About St. Joseph (Linked with St. Mary, Cattaraugus) · Gowanda, New York
St. Joseph Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Village of Gowanda, in rural western New York's Erie County, part of the Diocese of Buffalo. The parish was founded in 1898 when the pastor of St. Paul of the Cross in Dayton relocated to Gowanda to serve the growing Catholic population in the area's new factories. Today St. Joseph is linked with St. Mary in Cattaraugus and is one of three parishes that make up the Catholic Family of the Holy Rosary (Family #27), together with Immaculate Conception in Eden, Holy Spirit in North Collins, and Epiphany of Our Lord in North Collins. The parish serves approximately 300 registered families across Gowanda, Persia, Dayton, Perrysburg, Collins, and other surrounding communities.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph D. Porpiglia
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. Joseph has welcomed Catholic families for more than 125 years and today serves around 300 households across Gowanda and the surrounding hill towns of Persia, Dayton, Perrysburg, and Collins. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Baptism, a Youth Group, faith formation, and active outreach through its Family of Parishes. Rooted in the example of its immigrant founders and the longtime service of the Franciscan Sisters of Stella Niagara, St. Joseph continues its mission of bringing the Gospel message to the wider western New York community — visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed.
Mass times at St. Joseph (Linked with St. Mary, Cattaraugus)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (before Vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration available (times listed on the parish family website)
Parish History
Catholic roots in Gowanda date to 1855; the first church was built on Erie Avenue between 1887 and 1889. Holy Cross Cemetery was deeded to the parish in 1884, and St. Joseph Parish was officially founded in 1898, when Rev. John Tracey transferred from St. Paul of the Cross in Dayton to centralize services for the area's growing immigrant population of Slovenian, Polish, and German factory workers. The present church replaced the original building in 1957–1958.
- Parish roots trace to 1855; first church built 1887–1889
- Officially founded 1898 as a mission of St. Paul of the Cross, Dayton
- First pastor: Rev. John Tracey (1898–1900)
- Current church built 1957–1958; cornerstone laid by Auxiliary Bishop Leo R. Smith, June 12, 1958
- First Mass in new church on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1958
- St. Joseph School opened September 8, 1925; closed 2014
Buildings & Property
The parish operates the church and rectory at 26 Erie Avenue (corner of Erie Avenue and East Main Street), the former school at 71 East Main Street, and Holy Cross Cemetery.
- St. Joseph Church — 26 Erie Avenue, built 1957–1958, remodeled early 1980s
- Former St. Joseph School — 71 East Main Street (opened 1925, closed 2014)
- Holy Cross Cemetery — deeded 1884
- Original 1889 church — now the Gowanda Grange
- Wooden bell and bell tower from St. Paul's, Dayton, preserved in former school
St. Joseph School & the Franciscan Sisters
St. Joseph School opened on September 8, 1925 with a High Mass marking the occasion. The Franciscan Sisters of Stella Niagara (Order of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity) began their service to the parish that year, living in a Catholic convent on Erie Avenue. Sisters Fidelis and Elma/Alma taught the first 54 students. An auditorium opened in 1928 and eight grades were offered, later joined by a cafeteria and a library. The school closed in 2014 after nearly nine decades of Catholic education.
- Opened September 8, 1925
- Staffed by Franciscan Sisters of Stella Niagara from 1925
- Auditorium added 1928; cafeteria and library added later
- Closed in 2014
Clergy & Staff
St. Joseph is led by Rev. Joseph D. Porpiglia (pastor since 2012, formerly of St. Benedict Parish in Amherst). The parish is part of the Catholic Family of the Holy Rosary (Family #27) and shares its priests and deacons with Immaculate Conception (Eden) and Epiphany of Our Lord (North Collins).
- Rev. Joseph D. Porpiglia — Pastor (since 2012)
- Rev. Mitch Byeck — Senior Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Innocent O. Diala — Parochial Vicar (since March 2020)
- Deacon Wally Samick
- Deacon Mark Hooper
Catholic Family of the Holy Rosary (Family #27)
St. Joseph is one of three parishes that together form the Catholic Family of the Holy Rosary (Family #27) in the Diocese of Buffalo's Family of Parishes initiative. The Family draws together the parishes of Immaculate Conception in Eden, St. Joseph in Gowanda, and Epiphany of Our Lord (and formerly Holy Spirit) in North Collins, sharing clergy, resources, and pastoral life across southern Erie County.
- Family #27, Diocese of Buffalo
- Immaculate Conception, Eden — Main Family Office
- St. Joseph, Gowanda — 26 Erie Avenue
- Epiphany of Our Lord, North Collins — 10893 Sisson Highway
- Family phone: 716-992-3933 · Email: [email protected]
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
St. Joseph offers Saturday Vigil Mass and a Sunday morning Mass, plus three weekday Masses (Mon/Wed/Fri). The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard Saturday afternoons before the Vigil Mass, and Eucharistic Adoration is offered regularly. A Communion Service is celebrated on Thursday mornings.
- Saturday Vigil — 4:30 PM
- Sunday — 8:30 AM
- Weekday Mass — Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 9:15 AM
- Communion Service — Thursday at 8:30 AM
- Confession — Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration — see parish schedule
Parish Office & Contact
Parish office hours at St. Joseph are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Correspondence to the parish family can be sent to [email protected] or by phone at 716-992-3933.
- St. Joseph Office: Mon–Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Parish Phone: (716) 532-5100
- Family Email: [email protected]
- Family Office (Immaculate Conception): 8791 South Main Street, Eden, NY 14057
Ministries & Community Life
St. Joseph Parish maintains an active parish life through its Youth Group (founded in 2002), faith formation/religious education programs, Eucharistic Adoration, and shared ministries with the other parishes of the Catholic Family of the Holy Rosary. The parish also supports its Trustees program and pastoral outreach to the wider community of Gowanda and surrounding towns.
- Parish Youth Group (since 2002)
- Faith Formation / Religious Education
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Parish Trustees
- Pastoral outreach through Family #27
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Tracey1898–1900
First resident pastor; transferred from St. Paul of the Cross, Dayton, to serve the growing Catholic immigrant population.
- Rev. P.J. Enright1900–1920
Enlarged the church; arranged for the wooden bell tower and bell from St. Paul's, Dayton, to be installed at St. Joseph.
- Rev. J.E. Rochford1920–1930
Saw the opening of St. Joseph School in 1925 and the arrival of the Franciscan Sisters of Stella Niagara.
- Rev. George Freeman1955–
Announced plans for the new, larger church in 1956 and presided over its groundbreaking in 1957.
- Rev. Daniel Walsh2002–
Founded the parish's Youth Group; led community memorial Masses.
- Rev. Joseph D. Porpiglia2012–present
Previously pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Amherst, NY.
- Rev. Innocent O. DialaMarch 2020–present (Parochial Vicar)
Parochial Vicar for the Catholic Family of the Holy Rosary (Family #27).