About St. Maximilian Kolbe (Holy Name of Mary Worship Site, East Pembroke) · East Pembroke, New York
St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish is a Roman Catholic community of faith in the Diocese of Buffalo, serving two worship sites in Genesee County, New York: St. Francis of Assisi Church in Corfu and Holy Name of Mary Church in East Pembroke. The parish was formed in 2009 through the 'Journey in Faith and Grace' merger of Holy Name of Mary (East Pembroke), St. Francis of Assisi (Corfu), and St. Patrick (Crittenden). It is named after the Franciscan martyr St. Maximilian Kolbe, who volunteered to die in place of a fellow prisoner at Auschwitz in 1941. The parish's stated mission is 'to strengthen the Body of Christ in our community through the sharing of the Eucharist, prayer, & works of charity.' In 2024, as part of the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Road to Renewal,' St. Maximilian Kolbe was merged into Resurrection Parish in Batavia, with Holy Name of Mary continuing as a worship site.
- Established
- 2009
- Patron
- St. Maximilian Kolbe
- Rector
- Rev. Robert Orlowski (as pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish; following the 2024 merger the parish is now part of Resurrection Parish, Batavia)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. Maximilian Kolbe (Holy Name of Mary worship site) is a small, traditional country parish serving the farming communities of eastern Genesee County, NY. Worshippers come for Sunday and weekday Mass at the historic 1868 Holy Name of Mary church on Church Street in East Pembroke, for First Friday Mass and Eucharistic Adoration devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and for a parish life organized around 'Eucharist, prayer, & works of charity.' As part of Resurrection Parish in Batavia since 2024, the East Pembroke site retains its own identity while connecting parishioners to a larger network of Catholic life in western New York.
Mass times at St. Maximilian Kolbe (Holy Name of Mary Worship Site, East Pembroke)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (parish-level, listed on Catholic Church Directory for the Holy Name of Mary site)
Adoration times
- First Friday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (immediately following 10 AM Mass, as part of Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish is a Roman Catholic community of faith located in Corfu and East Pembroke, NY, in the Genesee/Wyoming Vicariate of the Diocese of Buffalo. The parish draws its name from the Polish Franciscan martyr St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894–1941), who volunteered to die in place of a fellow prisoner at Auschwitz. The parish's published mission is to 'strengthen the Body of Christ in our community through the sharing of the Eucharist, prayer, & works of charity.' In 2024, as part of the Buffalo Diocese's 'Road to Renewal' initiative, St. Maximilian Kolbe was merged into Resurrection Parish in Batavia; Holy Name of Mary Church in East Pembroke continues as a worship site.
- Named for St. Maximilian Kolbe, Franciscan martyr (feast day Aug. 14)
- Diocese of Buffalo, Genesee/Wyoming Vicariate
- Mission: 'Eucharist, prayer, & works of charity'
- Formed 2009 in the 'Journey in Faith and Grace' merger
- Merged into Resurrection Parish, Batavia, in 2024 (Road to Renewal)
History of the Parish
St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish was canonically erected in 2009 when the Diocese of Buffalo consolidated three small country parishes in eastern Genesee County. Holy Name of Mary in East Pembroke dated to 1868, St. Francis of Assisi in Corfu to 1898 (its church moved in 1920 away from a flood-prone site), and St. Patrick in Crittenden to 1857. After the merger, St. Patrick was sold in 2008 for use as a private residence, while Holy Name of Mary and St. Francis of Assisi continued as active worship sites for fifteen years. In 2024, under Bishop Michael W. Fisher's 'Road to Renewal,' St. Maximilian Kolbe was merged into Resurrection Parish in Batavia; the East Pembroke site was retained as a worship site of the new combined parish.
- Holy Name of Mary founded 1868 (East Pembroke)
- St. Francis of Assisi founded 1898 (Corfu)
- St. Patrick Crittenden founded 1857, sold 2008
- St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish erected 2009
- Merged into Resurrection Parish, Batavia, 2024
Worship Sites
The parish has historically maintained two worship sites in Genesee County: St. Francis of Assisi Church at 18 W. Main Street in Corfu, NY 14036, and Holy Name of Mary Church at 8656 Church Street in East Pembroke, NY 14056. Following the 2024 merger into Resurrection Parish, Holy Name of Mary continues to host Mass as an active worship site.
- Holy Name of Mary – 8656 Church Street, East Pembroke, NY 14056
- St. Francis of Assisi – W. Main Street, Corfu, NY 14036 (closed 2024)
Clergy & Staff
Rev. Robert Orlowski has served as pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish following the January 2017 medical leave of his predecessor, Fr. James L. Fugle. Sue Drozdiel serves as the parish's Administrative Assistant. Fr. Fugle, who had been pastor from October 2012 and was ordained in 2008, died on October 23, 2021 at age 57.
- Rev. Robert Orlowski – Pastor (parish directory)
- Sue Drozdiel – Administrative Assistant
- Rev. James L. Fugle – Pastor 2012–2017 (died Oct. 23, 2021)
Faith Formation & Ministries
The parish has historically offered faith formation for children and youth, preparation for the sacraments, and ministry opportunities for adult parishioners including lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and members of the parish's charity and outreach efforts. First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus draws the community together monthly.
- Faith Formation / religious education
- Youth ministry
- RCIA for adults
- Lectors & Eucharistic Ministers
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotion (First Friday)
- Parish charity and outreach
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. Baptisms, weddings, and Anointing of the Sick are scheduled by appointment through the parish office; First Communion and Confirmation are received through the parish's Faith Formation program; adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church participate in RCIA.
- Baptism (by appointment)
- First Communion & Confirmation (Faith Formation)
- Marriage (preparation required)
- Anointing of the Sick (by appointment)
- RCIA (adult initiation)
- Funerals / Christian Burial
Visit, Contact & Directions
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone at (585) 599-4833 or by email at [email protected]. The official website is stmax.net and the parish maintains a presence on Facebook (search 'Holy Name of Mary East Pembroke'). The Holy Name of Mary worship site is located at 8656 Church Street in the hamlet of East Pembroke, in the Town of Pembroke, Genesee County, NY.
- Phone: (585) 599-4833
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stmax.net
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmaxrc/
- Address: 8656 Church Street, East Pembroke, NY 14056
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James L. FugleOctober 2012 – January 2017
Ordained May 17, 2008 by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec; previously parochial vicar at St. Vincent de Paul (Niagara Falls) and St. Pius X (Getzville). Left in January 2017 for medical leave, later became senior parochial vicar at Resurrection Parish in Batavia, retired Nov. 1, 2019; died Oct. 23, 2021 at age 57.
- Rev. Robert OrlowskiAfter 2017 – present (at merger)
Listed as parish priest on Catholic Church Directory; served St. Maximilian Kolbe until the 2024 merger into Resurrection Parish.