About St. John de La Salle · Niagara Falls, New York
St. John de LaSalle is a welcoming Roman Catholic parish in the LaSalle neighborhood of Niagara Falls, New York, part of the Diocese of Buffalo and a member of the Niagara Falls Roman Catholic Family of Parishes. Founded in 1907 as the first Catholic church in the Village of LaSalle, it draws worshippers from across the city and the surrounding towns, and its historic campus includes a semi-Gothic church built in 1960, a former 1918 church-school building, a rectory, the St. Charles Borromeo Parish Center, an outdoor grotto, and a community food pantry. The parish describes itself as 'Together in Faith,' grounded in the Sacraments with the Eucharist at the center, and known locally for its Community Care Food Pantry, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and Tuesday St. Jude Novena.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- St. John Baptist de La Salle
- Rector
- Rev. Mario Racho (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. John de LaSalle is a sacramental, Eucharist-centered community in the historic LaSalle neighborhood, just a stone's throw from the spot where Father Louis Hennepin celebrated Mass in 1679. Parishioners worship in a fully accessible, air-conditioned semi-Gothic church with a daily chapel Mass, weekly Thursday all-day Eucharistic Adoration, and a Tuesday-evening St. Jude Novena, and they serve their neighbors through the Community Care Food Pantry across the street, a Mobile Food Pantry on the second Friday of each month, and a Pro-Life ministry, Catholic Men's Group, bereavement support, and Communion brought to the homebound.
Mass times at St. John de La Salle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 p.m.–5:15 p.m.
- Anytime upon request through the Central Office (716-297-5010)
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:45 a.m.–12:00 a.m. (Midnight)
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. John de LaSalle describes itself as 'Together in Faith,' a welcoming Roman Catholic community in Niagara Falls, New York. The parish seeks to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ through prayer, worship, evangelization, loving service, fellowship, lifelong education, and responsible stewardship. Grounded in the Sacraments, the parish places the worship of Christ in the Eucharist at the center of parish life and responds in gratitude to the spiritual and corporal needs of all.
Our History
The parish was founded in 1907 as the first Catholic church in the Village of LaSalle, with Rev. George Zurcher appointed by Bishop Charles Colton to organize it. The parish began in the Staley family home and a former German evangelical church, then built a church-school-hall in 1918 at 8477 Buffalo Avenue. The current semi-Gothic church was constructed in 1959–60 and renovated in 1991. In 2007–2008 the parish merged with St. Charles Borromeo as part of the Diocese of Buffalo's Journey in Faith and Grace process.
- 1907 — first Mass celebrated May 26 in the Staley family home; 18 founders
- 1907 — Rev. George Zurcher appointed first pastor by Bishop Charles Colton
- 1907 — first baptism (Isabel Dirksen, June 27); first infant baptism (Russell Mang, June 30); first marriage (Frederick Herr and Mary Bielman, July 25)
- 1918 — church-school-hall built at 8477 Buffalo Avenue
- 1921 — rectory completed
- 1927 — Village of LaSalle annexed into the City of Niagara Falls
- 1959–60 — present semi-Gothic church built
- 1976 — Parish Center built under Msgr. Robert Hogan (now St. Charles Borromeo Center)
- 1991 — church fully renovated for post-Vatican II liturgical norms
- 2006 — St. John de LaSalle School closed by Diocese of Buffalo
- 2007–2008 — merger with St. Charles Borromeo Parish
- 2023 — 'The River Flows On,' the parish's illustrated history, published online
Our Patron Saint — St. John Baptist de La Salle
The parish is named for St. John Baptist de La Salle, a French priest who founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and is the patron saint of educators. Although he is unrelated to the explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, the two were French contemporaries: De La Salle was ordained in 1678, the same year the explorer reached the Niagara River. The Village of LaSalle, where the parish was founded, bears the explorer's name.
- Patron: St. John Baptist de La Salle
- Feast day: April 7
- Founded the Brothers of the Christian Schools and is the patron saint of educators
Our Leaders & Staff
The parish is led by a Parish Administrator and supported by parish council leaders, trustees, and a maintenance team. Pastoral care is shared across the Niagara Falls Roman Catholic Family of Parishes, with two parochial vicars and assigned deacons assisting across multiple parish sites.
- Administrator: Rev. Mario Racho
- Senior Parochial Vicar: Rev. Duane R. Klizek
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Benjamin Mariasoosai
- Deacons: Deacon Chris Privitera, Deacon David Slish
- Parish Council Leaders: Penny Craft and Andrew Touma
- Trustees: Janet Furlong and Michael Casale
- Building and Grounds: Chuck Siegfried
- Family Office staff (Central Office at 2748 Military Road): Mary Bailor (Bookkeeper), Maxine Menshon (Business Manager), Caroline Privitera (Bulletin Editor/Social Media/Facility Bookings), Aneta Jedrzejczyk (Family Scheduler), Cindy Tripoli (Receptionist), Sr. Joanne Suranni, CSSF (Director of Faith Formation), Robyn Nalbone (St. Joseph Cemetery Mgr.)
Our Campus
The parish campus sits at the corner of Buffalo Avenue and South 86th Street in the LaSalle section of Niagara Falls, bordering the 'little river' portion of the Niagara River and the Cayuga Island neighborhood. The campus is surrounded by family homes, apartments, and small businesses, and is fully accessible and air-conditioned.
- Semi-Gothic church (1959–60, renovated 1991) — air-conditioned, fully accessible, with a small chapel for daily Mass and Adoration
- 1918 church-school-hall building — now parish meeting space and the independent LaSalle Early Childhood Education Center
- St. Charles Borromeo Center (Parish Center built 1976 under Msgr. Robert Hogan) — large/small rooms, full kitchen, bingo, parish functions, community rentals
- Rectory (completed 1921)
- Pavilion — used for outdoor parish and community events for more than 40 years
- Outdoor prayer grotto dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, constructed by the Holy Name Society
- Community Care Food Pantry at 8600 Buffalo Avenue (across the street)
Faith Formation
Children's Faith Formation is offered through a citywide program for children and youth, with preparation for the Sacraments celebrated at St. John de LaSalle. The Director of Faith Formation for the Family of Parishes is Sr. Joanne Suranni, CSSF.
- First Reconciliation — 2nd grade
- First Communion — 3rd grade
- Confirmation — 10th grade
- Citywide faith formation program in cooperation with the Niagara Falls Roman Catholic Family of Parishes
- Director of Faith Formation: Sr. Joanne Suranni, CSSF
Community Care Food Pantry & Outreach
The parish joyfully supports its Community Care Food Pantry, located across the street at 8600 Buffalo Avenue, which provides food for many local families each week. It is a partner agency of FeedMore WNY. A Mobile Food Pantry is hosted on the second Friday of each month, and volunteers and food donations are always welcome.
- Community Care Food Pantry — 8600 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY 14304
- Pantry hours — Mondays 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Wednesdays 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m.–12 noon
- Mobile Food Pantry — second Friday of each month
- Phone: (716) 622-5880
- Ministry Leader: Lynn Siegfried
- Partner agency of FeedMore WNY
- Donations accepted at the church before/after weekend Masses or at the pantry during Wednesday hours
Parish Ministries & Groups
The parish offers a wide range of ministries and support groups, many of them coordinated across the Niagara Falls Roman Catholic Family of Parishes.
- Parish Nurse / Grief & Bereavement Group (Maria Stevenson, 716-297-1816)
- Bereavement Meals (716-427-7384)
- Catholic Men's Group (John Jesz, 716-297-8686)
- Pro-Life Ministry (Amy Garrison, 716-898-0919)
- Pre-Cana / Marriage Prep (Deacon Chris and Caroline Privitera, 716-427-7384)
- Parish Events (716-427-7384)
- Communion to the Homebound (twice a month)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (partnered)
- Prayer Chain
Our Family of Parishes
St. John de LaSalle is part of Family #35, the Niagara Falls Roman Catholic Family of Parishes, which includes St. Vincent de Paul (with Prince of Peace and St. Leo) and Holy Family (with St. Mary of the Cataract and St. Joseph). St. John's remains an independent parish but works closely with its sister parishes for shared sacramental coverage, faith formation, and family-wide Mass schedules.
- Family #35 — Niagara Falls R.C. Family of Parishes
- Sister parishes: St. Vincent de Paul, Prince of Peace, St. Leo, Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph, St. Mary of the Cataract, St. Joseph
- Administrator: Rev. Mario Racho
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Duane R. Klizek (Senior), Rev. Benjamin Mariasoosai
- Central Office: 2748 Military Road, Suite 3, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 — (716) 297-5010 or (716) 898-0919
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. George Zurcher1907–
Founding pastor; native of Alsace, France, educated at Our Lady of Angels Seminary (Niagara University); known temperance activist who published 'Handcuffs for Alcoholism' (1890).
- Rev. Arthur Madden
Subsequent pastor who wrote the early parish history and remarked that 'the first convert made in LaSalle was not an individual but a Church.'
- Msgr. Robert Hogan
Built the Parish Center in 1976.
- Rev. Robert T. Dmitri1972–1991
Served as parochial vicar at St. John de LaSalle before becoming chaplain at St. Mary's Manor, Mount St. Mary's Hospital, and the Niagara Falls Police and Fire Departments; died of cancer in 1991 at age 45.
- Rev. Jerry Kopec
Former pastor; later assigned to Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Williamsville.