Another option for Catholics in WNY?

LANCASTER, N.Y. (WKBW) – With so much controversy surrounding the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, from the sex abuse scandal to the mass church closures, some Catholics are losing their faith. Others, however, find another option at the Polish National Catholic Church in Lancaster.

“I came here – I felt a little like heaven,” said Mary Ellen Sanfilippo, a parishioner.

Sanfilippo of East Amherst told me that a few years ago, at the height of the priest sex abuse scandal in the Buffalo Diocese, she began attending Holy Mother of the Rosary Church, the Polish National Catholic Church in Lancaster.

“And I was very disappointed, very upset, I felt the lies and the deception, and I was born and raised Catholic and I felt lost,” Sanfilippo responded.

The beautiful church has nothing to do with the Diocese of Buffalo. The National Catholic Church was founded in 1897 when it broke away from Rome.

Outside the Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral.

Here in our region it falls under the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese National Catholic Church.

“We have a valid Eucharist. A valid priesthood and it is recognized by Rome, but again, we are not under their jurisdiction,” Bishop John Mack explained.

Bishop John Mack leads his diocese and is pastor of the Church of Lancaster. He recently aired a television advertisement in our region to show that it is considered a “valid Catholic and Apostolic Church.” This means that there will be weekend masses, sacraments, the Eucharist and many other communal aspects of the Catholic faith.

“A Catholic church owned by its parishioners, who decide its fate,” the ad said.

“It is a sharing of power and when it works well it is beautiful,” Bishop Mack noted.

“The very first day I came to Mass, it just felt like home. I was greeted warmly. I loved Mass,” said Anne Marie Szpylman, parishioner. “I was greeted warmly. I loved the Mass, the homily, the music, I just fell in love with it and I knew this would become my parish home.

ANNE MARIE.jpg — Anne Marie Szpylman, parishioner.

Szpylman also left a church in the Diocese of Buffalo.

I asked Sanfilippo if there is much difference in the mass.

“It’s very similar, but the difference I discovered was that I felt God. I feel God here. With everything we were going through in the Roman Church, I felt like I was falling away, and that there was no shepherd who could bring me closer to God,” Sanfilippo replied.

But one big difference: priests in the National Catholic Church are allowed to marry.

“Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law, so Peter got married – the first Western Pope,” noted Father Joseph Pasquella.

Father Pasquella is married and is a rector. A former deacon in the Roman Catholic Church who decided to run away from the Diocese of Buffalo.

Father Joseph Pasquella with Bishop Mack.

“You know, I felt like a round peg in a square hole trying to fit in,” Pasquella described.

Parishioner Szpylman has no problem with married priests.

‘I think it is very natural that priests can marry. They understand family dynamics and what we all go through in life, illness and health,” Szpylman said.

Parishioners talk about attending church.

Both Szpylman and Sanfilippo said they also like the fact that parishioners control the fate of the church, unlike the Diocese of Buffalo.

“There are no surprises. The church cannot be pulled out from under us and abandon us. The clergy and parishioners worked together,” Sanfilippo said.

“Do not have the ability or right to close a parish without the consent of the parish committee. They need to call a meeting to close,” Bishop Mack explained.

Bishop Mack is also married to Sherry Mack, which often comes as a surprise.

“Oh, you’re Mrs. Mack, and I said, yes,” Mack pointed out. “It makes it even better because we understand that he is a father, a grandfather of four children. It’s exciting and we really embrace our families.”

Bishop Mack’s wife said it is time for the Roman Catholic Church to allow priests to get married.

“I’ll be honest, it’s going to take a long time because I don’t think the Roman Catholic Church will have that many problems,” Mack replied.

There are about 200 parishioners at the Lancaster church, but along that site there are four other churches in Western New York, Niagara Falls, Woodlawn, Brant and North Java.

“If you want to see another expression of the Catholic faith – our doors are open,” Bishop Mack responded.