St. Pius X

Welcome to St. Pius X

St. Pius X is a Catholic community of faith in Getzville, New York, that has served the northern Buffalo suburbs since 1958. The parish is currently united with St. Gregory the Great Parish in Williamsville within the Shepherd and Saints Roman Catholic Family of Parishes, and continues to celebrate Mass and grow together in faith. The parish's stated identity is a 'place of prayer, community, and hope,' welcoming all who come to share the journey.

Our History

St. Pius X was established on June 2, 1958 by the Diocese of Buffalo under Bishop James A. McNulty, with Fr. Joseph Weber as the first pastor. Although the parish's roots go back to 1919 correspondence between Bishop William Turner and Getzville resident Mrs. Harinka Monkelbaan, it would take nearly four more decades before the parish was officially formed. The first Mass was celebrated at the Getzville fire hall on Dodge Road, and the parish quickly acquired a 15-acre property formerly known as the Frank Stahl Homestead, on which it still stands today. The first Mass on the new site was celebrated on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1959, in what is now called the Father Weber Center.

• 1958 — Parish established; Fr. Joseph Weber appointed first pastor
• Dec 24, 1959 — First Mass on parish property (Father Weber Center)
• 1964 — Fr. Francis Trapp becomes second pastor
• Nov 27, 1969 — Permanent church dedicated on Thanksgiving Day
• 1977 — Msgr. James N. Connelly becomes third pastor; adds religious education classrooms
• May 19, 1987 — Msgr. George B. Yiengst becomes fourth pastor; builds rectory/office complex (1990)
• 2006 — 'First from the Flames' 9/11 memorial sculpture dedicated
• 2008 — 50th anniversary; parish grown to ~1,400 families
• 2009 — Fr. James O'Connor becomes fifth pastor; founds Commitment to Parish Life (CPL) program
• 2015 — Fr. Jay McGinnis becomes sixth pastor; leads 'Upon this Rock' campaign
• 2019 — Livestreamed Mass begins during COVID-19 pandemic
• Aug 9, 2020 — Fr. Robert A. Wozniak becomes seventh pastor
• July 15, 2023 — Joins Shepherd and Saints Family of Parishes
• Mar 27, 2026 — Formally merges into St. Gregory the Great Parish; becomes a worship site

Mass & Devotions Schedule

St. Pius X offers daily Mass Monday through Friday at 9:00 AM, a Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 PM, and three Sunday Masses at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM (with the choir), and 12:00 PM (with the choir). Holy Days are marked with a 7:00 PM Vigil, 9:00 AM, and 12:00 PM Mass. A livestream of Mass is available online for those who cannot attend in person. The Adoration Chapel, located to the left of the altar, is open Monday through Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM (closed Thursdays).

• Weekend: Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM; Sunday 8:00, 10:00 (Choir), 12:00 PM (Choir)
• Weekday: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM
• Holy Days: 7:00 PM Vigil, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM
• Adoration Chapel: Mon–Wed and Fri, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM; closed Thursdays
• First Friday Adoration: 12:00 noon – 3:00 PM with the Blessed Sacrament exposed
• Queen of Peace Healing Mass: 4th Monday, Confessions 6:30 PM, Rosary 7:00 PM, Mass 7:30 PM, prayers for healing after
• Monthly Novena in Honor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal — 2nd Sunday, after 11:00 AM Mass

Queen of Peace Healing Ministry

The Queen of Peace Healing Ministry is based at St. Pius X and is committed to praying with those in need of God's healing and peace. The ministry reports many spiritual, physical, and emotional healings, and almost all who attend speak of receiving the Holy Spirit's special gift of inner peace. Each healing service includes the availability of a priest for confessions and is preceded by the recitation of the Rosary.

• Healing Mass on the 4th Monday of every month at 7:30 PM
• Confessions at 6:30 PM
• Rosary at 7:00 PM
• Individual prayers for healing immediately after Mass

Parish Ministries & Organizations

St. Pius X offers a wide range of lay-led ministries, with named contacts available on the parish website. Parishioners of every age and stage can find a way to serve — from liturgical roles (Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Music Ministry, Altar Servers) to fellowship and service groups (Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society, Ladies of Charity, Seniors), to formation and outreach (Pre-Cana, Ministry to the Sick, Bereavement, Respect Life, Novena).

• Knights of Columbus — Dave Wielgas
• Holy Name Society — Larry Ricigliano
• Ladies of Charity — Kelly Rummings
• Bereavement Ministry — Kathy Skipper
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — Char McGraw
• Lectors — Jude Schwendler
• Altar Servers
• Music Ministry — Ryan Bauer, Nancy Erdman
• Ministry to the Sick — James McGraw
• Novena — Barbara Crage
• Pre-Cana Ministry — Bert & Shauna Pandolfino
• Seniors — Ron Schmidt
• Parish Pastoral Council — Nora Fiegl
• Altar and Rosary Society
• Respect Life

Sacraments

St. Pius X celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments, with specific lay ministry contacts coordinating preparation and ongoing support. The Pre-Cana Ministry prepares engaged couples for marriage, while Ministry to the Sick brings Communion and pastoral care to those who are homebound or in hospitals. The parish website hosts a Sacraments page that links to further information for each sacrament.

• Baptism
• First Holy Communion
• Confirmation
• Marriage (Pre-Cana Ministry)
• Anointing of the Sick and home visits through Ministry to the Sick
• Confession / Reconciliation (before Healing Mass and by appointment)

The 'First from the Flames' Memorial

In front of St. Pius X Church stands 'First from the Flames,' a bronze sculpture by Canadian artist Timothy P. Schmalz, dedicated on June 4, 2006. The statue depicts four New York City firefighters carrying the body of FDNY Chaplain Mychal Judge, OFM — the first official casualty of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The memorial honors all first responders who sacrificed their lives that day and has become a notable landmark for the parish and the wider community.

• Sculptor: Timothy P. Schmalz
• Subject: Four NYC firefighters carrying Chaplain Mychal Judge, OFM
• Dedicated: June 4, 2006
• Location: In front of St. Pius X Church

Shepherd and Saints Family of Parishes

On July 15, 2023, St. Pius X, Good Shepherd Parish in Pendleton, and St. Gregory the Great Parish in Williamsville were joined as Family of Parishes #19, now called the Shepherd and Saints Roman Catholic Family. As of March 27, 2026, St. Pius X has formally merged into St. Gregory the Great Parish and continues to serve as a secondary worship site, sharing clergy and ministries across the three communities. The combined family of parishes describes itself as putting 'faith into action every day of the week,' through adoration, rosary, healing Masses, the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, prayer ministries, youth and young adult gatherings, and grief and loss support.

• Family formed July 15, 2023
• Parishes: St. Pius X (Getzville), Good Shepherd (Pendleton), St. Gregory the Great (Williamsville)
• Pastor: Fr. Leon Biernat
• Senior Parochial Vicars: Fr. Robert Wozniak and Fr. Daniel Young
• St. Pius X merged into St. Gregory the Great on March 27, 2026; continues as a worship site

Contact & Visit

The parish office is at 1700 North French Road, Getzville, NY 14068-1427, and can be reached by phone at (716) 688-9143. Office hours are Monday through Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM; the office is closed on Thursdays. A livestream of Mass is available on the parish website for those wishing to participate from home. As a worship site of St. Gregory the Great within the Shepherd and Saints Family, St. Pius X invites visitors to attend any of its weekday or Sunday Masses, devotions, or ministry gatherings.

• Address: 1700 North French Road, Getzville, NY 14068-1427
• Phone: (716) 688-9143
• Office Hours: Mon–Wed and Fri, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM; closed Thursdays
• Website: stpiusxgetzville.org
• Livestream Mass available online