About St. John Kanty · Buffalo, New York
St. John Kanty was a Roman Catholic parish in the Broadway–Fillmore neighborhood of Buffalo's East Side, founded in 1892 to serve the booming Polish immigrant community. Named for St. John of Kęty, a 15th-century Polish patron saint, the parish grew rapidly and at its peak had a grammar school enrolling more than 1,500 students, plus a large Lyceum complex that served as a school, dance hall, bowling alley and labor college for generations. After 132 years the parish celebrated its final Mass on Sunday, May 18, 2025, as part of the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Journey of Faith and Grace' restructuring; its community life is now carried on through the Greater East Buffalo Family of Parishes under Fr. Cole Webster.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- St. John of Kęty (Jan Kanty, 1390–1473), Polish priest and patron saint of Poland and Lithuania
- Rector
- Fr. Cole Webster (Pastor of the Greater East Buffalo Family of Parishes; St. John Kanty closed May 18, 2025 and is now served by the Family of Parishes)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. John Kanty was the spiritual home of Buffalo's 'Polonia' for more than a century, sustaining Polish-American Catholic identity through Mass, the sacraments, feast-day pierogi and placek sales, Lenten fish fries, the ministries of the Mother Angela Dining Room and senior center, and a thriving Boy Scout Troop 107 that marked 100 years in 2025. Even after the parish's official closure on May 18, 2025, the community continues through the Greater East Buffalo Family of Parishes, where parishioners carry on the same devotional life — weekday Mass, First Friday Adoration, the Rosary, RCIA, faith formation and outreach — in the Broadway–Fillmore neighborhood.
Mass times at St. John Kanty
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
- Available anytime by request
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament following 8:30 a.m. Mass
Parish History — A Polish-American Foundation
St. John Kanty was established in 1892 when Rev. Jan Pitass divided the over-burdened St. Stanislaus Parish to serve Buffalo's rapidly growing Polish community on the East Side. The first Mass was celebrated in January 1893. By its centennial in 1992 the parish had recorded 17,603 baptisms, 5,727 marriages, 17,510 funerals, and 34 priestly and 40 religious vocations. The parish celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2017 before being merged into the Greater East Buffalo Family of Parishes.
- Founded 1892; first Mass January 1893
- First pastor Rev. Thomas Flaczek, 1892–1895
- 125th anniversary celebrated 2017
- Final Mass: May 18, 2025
The Lyceum — Community Heart of Polonia
Built under Fr. Garstka with a $350,000 loan from Bishop William Turner and dedicated in 1933 by Msgr. Francis Kasprzak, the Lyceum was the social and educational hub of the Polish East Side for decades. Its 2,000-seat main hall hosted concerts, movies, plays and big-band dances, and the building also contained a gymnasium, six bowling alleys, classrooms and meeting rooms. During the Depression it served over 1,200 students through a Federal adult-education grant, and in 1937 Fr. Stanley Kulpinski founded a Labor College with 32 teachers. Today the building is preserved as The Apartments at the Lyceum and is part of the National Register-listed complex.
- Groundbreaking June 30, 1930; cornerstone laid September 29, 1930
- Dedicated September 13, 1933 by Msgr. Francis Kasprzak
- Built by J. Zakrzewski & Son; cost $53,000 for land + $350,000 loan
- Now The Apartments at the Lyceum
Architecture and the Historic Register
The St. John Kanty Roman Catholic Church Complex, constructed between 1891 and 1966, was nominated in 2021 for placement on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places. The complex includes a Gothic Revival church, a Federal Revival rectory, a convent, and the Lyceum. The sanctuary features stained glass and ceiling paintings by artist Jozef Mazur from the 1960s, including windows honoring Our Lady of Czestochowa, Pope Pius X, and the Blessed Mother and Child with St. Dominic and St. Catherine.
- Gothic Revival church
- Federal Revival rectory
- Convent
- Lyceum (lecture hall)
- Sanctuary artwork by Jozef Mazur (1960s)
School and Religious Education
The parish school opened September 4, 1894 with 325 pupils under three Felician sisters and three lay teachers; enrollment peaked at 1,574 by 1925. In 1990 St. John Kanty School merged with five other parish schools to form Kolbe Catholic Regional School. Under Msgr. Golombek and into the 1990s, faith formation was increasingly directed by lay people, the Felician sisters transitioned into broader pastoral ministry, and the parish instituted the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) following Vatican II.
- School opened September 4, 1894
- Peak enrollment 1,574 students (1925)
- School closed 1990; merged into Kolbe Catholic Regional School
- RCIA instituted after Vatican II
- Lay lectors and Eucharistic ministers
Ministries and Community Outreach
Under Msgr. Robert Golombek the parish launched the Mother Angela Dining Room to feed the poor and hungry, a senior citizens community center in the Lyceum, and lent its energy to Boy Scout Troop 107 — which celebrated 100 years in 2025. Lenten fish fries, homemade pierogi and placek sales were signature fundraisers, while the parish choir, RCIA team, and lay liturgical ministers formed the backbone of parish life.
- Mother Angela Dining Room
- Senior Citizens Community Center
- Boy Scout Troop 107 (100 years in 2025)
- Lenten fish fries
- Homemade pierogi and placek sales
- St. John Kanty Choir
Closing and the Greater East Buffalo Family of Parishes
Through the Diocese of Buffalo's Journey of Faith and Grace initiative, St. Adalbert was merged into St. John Kanty in 2007 under Bishop Kmiec. On Sunday, May 18, 2025 the parish celebrated its final Mass — concelebrated by Fr. Cole Webster, Pastor of the Greater East Buffalo Family of Parishes — bringing together longtime organist Lawrence Maguda, former choir members, and school alumni. Parishioners are now served by the Family of Parishes, and the historic complex remains preserved on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
- St. Adalbert merged into St. John Kanty in 2007
- Final Mass: May 18, 2025 at 10:15 a.m.
- Celebrant: Fr. Cole Webster
- Organist: Lawrence Maguda
- Listed on State & National Registers of Historic Places (2021)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Flaczek1892–1895
First pastor of St. John Kanty; oversaw opening of the school in 1894 with 325 pupils.
- Fr. Garstka ('Shorty')1910–1941
Long-serving pastor who built the Lyceum (dedicated 1933) and expanded parish facilities.
- Msgr. William Wozniakmid-1960s–1970s
Led the $300,000 campaign to convert the Lyceum into the parish school for the 75th anniversary in 1967.
- Msgr. Robert Golombek1970s–1980s
Expanded ministries: senior citizens center and Mother Angela Dining Room; oversaw 1990 school merger into Kolbe Catholic Regional School.
- Rev. Jerome Kopecaround 1992
Chaired the East Side Regional Planning Commission during the centennial; later became Vicar for Priestly Life for the Diocese of Buffalo.
- Fr. Cole Websterpresent
Pastor of the Greater East Buffalo Family of Parishes; concelebrated the closing Mass on May 18, 2025.