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 - 
​Rev. Pat Melfi 2023 - ​

About St. Michael R.C. Church

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.