About St. Martin de Porres · Buffalo, New York
St. Martin de Porres Roman Catholic Church is a historically African-American parish in Buffalo, New York, formed in 1993 from the merger of four central-city parishes (St. Matthew, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Benedict the Moor, and St. Boniface). It was founded and nurtured by Dominican Fr. Roderick M. Brown, and its current church on Northampton Street — the first new Roman Catholic church built in the City of Buffalo in fifty years — was consecrated by Bishop Henry J. Mansell on March 11, 2000, with design features that reflect Black culture and traditions. Today the parish sits in the Diocese of Buffalo, is part of Family of Parishes #21 (the Heart of Buffalo Catholic Community East), and is led by Fr. Joseph S. Rogliano. Its life is centered on a vibrant blend of traditional and Gospel liturgy, a strong Music Ministry under founding director Ella E. Robinson, and a wide network of parish ministries serving Buffalo's east side.
- Established
- 1993
- Patron
- St. Martin de Porres
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph S. Rogliano
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. Martin de Porres welcomes everyone to a parish that takes seriously its identity as a Black Catholic faith community in the heart of Buffalo. Worshippers can choose between a Sunday 8:00 AM Traditional Mass and a Spirit-filled 9:30 AM Gospel Mass led by choirs and musicians under founding Minister of Music Ella E. Robinson, with the Gospel Mass also livestreamed on Facebook. The parish's PUSHED mission — Pray, Unite, Serve, Help, Evangelize, Deliver — is lived out through ministries like the Parish Pastoral Council, Bereavement Committee, Women's Guild, Holy Name Society, Medical Response Guild, Prayer Group, Compassion Ministry, Evangelization Committee, Media & Communications Ministry, and a Summer Lunch distribution site for the City of Buffalo.
Mass times at St. Martin de Porres
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
St. Martin de Porres was born from the August 22, 1992 petition of four central-city parishes — St. Matthew, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Benedict the Moor, and St. Boniface — to merge and form one new parish. After nearly two years of prayer, reflection, and painful discussion, the new parish was officially inaugurated on March 7, 1993. The community worshipped temporarily in a Catholic high school auditorium and then in another closed sanctuary while choir members from each of the four parishes joined to form the Mass Gospel Choir under founding director Mrs. Ella Robinson.
- Founded March 7, 1993 from the merger of St. Matthew, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Benedict the Moor, and St. Boniface
- Founding pastor: Fr. Roderick M. Brown, O.P., Central City Vicar
- Current church at 555 Northampton Street consecrated March 11, 2000 by Bishop Henry J. Mansell
- First new Roman Catholic church built in the City of Buffalo in fifty years
- First Catholic church in Buffalo built with features reflecting Black culture and traditions
Mission Statement: PUSHED
The parish describes itself as a community 'PUSHED by God's Spirit' to live out a six-fold mission: Pray, Unite, Serve, Help, Evangelize, Deliver. It is committed to being 'The WORD in our Mission Field' — calling the people of God to use their gifts to strengthen the Christian community, to evangelize, preach, teach, serve, and reconcile, and to stand as a living testament to its heritage.
- P — Pray
- U — Unite
- S — Serve
- H — Help
- E — Evangelize
- D — Deliver
Parish Staff and Administrative Support
The parish is served by a small team of clergy, religious, and lay staff who support worship, music, outreach, administration, and building care.
- Rev. Joseph S. Rogliano — Pastor
- Deacon Ronald Walker — Permanent Deacon
- Sr. Philip Marie Cirincione, SSJ — Pastoral Associate Emeritus
- Ms. Nikkei Goodwin — Parish Secretary
- Mr. Adam Sumlin — Administrative Assistant to the Pastor; Liturgy Committee coordinator
- Ms. Joyce Menifee — Compassion Ministry
- Ms. Lanette Jennings — Church Personnel; Co-coordinator of Finance & Development Council; Co-coordinator of Summer Lunch Distributions
- Mr. Paul McDougald — Church Maintenance
- Mrs. Ella E. Robinson — Minister of Music (founding director)
- Mr. Douglas 'Trigger' Gaston — Pianist; coordinator of Traditional Service Cantors
Music Ministry
Music is a defining strength of the parish. The Music Ministry includes choirs, musicians, and cantors who provide music at Sunday Mass, special Masses, and services, with rehearsals on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. Ella E. Robinson, the founding director, continues to lead the Adult Gospel Choir and Youth Voice and Music Ensembles. The Traditional Service Cantors lead the congregation in song at the 8:00 AM Mass and are coordinated by pianist Douglas Gaston, assisted by Danis Gehl.
- Adult Gospel Choir — provides music at 9:30 AM Mass and Special Masses
- Youth Voice and Music Ensembles — under Ella E. Robinson, assisted by Shelby Thompson
- Traditional Service Cantors — 8:00 AM Mass; coordinated by Douglas Gaston, assisted by Danis Gehl
- Antonio Harris — Percussionist
- Rehearsals on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
Parish Life: Councils, Guilds, and Groups
The parish prides itself on a true family environment and offers a wide range of councils, guilds, and ministry groups, each led by long-standing parishioners. Members are welcome to belong to several ministries at once.
- Parish Pastoral Council — 14-person body of elected parishioners plus staff; meets third Saturday afternoon; Secretary Rebekah Mingo (716-348-0481, [email protected])
- Finance & Development Council — coordinated by Lanette Jennings and Rodney Richardson; oversees finances and building/development matters
- Trustees — Cynthia Matthews and Rodney Richardson
- Prayer Group — Tuesdays at 6:00 PM; coordinated by Nikkei Goodwin
- Medical Response Guild (Parish Medical Emergency Team) — trained first responders and medically certified volunteers; President Deborah Jones (716-435-1392, [email protected])
- Women's Guild — meets first Saturday of each month; coordinated by Laurie Alford (330-240-9306, [email protected])
- Bereavement Committee — assists families with funeral/memorial Masses and repast planning; coordinated by Carol Cole and Lanette Jennings
- Holy Name Society
- Booster
Ushers and Liturgy Committee
The parish is served by three usher groups — Women, Youth, and Men — and a Liturgy Committee that supports the smooth celebration of Mass.
- Ushers (Women) — coordinated by Deborah Jones
- Ushers (Youth) — coordinated by Catherine Horton
- Ushers (Men) — coordinated by Terry Alford
- Liturgy Committee — scheduling, training, and teaching coordinated by Adam Sumlin
Service and Outreach
Following its PUSHED mission to Serve, Help, Evangelize, and Deliver, the parish maintains a robust network of outreach ministries addressing the spiritual, social, and material needs of parishioners and the wider Buffalo community.
- Compassion Ministry — visits to the sick and homebound; Joyce Menifee, 716-883-7729, [email protected]
- Evangelization Committee — works to bring people to Christ and reconnect with absent parishioners; Maureen Satchell (716-860-8452)
- Media & Communications Ministry — promotes parish mission and events; Terry Alford (716-435-0258, [email protected])
- Catholic Charities of Buffalo Appeal Team — coordinated by Lori Alford and Paulette Lindsay
- Summer Lunch Distributions — parish serves as a site for the City of Buffalo Free Summer Lunch Program; coordinated by Lanette Jennings and Joyce Davis
Family of Parishes #21 — Heart of Buffalo Catholic Community East
St. Martin de Porres is part of the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Road to Renewal' initiative, grouped into Family of Parishes #21 with neighboring central-city parishes. As of November 2024, the family includes Blessed Trinity, SS. Columba-Brigid, and St. Martin de Porres. Fr. Joseph S. Rogliano was appointed pastor of Family #21 (which also previously included St. Lawrence) by Bishop Michael W. Fisher on February 1, 2023 for a term of six years or until a subsequent appointment. Fr. Robert Gebhard joined as senior parochial vicar; he is later listed as Temporary Administrator of the family.
- Blessed Trinity, Buffalo
- SS. Columba-Brigid, Buffalo
- St. Martin de Porres, Buffalo
- St. Lawrence, Buffalo (referenced in earlier 2023 Family #21 listings)
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph S. Rogliano (since Feb 1, 2023)
- Senior Parochial Vicar / Temporary Administrator: Rev. Robert Gebhard
Founding Pastor: Rev. Roderick M. Brown, O.P.
Fr. Roderick M. Brown, a Chicago-born Dominican priest and founding pastor, served as Central City Vicar and led the discussions that merged St. Matthew, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Benedict the Moor, and St. Boniface into St. Martin de Porres on March 7, 1993. He shepherded the building of the Northampton Street church, consecrated in 2000, and wrote 'A Gathering at the River,' which traced the history of African-American Catholics in the Buffalo diocese. He was also active in interfaith efforts and broader community outreach. After a 2002 diagnosis of multiple sclerosis he returned to St. Pius V Priory in Chicago on limited service, moved to Resurrection Life Center in 2008, and died unexpectedly at Resurrection Hospital in Chicago in October 2013 at age 71.
- Founded St. Martin de Porres Parish in 1993
- Coordinated central-city parish consolidation and the building of the new church
- Author of 'A Gathering at the River' on African-American Catholics in the Buffalo diocese
- Died October 2013, age 71
Visiting and Contact
St. Martin de Porres is located at 555 Northampton Street on Buffalo's east side. The parish office is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and can be reached by phone, fax, or email.
- Address: 555 Northampton St., Buffalo, NY 14208
- Phone: 716-883-PRAY (716-883-7729)
- Fax: 716-886-4101
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
- Facebook: @StMartindePorresBuffalo
- Website: stmartindpbuffalo.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Roderick M. Brown, O.P.1993–2002
Founding pastor; Central City Vicar; led the consolidation of four parishes and the building of the Northampton Street church; author of 'A Gathering at the River' on African-American Catholics in the Buffalo diocese.