St. Bonaventure (Diocese of Buffalo)
| St. Bonaventure | |
 | |
| Dedication: | St. Bonaventure |
| Type/Classification: | Territorial Parish |
| Non-Parochial: | No |
| Operated By: | Diocesan clergy |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Buffalo |
| Deanery: | |
| Address: | 95 E Main St., Allegany, New York 14706-1397 |
| City: | Allegany, NY |
| Subdivision: | New York |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Cattaraugus County |
| Website: | Website |
| Founded: | 1854 |
| School: | No |
| Email: | None specified |
| AI Confidence: | 7/10 |
| Review Level: | 0/5 |
St. Bonaventure is a territorial parish of the Diocese of Buffalo, located in the hamlet of Allegany in Cattaraugus County, New York. Dedicated to Saint Bonaventure, the thirteenth-century Franciscan theologian, Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, and Doctor of the Church, the parish traces its origin to a Franciscan mission established in the area in 1854.
The parish has long been closely associated with the Franciscan friars who founded it and, for many decades, staffed it alongside their work at the nearby college that grew into St. Bonaventure University. As of early 2026, the parish forms part of Family of Parishes #24 within the Diocese of Buffalo's pastoral planning structure, sharing clergy with the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and St. John Parish, both in nearby Olean.[1]
Today St. Bonaventure Parish continues to serve Catholic families in Allegany, offering regular Sunday and weekday liturgies at its Main Street church.
History
In 1854, Franciscan friars agreed, at the request of the philanthropist Nicholas Devereux, to establish a mission in the Allegany, New York area to serve the religious and educational needs of Catholics in Cattaraugus County.[2] The following year, three priests and a brother arrived in Allegany at the invitation of Bishop John Timon, C.M., the first Bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, who sought to provide for the education of the region's young Catholics. Among the arriving friars was Father Pamfilo da Magliano, O.F.M., who would go on to found what became St. Bonaventure University.[3]
The friars' original monastery and chapel, which served both the growing Franciscan college community and area Catholics, had its cornerstone laid by Bishop Timon on August 20, 1856, and was built in a Doric-Corinthian style. On May 5, 1930, that original building was destroyed by a fire that began in the east wing and consumed the structure within hours; the loss, estimated at $2 million, included valuable paintings, statuary, and manuscripts, though no one was seriously injured.[4] According to a January 2020 account in the Olean Times Herald, the present St. Bonaventure Church building had at that time served as "the spiritual home of families, clergy and the area community" for 89 years, placing its construction at approximately 1931, in the years following the 1930 fire, though available sources do not explicitly confirm a direct architectural connection between the two events.[5]
For much of its history the parish was served by Franciscan friars of the Order of Friars Minor; in May 2024, the Diocese of Buffalo announced the appointment of Father Gregory Jakubowicz, O.F.M., as parochial vicar of Family of Parishes #24, with residence at St. Bonaventure Parish, Allegany.[6] Effective January 15, 2026, the Diocese of Buffalo announced the appointment of Rev. David E. Tourville as pastor of Family of Parishes #24, encompassing St. Bonaventure Parish, St. John Parish in Olean, and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, where he resides as pastor/rector; Rev. John Arogyasami was appointed Senior Parochial Vicar of the same family, effective the same date.[7]
The parish underwent a renovation of its church building, described in local press coverage in January 2020 as being carried out with "tender loving care" by parishioners and craftspeople.[8]
Special features
- Long-standing historical association with the Franciscan friars (Order of Friars Minor) who founded both the parish and the nearby St. Bonaventure University
- Membership in Family of Parishes #24 of the Diocese of Buffalo, sharing clergy and pastoral resources with the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and St. John Parish in Olean
Relics
According to established Catholic tradition, the main altar of a dedicated parish church customarily contains relics of saints. No specific relics associated with St. Bonaventure Church in Allegany are documented in available sources.
Architecture and Art
Exterior features
The present church building is understood, based on a 2020 local newspaper account, to date from around 1931. No confirmed architectural style, architect, or additional exterior details are documented in available sources.
Interior features
The parish underwent a documented renovation project around 2019–2020.[9] Specific details of the current interior layout are not documented in available sources.
Stained Glass Windows
Specific details on the church's stained glass windows are not publicly documented in available sources.
Statues and Sculptures
Specific details on statues or sculptures at St. Bonaventure Church are not publicly documented in available sources. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary that survived the 1930 fire at the friars' original monastery and chapel was preserved and placed on the nearby university campus, though it is not part of the present parish church.[10]
Other Artwork
No further devotional artwork is publicly documented in available sources.
Image gallery
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Media
No media found for this saint.
Related parishes
- St. Teresa of Avila (Diocese of Buffalo)
- Holy Family (Diocese of Buffalo, Albion)
- St. Mary Assumption (Diocese of Buffalo)
- St. John the Baptist (Diocese of Buffalo, Alden)
- Sts. Brendan and Jude (Diocese of Buffalo)
- St. Leo the Great (Diocese of Buffalo)
- Blessed Sacrament (Diocese of Buffalo, Andover)
- Most Precious Blood (Diocese of Buffalo)
- Sts. Peter and Paul (Diocese of Buffalo, Arcade)
- St. Francis of Assisi (Diocese of Buffalo, Athol Springs)
- St. Vincent de Paul (Diocese of Buffalo, Attica)
- St. Patrick (Diocese of Buffalo, Barker)
- Sacred Heart of Jesus (Diocese of Buffalo, New York)
- St. Anthony (Diocese of Buffalo, Batavia)
- St. Joseph (Diocese of Buffalo, Batavia)
- St. Mary (Diocese of Buffalo, Batavia)
- St. Patrick (Diocese of Buffalo, Belfast)
- Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Diocese of Buffalo)
- Our Lady of Lourdes (Diocese of Buffalo)
- Bennington Center (Diocese of Buffalo)
- St. Brigid (Diocese of Buffalo)
- Our Mother of Good Counsel (Diocese of Buffalo)
- St. Mary (Diocese of Buffalo, Bolivar)
- St. John the Baptist (Diocese of Buffalo, Boston)
- St. Patrick (Diocese of Buffalo, Brocton)
External links
Social media
| Official Social Media |
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References
- ↑ "December 2025 Clergy Assignments". Diocese of Buffalo. https://www.buffalodiocese.org/blog/dec-2025-clergy-assignments/.
- ↑ "St. Bonaventure Monastery and Chapel". St. Bonaventure University Archives. http://archives.sbu.edu/studentpages/buildings/St_%20Bonaventure%20Monastery%20and%20Chapel.htm.
- ↑ "St. Bonaventure Monastery and Chapel". St. Bonaventure University Archives. http://archives.sbu.edu/studentpages/buildings/St_%20Bonaventure%20Monastery%20and%20Chapel.htm.
- ↑ "St. Bonaventure Monastery and Chapel". St. Bonaventure University Archives. http://archives.sbu.edu/studentpages/buildings/St_%20Bonaventure%20Monastery%20and%20Chapel.htm.
- ↑ ""Tender loving care" provided during renovation of St. Bonaventure Church". Olean Times Herald. January 9, 2020. https://www.oleantimesherald.com/olean/tender-loving-care-provided-during-renovation-of-st-bonaventure-church/article_367d79d0-698f-5fff-87bd-8f186c31af98.html.
- ↑ "Father Jakubowicz begins ministry in Olean". Western New York Catholic. May 28, 2024. https://wnycatholic.org/2024/05/28/father-jakubowicz-begins-ministry-in-olean/.
- ↑ "December 2025 Clergy Assignments". Diocese of Buffalo. https://www.buffalodiocese.org/blog/dec-2025-clergy-assignments/.
- ↑ ""Tender loving care" provided during renovation of St. Bonaventure Church". Olean Times Herald. January 9, 2020. https://www.oleantimesherald.com/olean/tender-loving-care-provided-during-renovation-of-st-bonaventure-church/article_367d79d0-698f-5fff-87bd-8f186c31af98.html.
- ↑ ""Tender loving care" provided during renovation of St. Bonaventure Church". Olean Times Herald. January 9, 2020. https://www.oleantimesherald.com/olean/tender-loving-care-provided-during-renovation-of-st-bonaventure-church/article_367d79d0-698f-5fff-87bd-8f186c31af98.html.
- ↑ "St. Bonaventure Monastery and Chapel". St. Bonaventure University Archives. http://archives.sbu.edu/studentpages/buildings/St_%20Bonaventure%20Monastery%20and%20Chapel.htm.