Parish History

Saint Joseph's Parish was founded by Bishop John Francis O'Hara, C.S.C., on June 7, 1947, when he appointed Rev. Ceslaus Polewicz to be the founding pastor. After twenty years of faithful and enthusiastic service, Father Polewicz died in 1967, and was buried directly in front of the present church.

Saint Joseph's Parochial School opened in 1948 under the direction of the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Joseph of Hamburg, N.Y., and continued until 1990, when it became part of North Tonawanda Catholic Consolidated School, which continues in operation under the sponsorship of the four parishes of North Tonawanda.

We celebrated our parish's Golden Jubilee in 1997, with a Solemn Pontifical Mass at which Bishop Henry J. Mansell, Bishop of Buffalo, presided. Hon. James McGinnis, Mayor of North Tonawanda, issued a Proclamation declaring the year June 9, 1996-June 8, 1997 to be ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR, and recognizing our parish for the significant active part which it has taken in the life and work of the entire civic community of our city.

Rev. Msgr. Thomas E. Crane, S.T.L.,S.S.L., M. Div., has been pastor since January 6, 1995. Rev. Paul Keppner, S.S.C., retired, is in residence. St. Joseph's is now a part of the Vicariate of Western Niagara County. Bishop Edward M. Grosz, D.D.,V.G., is Episcopal Vicar.