About St. Mark · Buffalo, New York
St. Mark is a Roman Catholic parish in the North Buffalo neighborhood of Parkside, founded on June 25, 1908 by Bishop Charles Colton with just 32 families and its first pastor, Rev. John J. McMahon. Today it is part of the Catholic Community of Buffalo, North family of parishes, having been linked with neighboring St. Rose of Lima since the fall of 2010 under the Journey in Faith & Grace initiative. The parish worships in a large Gothic-style church built in 1914 on Woodward Avenue, and continues to operate St. Mark School, the parochial elementary school dedicated by Bishop William Turner on October 16, 1921. The current pastor, Rev. Joseph S. Rogliano, has served the linked parishes of St. Mark and St. Rose of Lima since September 2010.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- St. Mark (the Evangelist)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph S. Rogliano
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. Mark offers a welcoming, long-established Catholic community in the Parkside neighborhood of North Buffalo, with a historic Gothic church, a parish elementary school that has been educating local children for over a century, and a vibrant array of lay ministries. Parishioners can take part in faith formation for all ages, outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Ladies of Charity, devotional societies such as the Legion of Mary and the Altar and Rosary Society, and liturgical service as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and altar servers. As one of two linked parishes forming a North Buffalo Community of Faith, it offers the warmth of a neighborhood parish combined with the resources of a collaborative pastoral team.
Mass times at St. Mark
Weekly Mass schedule
History of St. Mark Parish
Bishop Charles Colton formally founded the Parish of St. Mark on June 25, 1908, with Rev. John J. McMahon as its first pastor and an initial community of just 32 families in the Parkside neighborhood of North Buffalo. The current Gothic-style church was built in 1914, and the parish school was dedicated by Bishop William Turner on October 16, 1921, when the parish had grown to 275 families. The parish has produced an extraordinary number of Church vocations over its history, including Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie, Pennsylvania, who grew up as both a parishioner and a St. Mark School graduate.
- Parish founded June 25, 1908 by Bishop Charles Colton
- First pastor: Rev. John J. McMahon (1908–1928)
- Current Gothic-style church built in 1914
- Parish school dedicated by Bishop William Turner on October 16, 1921
- Notable parishioner: Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie, PA
Linkage with St. Rose of Lima
In the fall of 2010, St. Mark was linked with the neighboring parish of St. Rose of Lima (500 Parker Ave., Buffalo, NY 14216) as part of the Diocese of Buffalo's Journey in Faith & Grace pastoral planning process. The two parishes continue to operate independently while sharing a pastor, staff, and an increasing level of collaboration as a North Buffalo Community of Faith. Weekend Masses are now scheduled across the two churches: Saturday 4:00 PM at St. Mark, Sunday 8:00 AM at St. Mark, and Sunday 10:30 AM at St. Rose of Lima.
- Linked parishes since fall 2010 under Journey in Faith & Grace
- St. Rose of Lima located at 500 Parker Ave., Buffalo, NY 14216
- Shared pastor: Rev. Joseph S. Rogliano
Pastor
The current pastor of St. Mark and St. Rose of Lima is Rev. Joseph S. Rogliano, a priest of the Diocese of Buffalo ordained in 1985. Before coming to St. Mark, Father Rogliano served from 1998 to January 2006 as pastor of St. Anthony and St. Joseph in Lockport, NY, and then from January 2006 as pastor of the 14 Holy Helpers parish in West Seneca, NY, a growing community of more than 2,200 families. He was assigned to St. Mark and St. Rose of Lima in September 2010.
- Rev. Joseph S. Rogliano — pastor since September 2010
- Ordained in 1985 for the Diocese of Buffalo
- Previous assignments: St. Anthony & St. Joseph (Lockport); 14 Holy Helpers (West Seneca)
Parish Staff and Directory
St. Mark is served by a small staff and lay leaders in addition to the pastor. Parish trustees are Christopher Murphy and Carol Corr. The rectory office is staffed by bookkeeper Rachel Piazza and parish secretary Melanie Warden. Music is led by co-directors Ken Kaufman and Michelle Farina, and religious education is directed by Joanne Yakovac (716-835-9689). Rectory office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM; in an emergency, parishioners may call 716-836-1600.
- Pastoral Trustees: Christopher Murphy, Carol Corr
- Bookkeeper: Rachel Piazza
- Parish Secretary: Melanie Warden
- Directors of Music: Ken Kaufman and Michelle Farina
- Religious Education Director: Joanne Yakovac (716-835-9689)
Mass and Sacraments
As of December 2023, the weekend Mass schedule for the linked parishes is Saturday at 4:00 PM at St. Mark, Sunday at 8:00 AM at St. Mark, and Sunday at 10:30 AM at St. Rose of Lima. The bulletin carries the full schedule of Masses for the Catholic Community of Buffalo, North family of parishes. The parish also prepares members for the sacraments of Baptism, First Penance, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Funerals; training is required before receiving First Penance, First Communion, having a child baptized, or getting married — contact the rectory for details.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM at St. Mark
- Sunday: 8:00 AM at St. Mark; 10:30 AM at St. Rose of Lima
- Sacramental preparation required for Baptism, First Penance, First Communion, and Marriage
- Parish also offers Anointing of the Sick and Funeral services
Ministries and Parish Life
St. Mark supports a wide range of lay ministries and parish societies that sustain the spiritual, charitable, and social life of the community. Liturgical roles include altar servers, ushers, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers. Devotional and fraternal societies include the Spiritual Life Committee, Parish Council, Altar and Rosary Society, Ladies Guild, Holy Name Society, Young at Heart, Legion of Mary, and Boy Scouts. Outreach is led through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Ladies of Charity, and the parish is affiliated with the Diocesan Right to Life organization.
- Spiritual Life Committee and Parish Council
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, Ushers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers
- Devotional: Altar & Rosary Society, Holy Name Society, Legion of Mary, Ladies Guild, Young at Heart
- Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul Society, Ladies of Charity
- Affiliations: Right to Life (Diocesan), Boy Scouts
Education and Faith Formation
The parish operates St. Mark School, a Catholic elementary school in continuous operation since its dedication on October 16, 1921 by Bishop William Turner. The school was built at a cost of $165,000 and originally placed under the supervision of the Sisters of St. Joseph. For more than 100 years it has provided Catholic education to children of North Buffalo and Western New York. In addition, the parish offers Adult Faith Formation, Vacation Bible School, sacramental catechesis, and formation for catechists to support lifelong faith growth.
- St. Mark School (Catholic elementary, since 1921)
- Originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph
- Adult Faith Formation program
- Vacation Bible School
- Catechist formation
Stewardship and Online Giving
Parishioners and friends can support the mission of St. Mark and St. Rose of Lima through electronic giving via the We Share online platform, accessible at saintmarkbuffalo.churchgiving.com or saintrosebuffalo.churchgiving.com. New accounts can be set up with weekly, bi-weekly, twice-monthly, or monthly giving frequencies.
- Online giving via We Share (saintmarkbuffalo.churchgiving.com)
- Giving frequencies: weekly, bi-weekly, twice-monthly, monthly
Visiting and Contact
St. Mark Church is located at 401 Woodward Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14214, telephone (716) 836-1600, fax (716) 835-7941. The rectory is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM; in case of emergency, call the rectory line. The parish encourages visitors to attend a weekend Mass and to introduce themselves to the pastor, Fr. Joseph Rogliano, and parishioners are encouraged to use the bulletin and parish website for the most current information on Masses, sacraments, and faith-formation opportunities.
- Address: 401 Woodward Ave., Buffalo, NY 14214
- Phone: (716) 836-1600; Fax: (716) 835-7941
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–4:00 PM
- Emergency line: (716) 836-1600
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John J. McMahon1908–1928
First pastor; welcomed the original 32 families at the parish's founding.
- Rev. Robert Walsh1928–1937
- Rev. F. Garvey1937
Administrator.
- Rev. Charles E. Duffy1937–1942
- Rev. Joseph A. Burke1942–1952
- Rev. Edward J. Walker1952
Administrator.
- Rev. Eugene A. Loftus1953–1970
- Rev. William J. Grant1970–1975
- Rev. Robert G. Ochs1975–1980
- Rev. Francis Braun1980–2010
Long-serving pastor who led the parish until it was linked with St. Rose of Lima in 2010.
- Rev. Joseph S. Rogliano2010–present
Came to St. Mark & St. Rose of Lima in September 2010; previously pastor of Holy Helpers in West Seneca. Ordained 1985.