Our History
Our Lady of Pompeii Parish has grown from a small mission church into an active, thriving part of the community. Her history of expansion and growth attests to a commitment to serve all parishioners.
In 1909, the Italian Mission Church of St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church in Lancaster, NY was established to satisfy the particular spiritual needs of the Italian immigrants who came to the Lancaster-Depew area. The Mission Church was officially dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Nelson Baker, Vicar General of the Diocese, on March 14th. It was given the name “Our Lady of Pompeii,” honoring our Blessed Mother under the same title as the world famous shrine in Pompeii, Italy.
A modest church with a seating capacity of 125 was built on the corner of Laverack and Cowing Streets, but as the congregation increased, the church was lengthened and entirely renovated to better serve the needs of the parishioners.
In 1932, Our Lady of Pompeii Mission Church became a parish church and the Rev. Leo Pulling, at the time an assistant pastor of St. Mary’s, was appointed its first pastor.
After a fire broke out in 1934, causing considerable damage, the Church was repaired and repainted, with side extensions added to better accommodate parishioners.
On June 12, 1942, the second pastor, Rev. Alfonso J. Bernardo, was appointed by Bishop John Duffy. Under Rev. Bernardo’s leadership, the church underwent an interior face lift. Property was purchased across the street on Laverack Avenue for future expansion. During the war years, the parish grew to over 300 families. It was apparent that the congregation was quickly outgrowing its current facilities, and in 1949 the parish records stated, “We hope in the near future to accommodate the increasing number of families by building a new church.” This task was
undertaken in 1953. The sandstone building was built following the general plan of its namesake, the Shrine of Pompeii, Italy. The school and convent were completed in 1960, and in 1963, Msgr. Bernardo moved into the new rectory. The parish could now offer complete religious and educational services to her parishioners, and continues to do so today.
Msgr.Alfonso Bernardo died on May 18, 1966, after having served the Parish for 24 years. In appreciation of his great work among the people, his remains lie at rest near the shrine on parish property.
Msgr. Samuel Lombardo was appointed as the third pastor of Our Lady of Pompeii by Bishop James McNulty on June 12, 1966. Continuing the work of his great predecessors, Father Lombardo completed the interiors of the Church and the School. After 22 years as pastor, Msgr. Lombardo retired in June of 1988. He remained a part of our parish until his death on April 25, 2001. Msgr. Lombardo's remains lie at rest near the shrine on parish property.
The Rev. John J. Leising succeeded Msgr. Lombardo as the fourth pastor of Our Lady of Pompeii. In 1995, the Rev. Jay W. McGinnis was appointed pastor.
Rev. Leon Biernat was appointed to Our Lady of Pompeii in February 2006 as the sixth pastor of the parish. He made renovations to the rectory and church and entered into an agreement with St. Mary’s High School to lease the former convent to SMHS to use as a dormitory for foreign born students. Through the Diocesan Journey of Faith and Grace, Our Lady of Pompeii and SS Peter and Paul churches merged into one parish on November 30, 2008. Rev. Biernat led the parish through the merging of the two entities making it one. Father Biernat was appointed pastor of the newly merged parish which remained Our Lady of Pompeii.
With the merger, the small Mission Church, founded for the Italian immigrants has been transformed into a parish consisting of over 1700 families from many different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds.
Rev. Dennis Fronczak was appointed to Our Lady of Pompeii in June 2014 as the seventh pastor of the parish.
Rev. David Richards was appointed as Priest Administrator of the parish in June 2017. Then in April 2021 he was appointed pastor.
As Lancaster continues to grow, Our Lady of Pompeii is rapidly adding new parishioners. Let us, therefore, dedicate ourselves to the future of our parish.
In 1909, the Italian Mission Church of St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church in Lancaster, NY was established to satisfy the particular spiritual needs of the Italian immigrants who came to the Lancaster-Depew area. The Mission Church was officially dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Nelson Baker, Vicar General of the Diocese, on March 14th. It was given the name “Our Lady of Pompeii,” honoring our Blessed Mother under the same title as the world famous shrine in Pompeii, Italy.
A modest church with a seating capacity of 125 was built on the corner of Laverack and Cowing Streets, but as the congregation increased, the church was lengthened and entirely renovated to better serve the needs of the parishioners.
In 1932, Our Lady of Pompeii Mission Church became a parish church and the Rev. Leo Pulling, at the time an assistant pastor of St. Mary’s, was appointed its first pastor.
After a fire broke out in 1934, causing considerable damage, the Church was repaired and repainted, with side extensions added to better accommodate parishioners.
On June 12, 1942, the second pastor, Rev. Alfonso J. Bernardo, was appointed by Bishop John Duffy. Under Rev. Bernardo’s leadership, the church underwent an interior face lift. Property was purchased across the street on Laverack Avenue for future expansion. During the war years, the parish grew to over 300 families. It was apparent that the congregation was quickly outgrowing its current facilities, and in 1949 the parish records stated, “We hope in the near future to accommodate the increasing number of families by building a new church.” This task was
undertaken in 1953. The sandstone building was built following the general plan of its namesake, the Shrine of Pompeii, Italy. The school and convent were completed in 1960, and in 1963, Msgr. Bernardo moved into the new rectory. The parish could now offer complete religious and educational services to her parishioners, and continues to do so today.
Msgr.Alfonso Bernardo died on May 18, 1966, after having served the Parish for 24 years. In appreciation of his great work among the people, his remains lie at rest near the shrine on parish property.
Msgr. Samuel Lombardo was appointed as the third pastor of Our Lady of Pompeii by Bishop James McNulty on June 12, 1966. Continuing the work of his great predecessors, Father Lombardo completed the interiors of the Church and the School. After 22 years as pastor, Msgr. Lombardo retired in June of 1988. He remained a part of our parish until his death on April 25, 2001. Msgr. Lombardo's remains lie at rest near the shrine on parish property.
The Rev. John J. Leising succeeded Msgr. Lombardo as the fourth pastor of Our Lady of Pompeii. In 1995, the Rev. Jay W. McGinnis was appointed pastor.
Rev. Leon Biernat was appointed to Our Lady of Pompeii in February 2006 as the sixth pastor of the parish. He made renovations to the rectory and church and entered into an agreement with St. Mary’s High School to lease the former convent to SMHS to use as a dormitory for foreign born students. Through the Diocesan Journey of Faith and Grace, Our Lady of Pompeii and SS Peter and Paul churches merged into one parish on November 30, 2008. Rev. Biernat led the parish through the merging of the two entities making it one. Father Biernat was appointed pastor of the newly merged parish which remained Our Lady of Pompeii.
With the merger, the small Mission Church, founded for the Italian immigrants has been transformed into a parish consisting of over 1700 families from many different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds.
Rev. Dennis Fronczak was appointed to Our Lady of Pompeii in June 2014 as the seventh pastor of the parish.
Rev. David Richards was appointed as Priest Administrator of the parish in June 2017. Then in April 2021 he was appointed pastor.
As Lancaster continues to grow, Our Lady of Pompeii is rapidly adding new parishioners. Let us, therefore, dedicate ourselves to the future of our parish.
