neighbors in Faith Family of Parishes, it combines the warmth of a parish that knows its history with the broader resources and ministries of a multi-parish family serving southern Chautauqua County.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM (or 3:15 PM per some listings)
- By appointment / upon request
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, concluding with Benediction)
- First Friday Adoration following the 8:00 AM Mass
Parish Identity & Heritage
St. James Parish was established on June 8, 1910 to serve the Italian Catholic immigrant community of Jamestown in Chautauqua County, New York. More than a century later, the parish continues that heritage of faithful Catholic life on Allen Street, now strengthened by its participation in the Catholic Neighbors in Faith Family of Parishes.
- Founded June 8, 1910 by Msgr. James Carra
- Originally a parish of Italian immigrants
- Part of the Diocese of Buffalo
- Member of Catholic Neighbors in Faith (Family #4)
A Walk Through Our History
From a converted wood-frame house on Victoria Avenue to the present 1968 church on Allen Street, St. James's history is a story of immigrant faith, school building, pastoral continuity, and outreach to the wider Jamestown community. The Sisters of Mercy shaped generations of Catholic education here, and the parish's outreach ministries grew so robust that Catholic Charities of Buffalo recognized St. James as an 'Outstanding Community of Salt & Light' in 2004.
- 1912: Sisters of Mercy arrive to teach
- 1915: First stone church built
- 1953: New brick school on Prospect Avenue
- 1968: Present church at 27 Allen Street built
- 1977: School merger with SS. Peter & Paul
- 2003: Our Lady of Victory (Frewsburg) linked with St. James
- 2007: Death of Msgr. Antoine P. Attea in plane crash
- 2008: Our Lady of Victory formally merged in
- 2023: Catholic Neighbors in Faith Family of Parishes formed
- May 16, 2025: Our Lady of Loreto merged into St. James
Pastorate Succession
St. James has been served by a succession of devoted pastors since 1910, beginning with founder Msgr. James Carra and including a remarkable 28-year pastorate by Msgr. Antoine P. Attea.
- Msgr. James Carra (1910–1927)
- Rev. Austin Billerio (1927–1940)
- Msgr. Pasquale Colagioia (1940–1973)
- Rev. Louis Della Neva (1973–1978)
- Msgr. Antoine P. Attea (1978–2007)
- Rev. Dennis Mende (interim 2007–2008)
- Rev. Robert Stolinski (2008–2009)
- Rev. Darrell Duffy (2009–2021; returned 2023)
- Rev. Paul S. Cygan (Administrator, then Pastor from March 23, 2026)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation classes for parish children are offered on Sundays. Preparation for the sacraments — including First Communion and Confirmation — is coordinated through the parish and the wider Catholic Neighbors in Faith Family of Parishes.
- Sunday Faith Formation classes
- Sacramental preparation (First Communion, Confirmation)
- RCIA / adult faith formation offered through the CNIF Family
Outreach & Charity
Service to the wider Jamestown community has long been a hallmark of St. James. In 2004 Catholic Charities of Buffalo recognized the parish as an 'Outstanding Community of Salt & Light' for the breadth and quality of its charitable work.
- Parish Food Pantry
- St. James Thrift Store
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (conference)
- Peace and Justice Committee
- St. Susan's Soup Kitchen (community partnership)
Catholic Neighbors in Faith (CNIF) Family of Parishes
St. James is a member parish of Catholic Neighbors in Faith (CNIF), Family #4 of the Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal. CNIF brings together St. James with neighboring parishes to share clergy, ministries, and formation across southern Chautauqua County. Rev. Paul S. Cygan serves as pastor of the whole family, assisted by parochial vicars Fr. Marcin Porada and Fr. Donald R. Watkins Jr.
- St. Patrick Parish, Randolph
- St. James Parish, Jamestown
- Sacred Heart Parish, Lakewood
- Holy Apostles Parish, Jamestown
- Shared Pillars: Liturgy, Spiritual Life, Forming Disciples, Stewardship, In-reach/Outreach, Administration
- Pastor: Rev. Paul S. Cygan (since March 23, 2026)
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Marcin Porada, Rev. Donald R. Watkins Jr.
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. James is coordinated by Music Director Cathy Gagliano, who supports the parish's weekend and weekday Masses as well as special liturgies throughout the year.
- Music Director: Cathy Gagliano
- Music for Sunday Mass, holy days, and weddings/funerals
- Coordination with the CNIF Family's Liturgy Pillar
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. James at the rectory by phone, mail, or email. The parish office is the central point for scheduling sacraments, requesting records, and inquiring about ongoing parish programs.
- Address: 27 Allen Street, Jamestown, NY 14701-6687
- Phone: (716) 487-0125
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stjamesparishjamestown.com
- Office hours (per directory): Friday 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (call ahead)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. James Carra1910–1927
Founder; first pastor of the Italian immigrant parish.
- Rev. Austin Billerio1927–1940
- Msgr. Pasquale Colagioia1940–1973
Long-tenured pastor overseeing growth and continued presence of the Sisters of Mercy in parish school.
- Rev. Louis Della Neva1973–1978
Guided parish through period of change; oversaw 1977 school merger.
- Msgr. Antoine P. Attea1978–2007
28-year pastorate; also linked/merged Our Lady of Victory (Frewsburg); killed in a plane crash January 8, 2007. The street in front of the church was named Msgr. Antoine P. Attea Circle in his honor.
- Rev. Dennis Mende2007–2008 (interim)
Interim pastor following Msgr. Attea's death.
- Rev. Robert Stolinski2008–2009
Former parochial vicar; became pastor with Deacon Michael Lennon assisting as financial administrator.
- Rev. Darrell DuffyDecember 2009–May 2021
First pastorate; later transferred to SS. Peter and Paul, Hamburg.
- Rev. Piotr ZaczynskiMay–July 2021
Temporary Parish Administrator.
- Rev. Dennis MendeJuly–September 2021
Returned as Temporary then permanent Pastor; died September 8, 2021.
- Rev. Todd RemickOctober 2021–March 2022
Temporary Parish Administrator, then permanent Parish Administrator.
- Rev. Darrell DuffyFebruary 8, 2023–
Returned as pastor with his dog Jasmine; led formation of Catholic Neighbors in Faith Family of Parishes.
- Rev. Paul S. CyganAppointed Pastor March 23, 2026
Previously Administrator of the CNIF Family; now appointed Pastor for a six-year term.