Immaculate Conception
Our History Continued ...
By the late 1960's the membership had outgrown its home. Encouraged by the parishioners as well as trustees Fred Faery and John Lynch, Father Cronin brought to completion the building of an entirely new church and social center on Route 429 on property donated by parish members Clement and Lillian Doyle. The new structures were dedicated on September 24, 1972. A new rectory on the property was dedicated in November of 1977.
Father Cronin retired in March, 1984, and was succeeded by Rev. Roy W. Crissy who served until 1988. Both pastors are remembered in the dedication of the largest meeting room in the social center as the Fathers Cronin and Chrissy Room.
They were followed by Rev. Herold M. Nuwer. During his tenure from 1988 to 2004, Immaculate Conception was one of the fastest-growing parishes in the diocese. Father Nuwer oversaw a $665,000 expansion of the church in 1993. The social hall was named for him in 2006. Parishioner Michael Canzoneri was ordained a Permenant Deacon in 2003 and was assigned to Immaculate Conception, he served this parish until 2010 when he was reassigned by Bishop Kmiec to St. Vincent de Paul parish in Niagara Falls. Parishioner David Harvey was ordained a Permenant Deacon in 2005 and was assigned by Bishop Kmiec to St. Brendan on the Lake parish in Wilson, Newfane and Olcott.
Rev. James O'Connor was the next pastor, serving until the end of 2008. Father O'Connor oversaw the establishment of the "Growing in Faith Together" (GIFT) program, a new way of educating Catholics in their faith. He also shepherded the parish through the Journey of Faith and Grace, the diocesan re-structuring program in which many churches were consolidated or closed. Under this program, St. Bridget's in Newfane, St. Charles Borromeo in Olcott, and Our Lady of the Rosary in Wilson were merged in 2008 into St. Brendan on the Lake, sharing services with Immaculate Conception, which was allowed to remain an independent parish. In January of 2008, Immaculate Conception's rectory was destroyed by a devastating fire; it was rebuilt as a parish office center and a nearby house was purchased for the pastor's residence. In June, 2008, Immaculate Conception celebrated the ordinations of two more parishioners: James Kirkpatrick was ordained a priest and assigned as Parochial Vicar to Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Hamburg; Paul Stankiewicz was ordained a Permanent Deacon and serves at Immaculate Conception.
The current pastor is Rev. Joseph P. Badding, who was appointed on February 20, 2009. Father Badding celebrated his fortieth year as an ordained priest that year here at this parish. He continues the important mission of intergeneration faith formation and a true awareness of the importance of sharing our Catholic faith traditions and life styles.
Those Who've Sheparded Us
Rev. Thomas Sheehan .... (1859-1861)
Rev. Hugh Mulholland ... (1861-1865)
Rev. Patrick A. Malloy ... (1865-1868)
Rev. Patrick J. Cannon ... (1868)
Rev. Michael J. O'Dwyer ... (1868-1872)
Rev. Thomas P. Brougham ... (1872-1876)
Rev. John Charles Long ... (1877-1884)
Rev. M. O'Shea ... (1884-1887)
Rev. Michael J. Noonan ... (1887-1895)
Rev. John Francis Ryan ... (1895-1896)
Rev. David Joseph Ryan ... (1896-1897)
Rev. Thomas J. E. Blakeney ... (1897-1902)
Rev. John J. McMahon ... (1901-1903)
Rev. John F. McGinn ... (1903-1908)
Rev. Daniel R. Kieran ... (1908-1920)
Rev. Vincent George McCarthy ... (1920-1939)
Rev. Edward Leo Roche ... (1939-1943)
Rev. Francis Edward Crowley ... (1943-1949)
Rev. Christopher J. Roche ... (1949-1956)
Rev. Francis P. Cronin ... (1956-1984)
Rev. Roy W. Crissy ... (1984-1988)
Rev. Herold M. Nuwer ... (1988-2004)
Rev. James O'Connor ... (2004-2008)
Rev. Joseph Badding ... (2009- )
