THE RICH HISTORY OF OUR PARISH
In October of 1847, Very Rev. John Timon undertook the responsibility of Bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo. About this time two Irish brothers, John and Joseph Cottrell, moved from Buffalo to the Sardinia and Concord area. With the arrival of additional settlers, there were now about fifteen or twenty families of the Catholic faith in this area in 1865; the foundation was laid for the Sardinia (Pratham) Mission Church - the forerunner of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Holland. Consequently, these families helped raise funds for the construction of a small church on Pratham Road - called St. Joseph's Mission. Fr. Ulrich of Springville supervised the construction and came once each month to celebrate mass. From 1865 until 1885, priests from Boston and Springbrook celebrated mass here about once every month. But the Mission was difficult to reach and did not thrive. Holland was considered one of the most flourishing towns at this time, and a parcel of land on Park Street was proposed for the site of a new church. After receiving the Bishop's approval, Joseph Schlum started a subscription drive for the building and he collected enough money to purchase property on Park Street for the church. He, along with many other citizens, built the first Catholic Church in Holland. In 1886 Bishop Ryan dedicated the church, and St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church (a Mission Church) became a reality. Rev. Reisenhoff and Fr. Theis celebrated mass at St. Joseph's once a month.
In March of 1894, Rev. James Cain, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in East Aurora (at the request of the Holland parishioners) proposed to the Bishop that the East Aurora church service the Holland congregation. Thus East Aurora became St. Joseph's "Mother Church" and mass was celebrated two times a month in Holland. After Fr. Cain died in 1895, the Rev. Edward Rengel assumed the duties of the Holland Mission. In 1900 Fr. Rengel was succeeded by Rev. James Gilhooley, who, in turn, was later succeeded by Rev. James Quested. The history of the Holland Mission was unclear at this point; St. Joseph's, for some unknown reason, became a mission of the Arcade parish, and was serviced by Rev. K. J. Withkopf from 1914 to 1917. Successors to Rev. Withkopf were Rev. Andrew Porter and Rev. Daniel White, both pastors of Immaculate Conception Church in East Aurora. On October 24, 1918, the Holland church was destroyed by fire, and for the next six years the parish held services in the Putnam Hotel. In November of 1920, Holland was again annexed to Immaculate Conception Church in East Aurora. Populations of these areas were growing; it was becoming more and more difficult for priests to attend the Holland Mission. Therefore, Bishop William Turner appointed the Reverend John Klimek to organize the parish in Holland. Fr. Klimek encountered a divided parish; one group desired to build a new church; the other group wanted to buy a large building. After much controversy, a decision was made to purchase the Zaph property and to remodel it. Fr. Klimek arranged for loans totaling $10,200 from the Bank of Holland for the mortgage and remodeling work. The first mass was said on October 5, 1924, and it is on this date that St. Joseph's celebrates the anniversary of becoming a parish.
In 1930 Rev. Vincent Cyman was sent to Holland and it was he who was charged with the task of keeping the parish viable during the worst years of the Great Depression. In January of 1937 Rev. Bronislaus Kowaleski succeeded Fr. Cyman. With the support of the parishioners and much hard work the parish debt was paid. In 1954 when Fr. Kowaleski was transferred to St. Barbara's Church in Lackawanna, the parish was left debt free; the value of the property exceeded $32,000, and a building fund of over $10,000 had been established. Rev. William E. Wendzikowski was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's on June 2, 1954. The Holland parish under Fr. Bill's guidance continued to thrive, and a building fund was established. Announcements concerning parish events heretofore were made during each Mass, but Fr. Bill began to publish each week the St. Joseph’s Parish News. In February 1964 Bishop McNulty transferred Fr. Bill to St. Florian's Parish in Buffalo. With a building fund well established and property purchased for the site of the new church and rectory, the leadership of the parish was turned over to Rev. James J. Dyrek. The parish dream for many years had been the building of a new church. Shortly after arriving in Holland, Fr. Jim initiated a Building Fund, and the dream of a new church was on its way to becoming a reality. In June 1965 groundbreaking ceremonies, officiated by Monsignor John J. Dempsey of East Aurora, were held, but the actual excavation did not begin until May 1966. Although the building was not quite complete, the first Mass was celebrated in the new church on May 1, 1967; the feast day of the parish's patron saint, St. Joseph the Worker. On June 25, 1967, at 8:00 a.m., the last Mass was celebrated in the old church. Dedication ceremonies and the consecration of the altar of sacrifice were held on May 19, 1968, with Bishop James McNulty presiding.
In 1968 the new rectory was completed and the old church demolished. The parish dream had been realized; the cost of the church was $236,260; the rectory was $63,807; and interest on the loans totaled $40,228. On July 6, 1979, Fr. Jim celebrated First Friday Mass at 7:00 p.m. After Mass he became ill and was taken to the hospital where he died shortly after admission. Rev. Thaddeus Swertz, C.S.C. was appointed by Bishop Head as temporary administrator of St. Joseph's Parish and executed these tasks until August 12, 1979. His Successor was Rev. William Ward who remained in Holland until September 2, 1979. Shortly after Fr. Ward left, Bishop Head appointed Rev. Msgr. Stanley H. Klein, but a few days after his appointment, Msgr. Klein resigned for personal reasons. Holland was left without a resident priest until November 2, 1979. Bishop Head then delegated the responsibilities of our parish to Rev. Mecislaus S. Wendzikowski, nephew of the former pastor, Fr. Bill Wendzikowski. Fr. Matt emphasized the importance of actively involving children in our Christian community , but he was also aware of the needs of adults. In 1993 the parish joined in celebrating Fr. Matt's elevation to the rank of monsignor; the first priest to be so designated in parish history. As St. Joseph's approached its Diamond Jubilee (75th anniversary) in 1999, the parish continued to change, grow, and flourish; now serving over 500 families and encompassing an area of 120 square miles. Upkeep of building and property has remained a priority; a new cemetery had been added on Olean Road. Upon Fr. Mattt's retirement, The Reverend Dennis Fronczak was appointed pastor at St. Joseph's. Under Fr. Dennis's guidance, the parish continues to grow; as St. Joseph's enters the new millenium, its future looks bright.
After years of preparation, St Joseph Parish began the Generations of Faith Program in fthe fall of 2007. The program involves the entire parish in faith formation for all its members regardless of age.
In July of 2008, the parish was able to purchase a digital bell system after a financial drive raised the money. The bells can be heard at 9 Am, Noon, 3 PM, & 6 PM daily as well as music before the weekend Masses.
On February 21, 2009, the former pastor, Msgr. Matt Wendzikowski celebrated his 50th year as a priest with a Mass & a reception at the parish.
A renovation of the sanctuary & new carpet for the church was completes in January of 2010.
In March of 1894, Rev. James Cain, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in East Aurora (at the request of the Holland parishioners) proposed to the Bishop that the East Aurora church service the Holland congregation. Thus East Aurora became St. Joseph's "Mother Church" and mass was celebrated two times a month in Holland. After Fr. Cain died in 1895, the Rev. Edward Rengel assumed the duties of the Holland Mission. In 1900 Fr. Rengel was succeeded by Rev. James Gilhooley, who, in turn, was later succeeded by Rev. James Quested. The history of the Holland Mission was unclear at this point; St. Joseph's, for some unknown reason, became a mission of the Arcade parish, and was serviced by Rev. K. J. Withkopf from 1914 to 1917. Successors to Rev. Withkopf were Rev. Andrew Porter and Rev. Daniel White, both pastors of Immaculate Conception Church in East Aurora. On October 24, 1918, the Holland church was destroyed by fire, and for the next six years the parish held services in the Putnam Hotel. In November of 1920, Holland was again annexed to Immaculate Conception Church in East Aurora. Populations of these areas were growing; it was becoming more and more difficult for priests to attend the Holland Mission. Therefore, Bishop William Turner appointed the Reverend John Klimek to organize the parish in Holland. Fr. Klimek encountered a divided parish; one group desired to build a new church; the other group wanted to buy a large building. After much controversy, a decision was made to purchase the Zaph property and to remodel it. Fr. Klimek arranged for loans totaling $10,200 from the Bank of Holland for the mortgage and remodeling work. The first mass was said on October 5, 1924, and it is on this date that St. Joseph's celebrates the anniversary of becoming a parish.
In 1930 Rev. Vincent Cyman was sent to Holland and it was he who was charged with the task of keeping the parish viable during the worst years of the Great Depression. In January of 1937 Rev. Bronislaus Kowaleski succeeded Fr. Cyman. With the support of the parishioners and much hard work the parish debt was paid. In 1954 when Fr. Kowaleski was transferred to St. Barbara's Church in Lackawanna, the parish was left debt free; the value of the property exceeded $32,000, and a building fund of over $10,000 had been established. Rev. William E. Wendzikowski was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's on June 2, 1954. The Holland parish under Fr. Bill's guidance continued to thrive, and a building fund was established. Announcements concerning parish events heretofore were made during each Mass, but Fr. Bill began to publish each week the St. Joseph’s Parish News. In February 1964 Bishop McNulty transferred Fr. Bill to St. Florian's Parish in Buffalo. With a building fund well established and property purchased for the site of the new church and rectory, the leadership of the parish was turned over to Rev. James J. Dyrek. The parish dream for many years had been the building of a new church. Shortly after arriving in Holland, Fr. Jim initiated a Building Fund, and the dream of a new church was on its way to becoming a reality. In June 1965 groundbreaking ceremonies, officiated by Monsignor John J. Dempsey of East Aurora, were held, but the actual excavation did not begin until May 1966. Although the building was not quite complete, the first Mass was celebrated in the new church on May 1, 1967; the feast day of the parish's patron saint, St. Joseph the Worker. On June 25, 1967, at 8:00 a.m., the last Mass was celebrated in the old church. Dedication ceremonies and the consecration of the altar of sacrifice were held on May 19, 1968, with Bishop James McNulty presiding.
In 1968 the new rectory was completed and the old church demolished. The parish dream had been realized; the cost of the church was $236,260; the rectory was $63,807; and interest on the loans totaled $40,228. On July 6, 1979, Fr. Jim celebrated First Friday Mass at 7:00 p.m. After Mass he became ill and was taken to the hospital where he died shortly after admission. Rev. Thaddeus Swertz, C.S.C. was appointed by Bishop Head as temporary administrator of St. Joseph's Parish and executed these tasks until August 12, 1979. His Successor was Rev. William Ward who remained in Holland until September 2, 1979. Shortly after Fr. Ward left, Bishop Head appointed Rev. Msgr. Stanley H. Klein, but a few days after his appointment, Msgr. Klein resigned for personal reasons. Holland was left without a resident priest until November 2, 1979. Bishop Head then delegated the responsibilities of our parish to Rev. Mecislaus S. Wendzikowski, nephew of the former pastor, Fr. Bill Wendzikowski. Fr. Matt emphasized the importance of actively involving children in our Christian community , but he was also aware of the needs of adults. In 1993 the parish joined in celebrating Fr. Matt's elevation to the rank of monsignor; the first priest to be so designated in parish history. As St. Joseph's approached its Diamond Jubilee (75th anniversary) in 1999, the parish continued to change, grow, and flourish; now serving over 500 families and encompassing an area of 120 square miles. Upkeep of building and property has remained a priority; a new cemetery had been added on Olean Road. Upon Fr. Mattt's retirement, The Reverend Dennis Fronczak was appointed pastor at St. Joseph's. Under Fr. Dennis's guidance, the parish continues to grow; as St. Joseph's enters the new millenium, its future looks bright.
After years of preparation, St Joseph Parish began the Generations of Faith Program in fthe fall of 2007. The program involves the entire parish in faith formation for all its members regardless of age.
In July of 2008, the parish was able to purchase a digital bell system after a financial drive raised the money. The bells can be heard at 9 Am, Noon, 3 PM, & 6 PM daily as well as music before the weekend Masses.
On February 21, 2009, the former pastor, Msgr. Matt Wendzikowski celebrated his 50th year as a priest with a Mass & a reception at the parish.
A renovation of the sanctuary & new carpet for the church was completes in January of 2010.