Three Places of Worship

The Gothic Revival building of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels was built in 1915. Although redecorated and refurbished several times the past century, no architectural or liturgical elements have been removed. The visitor entering the original oak doors is treated to an authentic turn-of-the-century palace of worship punctuated with an explosion of art. The stained-glass windows, the glory of St. Mary of the Angels, are in the Munich style and were domestically crafted during World War I by Daprato Statuary Company (Chicago | New York) using European immigrant glass artisans. They were installed in 1919 in time for the church's consecration. 

The glorious ceilings were painted for the building's grand  centennial celebrations in 2015-2016 by Swiatek Studios of Buffalo, NY. Inspiration for the design motif came from original 1926 stencil borders in the vestibule which were painted by a local Olean artist. Shades of blue paint--chosen during the time of the pastor who built the church--were discovered in careful research. Mixed with gold and an elaborate design, the ceilings are a splendid artistic means of punctuating the fact that Mary is, indeed, in Heaven as Queen of the Angels. 

Located in the Family Life Center - South First Street entrance
The Chapel, situated on the ground-level floor of the building, is under the intercession of the Children of Fatima--Saint Jacinta Marto, Saint Francisco Marto and their cousin, Servant of God Sister Maria Lúcia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart. The shepherd children's encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary during the Fatima apparitions of 1917 coincided with the time of preparation for the consecration of St. Mary of the Angels church and a time of prayer for peace during the Great War--peace which was officially ratified on the day before the consecration of St. Mary of the Angels church building.

It was Rev. Gregory Dobson's vision to create this chapel under the patronage of the shepherd children of Fatima as a means of reconnecting the parish with the stirring of faith experienced by their ancestors as stories of the Fatima apparitions made their way to Olean.

All of the religious art (with the exception of the tryptic) and liturgical furnishings for this Chapel are recovered from closed Roman Catholic church buildings in the region and repurposed for use in the new Chapel. It was formally blessed 8 May 2013 by Most Rev. Richard J. Malone, Bishop of Buffalo.

Entrance is on the South First Street side of Parish LIfe Center. You will see glass doors. Walk straight through to the far wall. The Chapel door is just on your left. 

As Criancas de Fatima, a tryptic painting  specially-comissioned for the chapel in 2013
artist: Brother David Haack, OFM        
8 feet high x 4 feet wide

Mass on the morning of May 13, 2017

In 1882, Fr. John Hamel, Pastor of St. Mary of the Angels Church, founded a Catholic Mission in honor of the Sacred Heart in Portville, NY. In 1909, the Mission was designated a parish .

Throughout its history, Sacred Heart has been a mission of St. Mary of the Angels, a free standing parish, a linked parish with St. Mary's in Bolivar and later with St. Mary of the Angels.

Finally, in 2007, it merged with St. Mary of the Angels as an oratory. In 2009, the most Reverend Edward Kmiec, Bishop of Buffalo, presided over the parish's centennial celebration.

Today, the historic country church is used for the celebration of sacraments, weddings, funerals, weekly prayer and Eucharistic adoration, and special Mass times especially for significant holy days. An annual Mass and picnic is held each summer in celebration of this parish in this community for more than 100 years. 

Location: 43 Maple Street | Portville, NY