St. Michael Worship Site, Warsaw
-
-
St. Michael worship site
St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church at the Corner of North Main and North Streets was established in 1858. It is said that the current church was built between 1887 - 1888, fashioned in the style of American Carpenter Gothic.
Historians state that the arrival of numerous Irish laborers during the Erie Railroad spurred the creating of a Catholic station, mission and finally a parish in Warsaw.
The early brick church used by St. Michael's still stand today, down the street from the current church built during the "salt boom" years.
The main window (pictured top left) was fabricated in Oberammergau out of Bavarian glass for the Pan-Am Exposition which was celebrated in Buffalo, NY in 1901. The window was purchased for St. Michael's new church by Father John Rogers. It depicts St. Michael the Archangel, one of three archangels cited in the Holy Scriptures. St. Michael is cited in the Book of Revelations (Rev. 12:7) as the leader of the heavenly hosts who defeat the devil and win a victory for God's Church. St. Michael is the protector of the people of God.
The Prince of Light is depicted by his sword of flame and his shield which bears time imprint "Quis ut Deus" - "Who is like God?"
In 2008, the people of St. Michael's Parish, on the occasion of their anniversary of 150 years, rededicated their house of God. In July of this same year, the rejuvenation of the worship space was undertaken by the Swiatek Studio of Buffalo, NY, with completion in December of 2008. Click here for a detailed description of the work written by Rev. Lawrence Damien.
-
-
-
Past Pastors
From 1850 until 1869, the Catholics of Warsaw were administered to by the pastors of Portageville.
Rev. John Fitzpatrick 1869-1874, Rev. Michael O'Dwyer 1874-1874, Rev. Maurice Lee 1874-1887, Rev. James J. Leddy 1887-1897, Rev. Michael Noonan 1897-1898, Rev. James H. Leddy 1898-1901, Rev. Thomas Murray 1901-1903, Rev. John Rogers 1903-1939, Rev. Edward Godfrey 1939-1942, Rev. Henry Shaw 1942-1945, Rev. John Shea 1945-1947, Rev. John Donohue 1947-1954, Rev. Michael Sekelsky 1954-1966, Rev. Edwin Coveney 1966-1983, Rev. William Bigelow 1983-1991, Rev. Edward Sheedy 1991-1996, Rev. Bart Lipiec 1996-1999, Rev. John Heigl 1999-2003, Rev. Lawrence Damian 2003-2009, Rev. James Hartwell 2009-2019, Rev. Michael LaMarca 2019-2023, Rev. Denning Achidi (Parochial Vicar) 2022 - 2024, Rev. F. Patrick Melfi 2023 -
-
