ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH AND SCHOOL PRINTED HISTORY

St. Aloysius
Printed
History
1990
Author Unknown

50th Anniversary Proclamation from City of Buffalo

First Page of St. Aloysius History, 1990 - Author unknown

HISTORY OF ST. ALOYSIUS PARISH

From the time of it's establishment until it's present 50th Anniversary, St. Aloysius
Gonzaga Parish has continued to grow and prosper, having a tremendous effect on
Its parishioners, its community and the Diocese of Buffalo.

On March 28, 1940 the Most Rev. John A. Duffy, D.D. Bishop of the Buffalo
Diocese asked Rev. Walter Gonter to establish a new parish serving the northeast
portion of the City of Buffalo and the norwest portion of the Town of Cheektowaga.
Fr. Gonter met with about 75 representatives of St. James, St. Benedict's and Christ
the King parishes to formulate the original plans for the new parish, a parish that was
To be named in honor of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Patron of Youth.

Those original plans called for the immediate establishment of a temporary
structure while plans were developed for a permanent church. Less than five weeks
Later, on Mother's Day, May 12, 1940, the first two Masses at the new St. Aloysius
Church were helpd in the temporary structure to ovr capacity crowds. The Mass
Schedule was quickly changed to provide for four Sunday Masses, and the growth
of a new parish of energetic and committed parishioners began in earnest.

The temporary church, built on land donated by the Hoffeld Estates through the
kindness of Mr. Lynn Barne, was a wood and wallboard structure seating about
290 people and costing $2,600.

Working very closely with Father Gonter in these first days of St. Al's were the two
appointed trustees of the parish. These respected parishioners would assist Father
In making theose important decisions concerning the layout, construction, and the
precedent-seting practices of the parish. One of the first of acts of Mr. William O'Brien
and Mr. F. Leo Clark along with Father Gonter was to view the plans of a new Tudor
Gothic-styled church of brick facing on tile, seating about 750 persons. The plans
for the $96,000 church were accepted and on September 22, 1940, the cornerstone
was laid by the Most Rev. John. A. Duffy, Bishop of Buffalo. On Christmas of that year,
The first Mass was sung in the unfinished church. However, Masses were continued
in the temporary structure until Laetare Sunday, March 23, 1941 when the new
Church was dedicated with the Most Rev. John A. Duffy officiating.

With the Church completed and the people contributing very well, plans were again
looked at this time for a new rectory. Until then, Father Gonter had been living some
distance from the church at 72 Burke Drive. So in June of 1941, plans were accepted
for anew rectory of brick facing over wood wood construction. In order to keep the
continuity, the same architect Mortimer J. Murphy, and the same contractor, Balling
Brothers and Holter Brothers, were awarded the contract. When the rectory was
completed in November of 1941, it cost $36,000.

With everything becoming so beautifully set, the spiritual fruits were beginning to
be realized. The First Holy Communion Class received Our Lord for the first time in
This parish on December 8, 1940; the first Mission was given by the Redemptorist
Fathers, March 1 to March 15, 1942; the first Confirmation Class here was held on
June 9, 1943; and the first Assistant to be appointed was the Rev. Alton J. LaRusch
On June 12, 1942.

Second Page of St. Aloysius History, 1990 - Author unknown

The active life of St. Aloysius Parish now could continue to grow from the seeds
so recently planted. With Pastor, Assistants and people all pulling together in one
harmonious union, a happy spiritual atmosphere was to continue through the life of
St. Al's. With the spiritual growth of the parish there was also a population growth.
So much so, that by 1944, the population of this area had increased to 950 families.

In 1944, Lynn Barne, representing the Hoffeld Eestates, donated a piece of land
About one acre in size just south and adjoining the church property. In 1948, the
Church bouht the lot on the circle at Cleveland and So. Century for $10,000,
adjacent also to the church property. And in 1950, a house was built on the south end
of this property on a lot 50' x 120' on which tickets were sold to raise money. The
house, having been won by a lady in Pennsylvania who desired to take cash, was
then sold to a parishioner. In 1950, the church bought for $8,000 4-1/2 acres of land
south and west of the church property.

With the parish growing in size, it was now deemed feasible to build a school.
Plans having been drawn, studied and approved, ground was broken in August of
1947 for a 12-room school and gymnasium. The same contractors and architect who
had constructed the church and rectory were now going to build these new buildings
with brick facing to match the church and rectory. The cost of this new construction
was about $600,000. After almost two years of work, the cornerstone was laid by the
Most Rev. John F. O'Hara, Bishop of Buffalo, on Sunday, April 24, 1949. The first fruits
From this school were graduated in June of 1951.

By 1952, the Catholic population of St. Al's parish had grown to 1,800 families.
Finding it necessary to expand the church, the Sacristy was located in the back of
The church and about 200 additional persons were now able to sit in Church. On
May 5, 1953, another addition was started on the rear of the Church for the Altar Boys'
Sacristy on the ground floor.

With Father Walter Gonter as its spiritual leader, St. Aloysius Parish had
overcome many obstacles and made tremendous strides in 13 years. However, God
Called this priest to his eternal reward on August 25, 1953.

St. Aloysius Parish continued to grow spiritually and family wise, so much so that
an addition to the school became necessary. After much study, plans were approved
for the new school addition. Work was begun on April 1, 1957 and the total cost of
construction was estamated at $430,000. After about one year, open house of the
new school was held on June 2, 1957, and everyone was impressed by the new extension.

On June 10, 1959, Bishop Joseph A. Burke, Bishop of Buffalo, appointed Mr.
Samual A. Cochrane trustee replacing one of the two original trustees, Mr. F. Leo
Clark, who moved to Rochester. Mr. Clark had been a hard worker for the benefit
of St. Aloysius Parish and thousands weree sorry to see him leave. Mr. Cochrane was
to serve a very short term. Because of his death, Mr. Francis Williams was appointed
to replace him on August 1, 1961 by the late Bishop Burke.

With the growth in the school and the increase in the number of Religious Sisters,
it was decided in 1961 to build a convent for the Sisters of St. Joseph, who staffed
St. Aloysius School. Up until this time, the Sisters traveled each day by taxi from the
Mount on Main Street to the school. Father Harold Gonter and the Trustees approved
plans for the new convent and work started in September 1961. On May 3, 1962, the
Sisters took up residence in their new convent.

Third Page of St. Aloysius History, 1990 - Author unknown

Father Harold Gonter continued to watch as the parish grew to some 2,400
families with over 900 children enrolledin school as the parish neared its 25th
Anniversary. Unfortunately, after a short illness Father Harold Gonter was called to
his eternal reward on March 16, 1965, a few days before the anniversary celebration.

In March 1965, the Most Rev. James A. McNulty, Bishop of Buffalo, appointed
Auxillary Bishop Pius A. Benincasa as the third pastor of St. Aloysius Gonzaga
Parish. During his 21 years as pastor, Bishop Benincasa worked with a great
diligence and success to maintain St. Aloysius Parish through a time that saw
general Mass attendance decline while area Catholic schools faced reduced
enrollments and financial difficulties.

At one time, additional Masses were scheduled in the school auditorium and
School and school enrollment stayed strong. In 1974, Bishop Benincasa appointed
John A. Mueller as trustee for the parish, filling the vacancy of Wiliam O'Brien.
Faced with shortages in the ranks of teaching religious, Bishop Benincasa enlisted
the assistance of the Felician Order to staff the school in 1977.

Suffering from poor health in his later years, Bishop Benincasa was called to his
eternal reward on August 12, 1986, and Rev. Robert J. Biesinger was installed as
the fourth pastor of St. Aloysius Parish on November 8, 1986 by Most Rev. Donald
W. Trautman, Auxillary Bishop of the Buffalo Diocese.

Over the past serveral years, the parish population has stabilized, with current
Parish levels numbering about 2,000 families and remarkable growth has been
experienced in our school, with some 460 students enrolled. Physical improvements,
In addition to the maintenance of existing buildings, saw the addtion of a handicap
ramp at the main entrance to the church, and the designation of special seating
for the elderly and for wheelchairs in the front of the church.

In preparation for the 50th Anniversary celebration, the Church was repainted,
While damaged and deteriorating Stations of the Cross were repaired and the
terazzo floor was re-ground and polished through a special donation from Mrs.
Muriel Song, in memory of her late brother Francis. Wooden ceiling beams and
church pews were also refinished as part of the renovation work.

Today (1990) the parish boasts two energetic Senior Citizen's organizations, a newly
Formed Parish Council, a diligent Finance Committee, a Holy Name Society,
Altar and Rosary Society, Home School Association, Scouting programs, Color
Guard, and a Catholic Youth Organization. Members can serve fellow parishioners
as Eucharistic Ministers , Lectors, Altar Servers, Choir members, and Ushers, or may
offer their services to others as through the Legion of Mary, Ladies of Charity,,
Religious Education Program and the Sacred Heart League.

Since 1982, the parish has had the assistance of a member of the Sisters of Social
Service to lend to the concerns of parishioners in need.

The St. Aloysius Parish Family has served the residents of Cheektowaga and the
Northeast section of the city of Buffalo for the past 50 years as a proud, dedicated
caring and commited member of the community.

Note: If you have any information about the authorship of this history,
please contact Sharon Troy Centanne, so we can give proper credit here. Thank you.

This page updated August 5, 2000 by Sharon Troy Centanne,
Genealogical Researcher and Internet Trainer.
Church Photos courtesy of Joe Hayden of Hamburg, NY.,
webmaster of Buffalo's Faith Elevators.
Printed History, Sports photos, Clergy photos and LaRusch family photos courtesy of
Kathy Kovalek of Antelope, California, webmaster of LaRusch/Kaull Family History.