About St. John the Baptist Church · Lockport, New York
St. John the Baptist Church is a Roman Catholic parish at 168 Chestnut Street in Lockport, New York, and the oldest Catholic community in Niagara County. Founded as a faith community in 1827 during the construction of the Erie Barge Canal and formally established with a church building by 1834, it is the second-oldest church in the Diocese of Buffalo. Today it operates as part of the Central Niagara Catholic Family (CNCF), a grouping of four parishes led jointly by Priests-in-Solidum under Family Moderator Rev. Matt M. Nycz, and serves roughly 2,500 registered families.
- Established
- 1827 (community) / 1834 (first church)
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Matt M. Nycz (Priest-In-Solidum and Family Moderator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a deeply rooted Lockport parish with nearly two centuries of continuous Catholic life and one of the largest social-service footprints in Niagara County. Visitors and parishioners can worship in the dove-shaped 1970 church, attend daily Mass and a livestreamed Sunday Mass on YouTube, spend time in weekly Eucharistic Adoration with the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and join a vibrant roster of lay ministries — from St. Vincent de Paul and Sister Helen's Food Pantry to the Rosary for Peace, a parish Men's Bible Study, the Garden Club, and a knitting ministry that makes baptismal blankets. As the hub parish of the Central Niagara Catholic Family, it also connects Catholics across Lockport, Ransomville, and Newfane into one worshipping community.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30pm – 5:15pm (no confessions on Holy Saturday)
Adoration times
- Every Tuesday 12:00 noon – 4:00pm (rescheduled to 1:00pm–5:00pm if a funeral is scheduled)
- Divine Mercy Chaplet prayed at 3:00pm every Tuesday during Adoration
Our History
St. John the Baptist is the oldest Catholic community in Niagara County and the second-oldest church in the Diocese of Buffalo. Catholic families first gathered in 1827 during construction of the Erie Barge Canal, meeting in homes and barns whenever traveling missionaries came through. By 1834 they had built the first church on Chestnut Street, and celebrated Mass under an unfinished roof with their first pastor, Rev. Charles Managan. The parish school opened in 1891, the rectory in 1952, and the current dove-shaped church replaced the unsafe original in 1967 (inaugurated March 1, 1970). In 2008 St. Mary's of Gasport merged in, and in 2022–2023 St. John's became the hub parish of the new Central Niagara Catholic Family.
- 1827 – local Catholics form a faith community during Erie Barge Canal construction
- 1834 – first church built on Chestnut Street; midnight Mass celebrated under open sky
- 1873, 1882 – church renovations and expansions
- 1891 – parish school constructed
- 1952 – rectory built adjacent to the church
- 1967 – original church replaced (new building shaped like a dove)
- March 1, 1970 – new church inaugurated
- 2008 – merger with St. Mary's of Gasport
- 2022 – Sister Helen's Food Pantry reopens (September)
- 2022–2023 – founding of the Central Niagara Catholic Family (CNCF)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is led by Cheryl Lewandowski (Coordinator) and Kathleen Wilson (Associate), and is open to children in both Catholic and public schools. Sacramental preparation is offered for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion (Grade 2 / age 7) and Confirmation (typically 10th grade), the latter with an approved Diocesan preparation program and a community-service component. The parish office can be reached at (716) 514-9405.
- First Reconciliation – Grade 2 (age 7)
- First Holy Communion – Grade 2
- Confirmation – 10th grade, diocesan-approved program, community-service requirement
- Faith Formation Office: (716) 514-9405
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the Sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage. Parents of a first child must take a Pre-Baptismal class; baptisms are preferred during Mass. Couples must contact the parish office at (716) 433-8118 ext. 104 at least six months before setting any wedding plans, and complete pre-marriage preparation.
- Baptism – Pre-Baptismal class required for first child
- First Reconciliation – Grade 2
- First Holy Communion – Grade 2
- Confirmation – 10th grade
- Marriage – 6 months advance notice required; call ext. 104
Sister Helen's Food Pantry
Founded in 1983 by Sister Mary Helen Buscarino — a missionary sister sometimes called the "Mother Teresa of Lockport" — Sister Helen's Food Pantry originally operated out of her backyard to serve local residents and migrant farm workers. Sister Helen ran the pantry until her passing in 2022 at age 98. The pantry closed during the 2020 pandemic and was re-established in September 2022. Today it is 100% volunteer-run under the direction of Director of Mission Kevin Pothier, serves 100–150 families a week, and does not receive Food Bank distributions — relying entirely on parish and community donations.
- Address: 14 Ann Street, Lockport, NY 14094
- Hours: Monday & Wednesday 12:00pm–3:00pm; Saturday 10:00am–12:00pm
- Director: Kevin Pothier, 716-433-8118 ext. 104
- Email: [email protected]
- Client criteria: 1 utility bill or recent ID with age and number of household members
- Currently needed: spaghetti sauce, pasta, cereal, canned fruit, canned pasta, chunky soup, canned chicken, hygiene items
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. John the Baptist hosts a broad slate of lay ministries — outreach, prayer, fellowship, and liturgical service — most organized through the parish office at (716) 433-8118 ext. 104.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society – 3rd Tuesday, 1:00pm, CNCF Service Center; President: Bob Betsch
- Men's Ministry & Bible Study – 3rd Tuesday, 7:00pm, Bosco Center; President: Ken Paulin, Jr.
- Women of Faith Ministries – twice-yearly retreats; Co-Chairs: Ann Schuler & Julie Kapuscinski
- Rosary for Peace – Monday 9:30am; Leads: Kevin Pothier & Beverly Nuwer
- Garden Club Ministries – Friday 9:00am
- Health & Wellness Ministries – Coordinator: Marietta Schrader (716-628-4337)
- Knitting Blankets for Baptisms
- Altar & Rosary Society – President: Sara Pazik
- Lectors Ministry
- Ushers
- Music / Cantors – Music Director: Lucy Wronski
- Altar Servers
- Co-Presidents: Beverly Nuwer & Angie Hahn
Staff & Clergy
St. John the Baptist is led as part of the Central Niagara Catholic Family by three Priests-in-Solidum — Rev. Matt M. Nycz (Family Moderator), Rev. Andrew R. Lauricella, and Rev. Daniel E. Ogbeifun — together with retired priest Rev. Joseph Dumphrey (in residence) and Deacon Howard Morgan. Lay staff coordinate the parish's faith formation, business, music, and mission/outreach work.
- Rev. Matt M. Nycz – Priest-In-Solidum & Family Moderator
- Rev. Andrew R. Lauricella – Priest-In-Solidum
- Rev. Daniel E. Ogbeifun – Priest-In-Solidum
- Rev. Joseph Dumphrey – Retired / In Residence
- Deacon Howard Morgan
- Kevin Pothier – Director of Mission (ext. 104)
- Erica Brenner – Business Manager (ext. 101)
- Cheryl Lewandowski – Coordinator of Faith Formation (716-514-9405)
- Kathleen Wilson – Faith Formation Associate
- Lucy Wronski – Music Director
- Bill Lewandowski – Maintenance
Central Niagara Catholic Family (CNCF)
In 2022–2023 St. John the Baptist joined three neighboring parishes to form the Central Niagara Catholic Family, a pilot "Family of Parishes" model for the Diocese of Buffalo. The four parishes — St. John the Baptist (Lockport), All Saints (Lockport), Immaculate Conception (Ransomville), and St. Brendan on the Lake (Newfane) — are jointly pastored by three Priests-in-Solidum and share centralized administrative and family-ministry staff. The parish office at 168 Chestnut Street serves as the family hub, and the CNCF publishes a unified weekly bulletin bearing a family crest designed by Lockport High School Cyber Lions students.
- Family #10 in the Diocese of Buffalo's Family of Parishes initiative
- Parishes: St. John the Baptist, All Saints, Immaculate Conception, St. Brendan on the Lake
- Priests-in-Solidum: Fr. Matt M. Nycz (Moderator), Fr. Andrew R. Lauricella, Fr. Daniel E. Ogbeifun
- Deacon: Howard Morgan
- Family hub office based at St. John the Baptist, Lockport
- Family website: https://www.cncfwny.org
Visit, Contact & Office Information
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The CNCF Parish Service Office at 168 Chestnut Street, Lockport, NY 14094 is open Monday–Friday 8:00am–4:00pm (closed weekends). The parish invites newcomers to sign up for text-message and email updates via the website, and worshippers can also follow the parish on Facebook for livestream links and announcements.
- Main Office: (716) 433-8118
- Faith Formation: (716) 514-9405
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00am–4:00pm; Sat–Sun closed
- Address: 168 Chestnut St., Lockport, NY 14094
- Facebook: facebook.com/lcatholic/
- Website: stjohnslockport.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles Managan1834–
First pastor of St. John the Baptist; celebrated the first midnight Mass under the unfinished roof.