📜 St. James Parish – Our History

1910–1919  Founding and Early Growth

St. James R.C. Church was established on June 8, 1910. Msgr. James Carra, founder, served as the first pastor to the largely Italian immigrant parish. Masses were held in a purchased wood frame house on Victoria Ave. The Sisters of Mercy arrived to teach school there in 1912. The house was replaced by a large new stone church in 1915.

In 1918, St. James School was moved to the basement of the church, where it remained until 1953, when the brick building on nearby Prospect Ave. was built.

1920–1973  Stability, Education, and Parish Life

St. James was blessed with the continuity of longtime pastors: Msgr. Carra, 1910 to 1927; Rev. Austin Billerio from 1927 to 1940; and Msgr. Pasquale Colagioia, 1940 to 1973. Through these decades, the parish grew steadily, supported by the tireless love of its pastors and almost 70 assistant priests who served over the years.

The Sisters of Mercy continued to teach in the parish school and provided religious instruction for more than 50 years, shaping generations of Catholic families. Their presence became a defining part of parish life.

The present church at 27 Allen St. was built in 1968, marking a major milestone in the parish’s physical and spiritual development.

1973–1979  Transition and School Merger

Rev. Louis Della Neva served as pastor from 1973 to 1978, guiding the parish through years of change. St. James School operated until the merger with SS. Peter & Paul School on N. Main St. in 1977 (recently renamed the Catholic Academy of the Holy Family). The building continued to serve the parish and community for many years, hosting church classes, preschools, and St. Susan’s Soup Kitchen.

In 1978, Msgr. Antoine P. Attea became pastor, beginning a long and beloved pastorate that would last until 2007.

1980–1999  Outreach, Service, and Parish Identity

In 1980, sisters came to implement the first ministry of Parish Outreach, which later became staffed by lay women and has served the community until the present. This ministry, along with the Sisters of Mercy who had taught in the parish school and provided religious instruction for more than 50 years, helped shape the parish’s strong tradition of service.

Throughout these decades, St. James parishioners continued to serve in a wide variety of ministries. Lay volunteers acted as lectors, liturgists, musicians, hospitality ministers, ushers, Eucharistic ministers, and bearers of the Eucharist to the homebound. They visited the sick and bereaved, cooked and baked for parish functions such as the annual St. Joseph’s Table and Summer Festival, chaired committees that raised money for charities as well as the parish’s own needs, worked in the ecumenical soup kitchen, staffed the parish thrift store, provided supplies for food baskets and other community needs, and wrote letters to effect just changes on a global scale. Parishioners also volunteered their skills and talents wherever needed.

Catechists, Liturgy of the Word for Children leaders, and RCIA assistants helped form the faith of parish families. Others led Bible studies, sponsored parish missions or renewals, worked with marriage preparation, and held seats on parish council. These ministries reflected the parish’s deep commitment to lifelong faith formation and community involvement.

By the late 1990s, St. James had become widely recognized for its outreach and service. The parish’s identity was rooted not only in worship but in a lived expression of the Gospel through charity, hospitality, and justice.

2000–2009  Centennial, Community Ministry, and Parish Transitions

Since the parish’s 100th anniversary celebration in 2000, lay staff have continued to assist the pastor with programs and day‑to‑day operations. Lay volunteers also served in a variety of ministries, including lectors, liturgists, musicians, hospitality ministers, ushers, Eucharistic ministers, and bearers of the Eucharist to the homebound. They visited the sick and bereaved, cooked and baked for parish functions such as the annual St. Joseph’s Table and Summer Festival, chaired committees that raised money for charities as well as the parish’s own needs, worked in the ecumenical soup kitchen, staffed the parish thrift store, provided supplies for food baskets and other community needs, and wrote letters to effect just changes on a global scale or volunteered other skills and talents.

In 2003, Our Lady of Victory Church in Frewsburg, which had been linked with and shared a pastor with St. James since that year, became an important partner parish. In 2004, St. James was one of only two churches designated an “Outstanding Community of Salt & Light” by Catholic Charities of Buffalo for work accomplished by the Parish Outreach, Parish Food Pantry, the St. James Thrift Store, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Peace and Justice Committee, and involvement with St. Susan’s Soup Kitchen.

The former St. James School building continued to serve the parish and community for many years, but when the cost of upkeep exceeded income, the building was sold to Walgreens Pharmacy in 2006, and demolition was completed in 2007.

The parish experienced a significant loss with the death of Msgr. Antoine P. Attea on January 8, 2007. Upon his passing, Rev. Dennis Mende served as interim pastor until 2008, when parochial vicar Rev. Robert Stolinski became pastor, assisted by Deacon Michael Lennon as financial administrator.

In 2008, Our Lady of Victory Oratory was welcomed and merged into St. James Parish during a special Mass of unity, increasing parish membership from 1,000 families to 1,100 and bringing new and younger families into the parish.

In December 2009, Rev. Darrell Duffy became pastor, beginning a new chapter in the life of St. James.

2010–2019  Vocations, Faith Formation, and Parish Life

In 2010, St. James celebrated a special honor when parishioner and volunteer Samuel Pellerito was ordained a Deacon. Although a complete list has not been kept, a number of vocations to the priesthood and sisterhood have come from St. James over the years, and Deacon Pellerito’s ordination was a joyful reminder of the parish’s long tradition of nurturing vocations.

Throughout the decade, St. James continued to be shaped by the dedication of its lay volunteers and staff. Parishioners served as catechists, Liturgy of the Word for Children leaders, and RCIA assistants. They led Bible studies, sponsored parish missions or renewals, worked with marriage preparation, and held seats on parish council. Newer ministries that had begun since 2000 continued to grow, including Our Daily Bread meals to the homebound, summer Bible study, and intergenerational, lifelong faith formation programs.

The parish’s commitment to outreach remained strong. St. James continued its involvement with St. Susan’s Soup Kitchen, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Peace and Justice Committee, the Parish Food Pantry, and the parish thrift store. Parishioners provided food baskets, supported community needs, and engaged in charitable work both locally and globally. Many of the parish’s youth were active in service and received diocesan awards for their volunteer efforts.

During these years, Rev. Darrell Duffy, who had become pastor in December 2009, continued to guide the parish with pastoral care and leadership.

2020–2026  Road to Renewal, Clergy Transitions, and the Family of Parishes

In August 2020, the Diocese of Buffalo began an initiative called the Road to Renewal to help strengthen the Catholic community. In June 2021, the initiative was brought to the parishes, with the plan for three to five parishes to join as a Family. The suggestion was for the family to work together while each parish would maintain its own identity.

On May 24, 2021, Father Darrell Duffy was transferred to SS. Peter and Paul in Hamburg. Father Piotr Zaczynski became the Temporary Parish Administrator until July 2021. On July 1, 2021, Father Paul Cygan became a Parochial Vicar for St. James and Holy Apostles Parishes.

In July 2021, Father Dennis Mende became the Temporary Pastor and then the permanent Pastor. He served until his passing on September 8, 2021. Father Todd Remick became the Temporary Parish Administrator on October 3, 2021, and became the permanent Parish Administrator in March 2022.

From March 2 through April 4, 2022, the parish participated in the diocesan‑wide Discipleship Maker Index (DMI) survey.

On February 8, 2023, Father Darrell Duffy returned as pastor with his beloved dog Jasmine. At this time, St. James began forming the Catholic Neighbors in Faith Family of Parishes, which included Holy Apostles, Our Lady of Loreto, Sacred Heart, St. James, and St. Patrick.

Father Don Watkins Jr. joined the clergy in February 2023. The clergy staff now consisted of Father Darrell, Father Don, and Father Paul. Father Todd Remick became the Vicar Forane for the area and the first Vicar Forane for the Family of Parishes.

On April 28, 2023, a special Mass honored Deacon Michael Lennon upon his retirement after many years of service.

In July 2023, the Family of Parishes received its name: Catholic Neighbors in Faith.

On November 1, 2024, Father Marcin Porada became a parochial vicar.

In March 2024, Father Darrell stepped down as Pastor, and Father Paul Cygan became Temporary Administrator. In October 2024, Father Todd was assigned Pastor in Cheektowaga, and Father Dennis Mancuso became the new Vicar Forane.

On January 13, 2025, Our Lady of Victory Oratory closed permanently.

On May 16, 2025, Our Lady of Loreto Parish merged with and became part of St. James Parish, with the decree signed by Bishop Michael W. Fisher.

On March 23, 2026, Father Paul Cygan was appointed Pastor of the Catholic Neighbors in Faith Family of Parishes by Bishop Michael W. Fisher.