Our History
The Polish community of Buffalo, New York, at the turn of the 20th century, saw a division in its Roman Catholic parishes. Throughout the early years of St. Adalbert’s Roman Catholic Parish on nearby Stanislaus Street, tension developed between the parishioners and the clergy with regards to church property. These parishioners were met by armed police while attending Candlemas Day. The expelled parishioners united together, purchased property, and began to build a new church. In August 1985, an Independent Catholic parish was established in Buffalo when this group of parishioners from St. Adalbert’s decided to form a new church just a block away. The separation was more a matter of self-determination and ownership rather than of faith and doctrine.
The first Mass was celebrated by Rev. Kolaszewski on August 8, 1985 for the members of the newly independent Holy Mother of the Rosary Parish. For the next fifteen years, the history of the parish was full of growth. In 1896, a synod made up of independent parishes in the area and elsewhere elected Fr. Kaminski as their Bishop. Under his direction, a magnificent gothic Cathedral, constructed of Medina sandstone, was erected on Sobieski Street and proudly dedicated in 1906. After some financial difficulties were resolved, the congregation voted in 1914 to align itself with the Scranton-based Polish National Catholic Church and were accepted.
The parish was a hub of activity in the decades that followed for the parishioners, most of whom lived within walking distance of the cathedral. The 1980’s and 1990’s saw a number of parishioners moving to the nearby suburbs of Depew, Cheektowaga and Lancaster. Responding to this relocation, the parish considered moving from the east side of Buffalo to its suburbs. Land had been previously purchased in Lancaster on Broadway a few years prior as a possible site for a “new” cemetery. This purchase was providential in providing a new site for the parish. A vote was taken by the congregation to move from the East Side of Buffalo to Lancaster. Plans were formulated for a new church complex and work was begun. The multimillion dollar complex, located on Broadway near Schwartz Road in Lancaster, NY was opened in 1995 in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the parish.
Some of the old cathedral’s artifacts were removed and placed in the new complex, including the beautiful stained glass windows of the saints, the magnificent pipe organ, some altar appointments, and the original cornerstone. The six original Cathedral bells were more recently installed in a beautiful bell tower, and an office and rectory were added in 2012. Today, the Holy Mother of the Rosary Parish welcomes people of all ethnic, racial, and social backgrounds. For more information, a book detailed the history of the Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral, written by Bishop Emeritus +Thaddeus Peplowski, can be bought through the church office for a $5 donation.