About St. Michael · Buffalo, New York
St. Michael Church is a historic Jesuit parish in downtown Buffalo, New York, founded in 1851 to serve the city's German Catholic community. Located at 651 Washington Street near Chippewa, it is the oldest parish in the Buffalo diocese entrusted to the Society of Jesus and was once the chapel of the original Canisius College complex. Today it serves as an inner-city spiritual haven with daily Mass, devotions, and Ignatian programming under the leadership of the Downtown Family of Parishes (Family #22), which also includes St. Louis, Blessed Sacrament, the Oratory of St. Anthony, and St. Joseph's Cathedral.
- Established
- 1851
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Raymond G. Corbin
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. Michael's offers a quiet, prayerful spiritual home in the heart of downtown Buffalo with a daily Mass schedule, Eucharistic Adoration, Ignatian retreats and the Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life, and devotions such as the Sacred Heart and Saint Francis Xavier novenas. A parish of about 310 registered households, it is staffed by Jesuits and offers a uniquely rich liturgical and devotional life—Scripture Study, a multicultural Book Club, a Parish Intention Book at the Sacred Heart altar, and the Buffalo chapter of the Calix Society—that is hard to match anywhere else in the diocese.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: after the 6:45 AM Mass until 8:30 AM
- By appointment at the Rectory (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri) 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon (Email: [email protected])
- No confessions on Saturday, Sunday, and Holy Days
Adoration times
- Sunday 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament / Holy Hour with Benediction) at St. Michael's
- Tuesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Blessed Sacrament
History of St. Michael's
St. Michael's was founded in 1851 when Bishop John Timon invited the Jesuits into his new diocese and entrusted them with a parish on Washington Street that became the cradle of Canisius College and the German Catholic community in downtown Buffalo. After the lightning-strike fire of May 23, 1962, the limestone walls and signature domed tower were saved and the interior rebuilt, with the parish resuming Masses on the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, September 12, 1963.
- Cornerstone laid August 20, 1851 by Bishop John Timon, first Bishop of Buffalo (diocese erected 1847)
- Jesuits arrived in Buffalo in 1848 at Bishop Timon's invitation
- Canisius College founded on the grounds in 1870; high school established 1872
- School closed 1949; new rectory dedicated 1954
- Lightning-strike fire May 23, 1962 gutted the interior; rebuilt and reopened September 12, 1963
The Downtown Family of Parishes (Family #22)
St. Michael's is one of five parishes in the Downtown Family: St. Louis, St. Michael, Blessed Sacrament, the Oratory of St. Anthony, and St. Joseph's Cathedral, all pastored by Rev. Raymond G. Corbin. The central administration for the family is the Downtown Central Family Office at 1035 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo.
- St. Louis, St. Michael, Blessed Sacrament, Oratory of St. Anthony, St. Joseph's Cathedral
- Pastor of the Family: Rev. Raymond G. Corbin
- Family priests: Rev. Jacek P. Mazur, Rev. Sal Manganello, Rev. Ben Fiore, SJ
- Downtown Central Family Office: 1035 Delaware Ave., Buffalo (716-884-0053)
Devotions and Novenas
St. Michael's continues the Jesuit tradition of rich novena devotions, including the Sacred Heart Novena in the nine days before the Solemnity and the Saint Francis Xavier Novena from March 4 to 12, with a blessing using the relic of St. Francis after each Mass.
- Sacred Heart Novena (9 days before the Solemnity, prayed at all Masses)
- Saint Francis Xavier Novena, March 4–12 (with relic blessing after Mass)
- Anointing of the Sick: Last Sunday of the month, after the 12:00 noon Mass
- Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel recited at the end of Mass
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a team of Jesuits and diocesan clergy led by Pastor Rev. Raymond G. Corbin, with deacon and lay staff supporting parish life.
- Pastor: Rev. Raymond G. Corbin
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Jacek Mazur
- Jesuit Priests: Rev. Benjamin (Ben) Fiore, SJ; Rev. Richard J. Zanoni, SJ; Rev. Martin Moleski, SJ (Calix chaplain)
- Permanent Deacon: Deacon Tommy (Tom) LaBelle
- Sacristan: Josephine DiLiberti
- Director of Faith Formation: Ashlee Campbell
- Music Director: Tony Domzal; Cantor: Cory Gallagher
- Parish Trustees: Paul F. Jones and Mary C. McCracken
- Parish Council President: Michael P. Pitek III
Ignatian Spirituality and Parish Ministries
Rooted in the spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, St. Michael's offers a wide range of parish ministries—an Ignatian retreat in daily life, Scripture study, lectures, a multicultural book club, a parish intention book at the Sacred Heart altar, support for military chaplains, and the Calix Society for those affected by alcoholism.
- The Spiritual Exercises (eight-month retreat, individual or group) — directed by Fr. Ben Fiore, SJ
- The Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life — year-long, starting each fall
- Scripture Study Group (Sundays in Advent and Lent, 11:00 AM)
- Lecture Series (occasional evenings, Jesuit and visiting speakers)
- Multicultural Fiction Book Club (fall and spring; potluck dinner discussion)
- Parish Intention Book at the Sacred Heart Altar
- Chaplain's Wings (collection of items for military chaplains)
- Calix Society – Buffalo Unit (last Sunday of the month, 3:00 PM, Rectory basement)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Redmond
Pastor at the time of the 1962 lightning fire; quoted praising firefighters who saved the church.
- Rev. Benjamin (Ben) Fiore, SJ
Long-time pastor in recent decades before the Downtown Family restructuring; Canisius College professor, still assisting at the parish.