St. Matthias Church History

2009 marks the 136th anniversary of the parish. The original church was founded by Irish immigrants in the late 1840's. Nora Clinton Harrington in a handwritten "Sketch of the Parish" writes that Bishop John Timon, CM of Buffalo celebrated the first Mass in the French Creek area in 1859 at the Clinton home on Harrington Hill Road. From 1865 to 1900 other Irish families settled the area. An influx of families from Germany and Poland added to the growing parish. Visiting priests continued to serve the area until 1913. Rev. M.J. Corbett was pastor for 15 years from 1897 to 1912.

A deed for a Catholic Church in French Creek was recorded on May 30th, 1873. On September 15th, 1873, the church was dedicated by Bishop Ryan. The parishioners contributed the labor, lumber, masonry and pine shingles for the construction of the church that is still in use today. On October 25, 1882, land was donated by the William Gilmore family for use as a Catholic Cemetery.

On July 5th, 1914 Bishop Charles Colton celebrated Confirmation at the parish and soon after, Father John Marencovick was assigned as the first resident pastor. While has was pastor, the parish house was built. In 1923 a garage and belfry were added. In 1924 an electrical system was installed.

Each pastor that followed used his talents to add different things to the church and parish house. In 1980, the front porch was enclosed to make an office. The Summer of 1983 brought a gift of land from Joel and Dorothy [Rowan] Babcock in memory of Raymond and Timothy Rowan for a parking lot for the church. In 1984 the parishioners gathered to reinforce the foundation of the church where some of the wood had rotted and covered the exterior of the church with vinyl siding making sure to preserve the original look of the church.

The Summer and Fall of 1989 saw the rebuilding and rededication of the bell tower. During the Spring of 1995, the interior of the church was redone. In the Summer of 1997 natural gas came to the area and new furnaces were installed in the church and parish house along with air conditioning in the church. On July 26th, 1998, Bishop Henry Mansell joined parishioners as celebrant of the 125th anniversary Mass. The Fall of 1998 saw a very successful Stewardship in Faith increased giving program in the parish.

Rev. Bernard C. Staszak was pastor for 27 years. After the sudden death of our beloved pastor, Father Staszak, on April 13, 2006, St. Matthias came under the wing of Father Bernard Nowak. Under his leadership, the parish moved forward with plans for renovation of the church proper and the addition of a hall, kitchen and office space.

On May 14, 2008, a new Parish was created by combining St. Matthias with St. Isaac Jogues in Sherman, NY. Construction continued on our new building project through the summer and fall months. November as the excitement grew over the completion and dedication of our building, our new pastor arrived.

Father Jozef Dudzik, a Polish priest who had been working in our parish for a couple of years, was appointed as our new pastor. He took residence at St. Isaac with St. Matthias housing his parish office. On December 14, 2008, Rev. Edward Kmiec, Bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, NY, came to St. Matthias to Confirm a group of our youth of the area parishes and to dedicate our newly renovated building. (Follow link at top left to view photos.)

Visiting Pastors

Rev. Byrne 1873-1874
Rev. D.Lasher 1874-1875
Rev. O’Brien 1875-1876
Rev. Ledwith 1876-1879
Rev. O’Reilly 1879-1881
Rev. O’Reilly 1879-1881
Rev. N. Gibbons 1881-1884
Rev. J.J. Liddy 1884-1887
Rev. J. Lafferty 1887-1890
Rev. J. Lasher 1890-1893
Rev. F. Meyer 1893-1897
Rev. M.Corbett 1897 -1912
Rev. Harrigan 1912-1914

Resident Pastors

Rev.Marencovick 1914-1919
Rev. A..Sander 1920-1923
Rev. F. Klimck 1923-1924
Rev.Kowalewski 1924-1928
Rev. B.1928-1929
Rev. John J. Kelly 1929-1930
Rev. C.Tomiak 1930-1939
Rev.Klukaczewski 1940-1941
Rev. J.Rojek 1942-1945
Rev. C.Polewicz 1946-1947
Rev. H. Wozniak 1947-1948
Rev. J. Praczkajlo 1948-1953
Rev. Milton Kobielski 1953
Rev. Adam Borowiak 1953
Rev. Joseph Rydz 1954-1955
Rev. W.Gartska 1955-1959
Rev. J.Lipczynski 1959-1963
Rev.Malikowski 1963-1966
Rev. E.Synowiak 1967-1974
Rev. J.Bialek 1975-1976
Rev.Sobierajski 1976-1979
Rev. B.Staszak 1979-2006

Administrative Pastors

Rev. Bernard Nowak 2006-2008
Rev. Jozef Dudzik 2008-Present