About St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church · Spring Brook, New York
St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church is a faith-filled Roman Catholic parish in the hamlet of Spring Brook (within the Town of Elma), Erie County, New York, in the Diocese of Buffalo. The parish traces its formal beginning to a deed of parish land dated February 23, 1850, granted to Buffalo's first bishop, John Timon, making it one of the older parishes in the Southtowns of Western New York. Today the parish centers its life on the Eucharist and offers weekend and weekday Masses, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, a Religious Education program, youth ministry (Life Teen and Edge), and active outreach including the parish's own St. Vincent de Paul Society conference. In 2024–2025 St. Vincent de Paul joined with the Church of the Annunciation in Elma and Immaculate Conception of East Aurora to form a new Family of Parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo.
- Established
- 1850
- Patron
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Rector
- Rev. Bernard U. Nowak
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo, New York
Why belong here
St. Vincent de Paul is a tight-knit parish where members can genuinely know each other while still serving the wider community. A parishioner here finds a parish centered on the Eucharist with daily and weekly Masses, regular Eucharistic Adoration, and frequent Reconciliation, a robust Religious Education program for children and adults (plus Life Teen and Edge for middle and high schoolers), and active outreach through its own St. Vincent de Paul Society conference and other charitable ministries. As part of the new Family of Parishes with the Church of the Annunciation in Elma and Immaculate Conception in East Aurora, the parish combines the intimacy of a hamlet church with the resources of three worship sites and multiple priests.
Mass times at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30–6:00 pm
- Thursday 5:30–6:00 pm
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 pm
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:30–7:30 pm (in church)
- Thursday 6:00 pm
- First Friday 6:00–7:00 pm
Our Parish & Mission
St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located in Spring Brook, a hamlet in the Town of Elma, Erie County, New York, in the Diocese of Buffalo. Its published Mission Statement reads: 'St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church is a faith-filled community centered on the Eucharist. We are seeking to learn and live the Gospel through our service to our parish community and all of God's people. We strive to be faithful stewards of the gifts God has entrusted to us, as we continue to grow, educate, and proclaim the great works of the Lord.' The parish describes itself as a community whose faith, commitment, history, and continued education are central, with active attention to religious education for children and adults and outreach to the homebound and sick.
- Located in Spring Brook (hamlet in Elma), NY 14140
- Part of the Diocese of Buffalo
- Centered on the Eucharist
- Religious education for all ages
- Outreach to the homebound and sick
Our History
The parish officially begins with a deed dated February 23, 1850, by which Thomas Flanagan conveyed the property to Bishop John Timon, the first Bishop of Buffalo. Catholics had been in Spring Brook since at least 1849 — roughly 10 to 15 of about 50 families — and initially heard Mass monthly in the Flanagan home from Fr. Thomas McAvoy of Java. The first church was built in 1853, the first rectory in 1857, and Bishop Timon celebrated the parish's first Confirmation in 1865. From 1850 to 1926 an exceptional 29 priests ministered here, most for under three years; the parish became a mission of East Aurora in 1894 and was re-established as an independent parish in 1919.
- 1850 — Original property deeded by Thomas Flanagan to Bishop John Timon
- 1853 — First church built by Fr. J. Doran
- 1857 — First rectory built by Fr. James M.
- 1865 — First Confirmation by Bishop Timon
- 1874 — Second church built (frame blown down, then raised again)
- 1892 — First printed financial report (Spring Brook, East Aurora, Marilla: $974.28 over eight months)
- 1894 — Became a mission church of East Aurora
- 1900 — Original first church sold at auction for $20 and moved to Blossom Road
- 1905 — Parish school started in the church choir loft
- 1908 — Old Marilla Catholic Church moved behind St. Vincent's to serve as the first real school
- 1910 — Four Sisters of St. Francis of Williamsville arrived as teachers
- 1919 — Formally re-established as an independent parish
- 1926 — Rectory built (later used as a convent)
- 1950 — Centennial celebrated
- 1961 — Present school building completed
- 1968 — Parish Council formed
- 1988 — New church and rectory built; old rectory becomes a convent
- 1993 — Fr. Jim Walter joined the parish
- 1997 — Old convent moved across Seneca Street
- 1999 — Old 'corner' church demolished
- 2001 — Bell from the old church placed under the canopy of the new church
- 2014 — Parish school closed at the end of the 2013–14 school year
- 2024–2025 — Merged with Church of the Annunciation (Elma) and Immaculate Conception (East Aurora) into a Family of Parishes
Parish Clergy & Staff
As part of the new Family of Parishes formed in 2024–2025, St. Vincent de Paul is served by three priests. Fr. Bernard Nowak is the pastor of the Family, with Fr. Karl Loeb (long-time pastor of St. Vincent de Paul from May 27, 2014) continuing as Senior Parochial Vicar and Fr. Robert Contarin as Parochial Vicar since Fall 2025. Fr. Karl, a Dunkirk, NY native, was ordained May 13, 1995 by Bishop Edward D. Head for the Diocese of Buffalo and previously served as parochial vicar at Ss. Peter and Paul (Jamestown), St. Leo the Great (Amherst), and Nativity of Our Lord (Orchard Park), as Temporary Administrator at St. John's in Jamestown and St. Teresa of Avila in Akron, and as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul in Attica and (after its merger with St. Joseph's in Varysburg) Ss. Joachim and Anne Parish.
- Rev. Bernard U. Nowak — Pastor (Family of Parishes, since Spring 2025)
- Rev. Karl E. Loeb — Senior Parochial Vicar (pastor since May 27, 2014)
- Rev. Robert Contarin — Parochial Vicar (since Fall 2025)
- Sharon Snyder — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
- Daniel Mikolajczyk — Parish Business Manager
- Julie Cappello — Director of Religious Education (since Fall 2021; 716-652-7242)
- Mary Bushway — Religious Education Assistant ([email protected])
- Dominic Buttino — Life Teen / Edge Coordinator ([email protected])
Religious Education & Youth Ministry
Religious Education at St. Vincent de Paul is directed by Julie Cappello, who has served in the role since Fall 2021, with Mary Bushway as Religious Education Assistant. The parish offers faith formation for school-age children and adults. Youth ministry includes both Edge (middle school) and Life Teen (high school) programs, coordinated by Dominic Buttino, a long-time parishioner who grew up at St. Vincent de Paul and previously taught first and seventh grade and served on the Life Teen core team before becoming Edge Coordinator in 2016 and Life Teen Coordinator in 2020.
- Director of Religious Education: Julie Cappello (716-652-7242)
- Religious Education Assistant: Mary Bushway ([email protected])
- Edge (middle school youth ministry)
- Life Teen (high school youth ministry)
- Coordinator: Dominic Buttino ([email protected])
- Adult faith formation
St. Vincent de Paul Society & Charitable Outreach
The parish hosts a local conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the international Catholic charitable organization founded by Blessed Frédéric Ozanam and named for the parish's patron saint. The parish Society quietly aids families in need, makes visits to homes, hospitals, and institutions, and connects parishioners with the broader Council District's dining room, thrift store, and summer camp for children ages 8 to 13. Contacts include Mark Jarnot (716-652-4019) and Norm Thor (716-652-5173).
- Patron: St. Vincent de Paul
- Founder: Blessed Frédéric Ozanam
- Local contact: Mark Jarnot — 716-652-4019
- Local contact: Norm Thor — 716-652-5173
- Hospital, home, and institutional visits
- Connection to Council District dining room, thrift store, and summer camp
Ministries & Community Life
St. Vincent de Paul describes itself as 'a tight-knit community that likes to share in fellowship, outreach, personal growth, and lots of fun,' with formal ministries in Liturgical, Charitable, Parish, and Diocesan categories. New ministries can be proposed via a Ministry Suggestion Form on the parish website; outside groups wishing to use parish facilities submit a Facility Usage Form. The parish also links parishioners to the Diocese of Buffalo's Office of Family Life and its programs.
- Liturgical Ministries
- Charitable Ministries
- Parish Ministries
- Diocesan Ministries (Family Life)
- Music Ministry
- Facility Usage / proposal process
- Ministry Suggestion Form for new ministries
St. Vincent de Paul School
St. Vincent de Paul School began in 1905 in the choir loft of the old church under teacher Nellie Collins, the parish's first teacher. In 1908 the former Marilla Catholic Church was relocated behind St. Vincent's at the corner of Seneca and Rice Roads to serve as the first real school building. On September 19, 1910 four Sisters of St. Francis of Williamsville arrived; thirty-four students were enrolled that year and additional students moved in from Gardenville in December. By 1948 the school had a 'chartered bus service' and an enrollment of 102 students. The present school building was completed and dedicated in 1961. After years of declining regional enrollment in Catholic elementary schools, Bishop Richard J. Malone announced in early 2014 that St. Vincent de Paul School would close at the end of the 2013–14 academic year as part of the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Faith in Tomorrow' strategic vision, along with nine other area Catholic schools.
- 1905 — School started in the church choir loft (Nellie Collins, first teacher)
- 1908 — Old Marilla church moved behind St. Vincent's as the first school building
- 1910 — Four Sisters of St. Francis of Williamsville arrived; 34 students enrolled
- 1948 — Chartered bus service; enrollment of 102 students
- 1961 — Present school building completed and dedicated
- 2014 — School closed at the end of the 2013–14 academic year (Faith in Tomorrow)
Family of Parishes
As part of the Diocese of Buffalo's broader restructuring announced in 2024, St. Vincent de Paul in Spring Brook was merged with the Church of the Annunciation in Elma and Immaculate Conception of East Aurora to form a single parish served as a Family of Parishes with three primary worship sites. Fr. Bryan Zielenieski, Vicar of Renewal, led the announcement, and the formal leadership transition took place in 2025 with Fr. Bernard Nowak becoming pastor of the Family and Fr. Karl Loeb and Fr. Robert Contarin continuing ministry at St. Vincent de Paul.
- Sister parishes: Church of the Annunciation (Elma) and Immaculate Conception (East Aurora)
- Three primary worship sites
- Family pastor: Fr. Bernard U. Nowak (Spring 2025)
- St. Vincent de Paul clergy: Fr. Karl Loeb (Senior Parochial Vicar), Fr. Robert Contarin (Parochial Vicar)
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email, and the parish invites newcomers and visitors to come to Mass, enroll in religious education, or get involved in one of its ministries. The parish livestreams Mass from its website and publishes a weekly bulletin with news, events, and reflections. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:30 am–4:00 pm and Friday 8:30 am–12:00 noon.
- Address: 6441 Seneca Street, P.O. Box 290, Springbrook, NY 14140
- Phone: 716-652-3972; Fax: 716-655-3048
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 am–4:00 pm; Fri 8:30 am–12:00 pm
- Website: http://www.svdpspringbrook.com/
- Livestream Mass available via the parish website
- Weekly parish bulletin published online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Thomas McAvoyPre-1850
Mission priest from Java, NY who said Mass monthly in the Flanagan home.
- Fr. J. Doran1853
Broke ground for the first church.
- Fr. James M.1857
Built the first rectory and opened the in-church religion school.
- Fr. Jim Walter1993
Joined St. Vincent de Paul Parish (longest-tenured pastor of recent decades).
- Rev. Karl E. Loeb2014–2025
Became pastor on May 27, 2014; now Senior Parochial Vicar of the Family of Parishes.
- Rev. Bernard U. NowakSpring 2025–
Current pastor of the new Family of Parishes.