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| Address: | 145 Lewis Street Buffalo, N.Y. 14206 |
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| Telephone: | 716-854-4523 | |
| Founded: | 1899. Became a Polish parish in Sept 1917 | |
| Pastor: | Rev. Msgr Ronald Sciera | |
| Mass Schedule: | Sat. 5 PM ; Sundays 10 AM | |
| Parish census: | 210 Familes | |
| School: | Parish School closed in 1976 | |
| Year Built: | 1899 | |
| Style: | Gothic |
The history of this parish is very interesting in that it was not founded as a Polish parish back in 1899. The immigrant groups that formed this parish were Irish and German, attracted to this neighborhood by the development of the livestock trade. All along William Street and adjoining streets, were located stockyards, slaughter houses and associated businesses. By the first decade of the twentieth century, Poles also began seeking employment in these businesses and relocating closer to their jobs. The parish on the other hand saw the exodus of its first settlers and an influx of new comers. The last Irish pastor urged the bishop to turn his parish over to the increasing number of Poles in the area, stating that the Irish and Germans have moved away and can no longer support the parish.
Thus in Sept of 1917, the Rev. Jozef Winnicki, was installed as first Polish pastor of Precious Blood Church. The parish was in need of much repair and the new congregation happy to receive the church; set about making the repairs and paying off the debt. A month after the parish was transferred to the Poles, Fr. Winnicki was fortunate to receive the Felician Sisters to staff his school. They commuted from St. Stanislaus until a residence was located for them on Lewis Street a year later. Fr. Winnicki served the parish until 1938; he was succeeded by the Rev. Michal Biniszkiewicz.
The parish was never a large and prosperous one, but was always kept in good financial and physical order. Fr. Peter Hoffman served as pastor through the war years and up to 1957 when he was assigned to St. Casimir Parish. During the administration of Rev. Pawel Miskowski, a new convent was built for the teaching sisters. Fr. Borowiak followed as pastor, it was in his tenure that the parish school was closed because of declining enrollment. The present pastor is the Rev. Msgr. Ronald Sciera, who has been able to put the parish on sound financial ground after a period of serious fiscal decline inherited by Fr. Pluta, who died during his pastorate.