About St. Martha · Depew, New York
St. Martha Parish is a Roman Catholic community of approximately 1,500 families located at 10 French Road in the Village of Depew, Town of Cheektowaga, Erie County, New York, just one mile from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The parish was formed in 2011 through the merger of St. Barnabas and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Churches, two neighboring parishes founded in the early 1960s, as part of the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Journey of Faith and Grace' initiative. The name 'St. Martha' was chosen by the people of both parishes to honor the Gospel saint known for welcoming Christ into her home, and the parish community continues that tradition of hospitality today. It is part of the Diocese of Buffalo and operates the parish school known as Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (OLBS) School.
- Established
- 2011
- Patron
- St. Martha
- Rector
- Rev. Bart W. Lipiec (Pastor in Solidium)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. Martha is a welcoming, family-oriented Catholic parish of about 1,500 households on French Road in Depew, offering daily and weekend Masses, weekday Eucharistic Adoration in its chapel, the sacraments, and a parish school (Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament). It runs a Faith Formation program for grades 1–11, active choirs and a music ministry, a parish food pantry, a Parish Council, the Holy Name Society, and a long list of liturgical ministries (Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Greeters, Ushers, Altar Servers) where parishioners of all ages are invited to serve. Rooted in the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Journey of Faith and Grace' and grouped in a family of parishes, St. Martha is a good fit for anyone seeking an active, mid-sized Catholic community with strong catechetical, charitable, and liturgical life.
Mass times at St. Martha
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before the Saturday 5:00 PM Vigil Mass (if a priest is available)
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (in the Chapel)
- First Friday of the month, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM (in the Church)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Martha Parish is a Roman Catholic community of about 1,500 families located in the Village of Depew, Town of Cheektowaga, NY, within the Diocese of Buffalo. The parish's name was chosen by the people of the two founding churches (St. Barnabas and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament) in honor of St. Martha, who welcomed Jesus into her home. The parish's mission statement commits the community to welcoming 'both friend and stranger as an honored guest,' to living 'in faith, hope and charity,' and to strengthening the Church for the next generation through service to neighbors and others.
- Patron: St. Martha (feast day July 29)
- Approximately 1,500 registered families
- Diocese of Buffalo
- Member of a 'family of parishes' with St. Mary's of the Assumption (Hill Campus), Our Lady of Pompeii Campus, and St. Philip the Apostle Parish
History
St. Martha Parish traces its roots to two earlier Catholic communities — St. Barnabas and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament — both founded in the early 1960s to serve the growing suburban population east of Buffalo. As the Diocese of Buffalo carried out its 'Journey of Faith and Grace' pastoral plan, beginning in June 2005, the two parishes discerned that joining together would create a stronger community. In 2011 they formally merged into St. Martha Parish; the first joint Mass was celebrated on Sunday, June 12, 2011. The parish later continued to sponsor the Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament parish school. In March 2025 a 'Decree of the Merger of St. Martha Parish' appeared on the parish website, marking a further step in the diocese's ongoing consolidation.
- Founding parishes: St. Barnabas and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (both early 1960s)
- Merger created St. Martha Parish in 2011
- First joint Mass: Sunday, June 12, 2011
- Part of the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Journey of Faith and Grace' process
- Decree of the Merger of St. Martha Parish — published March 2025
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is currently led by Rev. Bart W. Lipiec as Pastor in Solidium, with Deacon James Trzaska serving as Permanent Deacon. The rectory is staffed by Parish Secretary Rosanne Depczynski and Bookkeeper Melissa Mudd. Family Business / Finance Manager Anne Pomaski also works out of the rectory. The school is led by Principal Nancy Kindred, and Faith Formation is directed by Jessica Szpylman. Jill Muise directs the Music Ministry.
- Rev. Bart W. Lipiec — Pastor in Solidium (x202)
- Deacon James Trzaska — Permanent Deacon (x7250)
- Rosanne Depczynski — Parish Secretary (x200)
- Melissa Mudd — Bookkeeper (x203)
- Anne Pomaski — Family Business/Finance Manager (x201)
- Mrs. Nancy Kindred — Principal, OLBS School (x213)
- Mrs. Lynn Schiffhauer — School Secretary (x211)
- Mrs. Jessica Szpylman — Director of Religious Education (x210)
- Jill Muise — Director of Music (716-684-1825)
- Brian Chambrone — Parish Council contact
- Charlene Mahony — Trustee
- James Richert — Trustee
Faith Formation (Religious Education)
St. Martha's Faith Formation program assists students in grades 1 through 11 in growing in knowledge of God, in their Catholic faith, and in an understanding of the Church's teachings. Recognizing parents as the primary educators of their children in faith and morals, the program affirms and supports the work done at home. The curriculum follows the Diocese of Buffalo Department of Catholic Education guidelines and is designed to help young parishioners develop a Christian way of life. Catechists are parish volunteers who are offered background formation, practical instruction, and classroom guidance.
- Grades served: 1–11
- Curriculum: Diocese of Buffalo Department of Catholic Education
- Director: Mrs. Jessica Szpylman — 716-685-2546, [email protected]
- Volunteer catechists are recruited from the parish community
Parish School — Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (OLBS)
St. Martha Parish continues to sponsor Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament School (OLBS), the parish elementary school that traces its roots to one of the parish's two founding communities. The school shares the parish campus on French Road in Depew and serves families from across the area. Extended-day care is available from 2:30 to 5:30 PM.
- Principal: Mrs. Nancy Kindred (x213)
- School Secretary: Mrs. Lynn Schiffhauer (x211)
- Phone: (716) 685-2544 / Fax: (716) 685-9103
- Extended Day (2:30–5:30 PM): (716) 730-9838
Music Ministry
St. Martha's Music Ministry welcomes singers and instrumentalists of all skill levels — no auditions are required, only a desire to 'lift your voice in song.' The adult choir (for young adults through seniors) rehearses every Tuesday from 3:15 to 5:00 PM and sings at weekend liturgies; a separate funeral choir sings at funerals as available. Cantors and musicians are also recruited to support parish worship.
- Director of Music: Jill Muise (716-684-1825)
- Adult choir rehearsal: Tuesdays 3:15–5:00 PM
- Funeral choir sings at funerals as available
- Cantors and instrumentalists welcome
Liturgical Ministries
St. Martha invites parishioners to take on a wide range of liturgical roles during Mass. Eucharistic Ministers assist with the distribution of Holy Communion at Mass and bring Communion to the homebound each week; they also repose the Blessed Sacrament in the adoration chapel. Altar Servers help at the altar during Mass — at present the parish notes it relies on adult altar servers. Lectors, Greeters and Ushers round out the liturgical ministry team.
- Eucharistic Ministers (with homebound and adoration chapel duties)
- Altar Servers (currently adult servers)
- Lectors
- Greeters
- Ushers
- Contact the Rectory: (716) 684-6342
Parish Organizations & Outreach
Beyond the liturgical teams, St. Martha's parish life includes several organizations that bring parishioners together for fellowship, service, and charity. The Holy Name Society is a Catholic men's organization that meets on the second Monday of each month — beginning with the Rosary at 6:30 PM, Mass at 7:00 PM, then a meeting and social in the school cafeteria — and supports parish charities both financially and with volunteers; it also sponsors 'Tuesday in the Club,' a weekly social night with cards and billiards. The Parish Council promotes the Gospel values of the parish and works to ensure the continuation and growth of the community, with six new council members drawn by lot each year.
- Holy Name Society — meets 2nd Monday, Rosary 6:30 PM, Mass 7:00 PM
- 'Tuesday in the Club' — Holy Name Society social, 7:00–11:00 PM weekly
- Parish Council — six members drawn yearly; contact Brian Chambrone
- St. Martha Pantry — parish food pantry outreach
- Trustees: Charlene Mahony and James Richert
Contact, Location & Family of Parishes
St. Martha Parish is located at 10 French Road, Depew, NY 14043, in the Village of Depew, Town of Cheektowaga — about one mile from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The rectory is open Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed for lunch from noon to 1:00 PM), and can be reached at (716) 684-6342 (fax 716-684-1853). St. Martha is grouped in a 'family of parishes' along with St. Mary's of the Assumption Parish (Hill Campus), Our Lady of Pompeii Campus, and St. Philip the Apostle Parish; additional family-of-parishes information is published at www.bdclfamily.org.
- Address: 10 French Road, Depew, NY 14043
- Phone: (716) 684-6342 / Fax: (716) 684-1853
- Rectory hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed noon–1:00 PM)
- Family of Parishes: St. Mary's of the Assumption (Hill), Our Lady of Pompeii, St. Philip the Apostle — see www.bdclfamily.org
- Diocese: Diocese of Buffalo