St. Mary of the Cataract Church has been anchoring Catholic life in Niagara Falls since 1836, making it the oldest parish in the Diocese of Buffalo and the city’s true “mother church.” Its story is part of the story of the Falls themselves. After hearing that St. Mary’s celebrated its 190th anniversary in February, Buffalo Mass Mob made the easy call: we’re going there for Mass. Please join us on Sunday, May 17, for St. Mary’s 10:30 AM Mass. It’s just another way to celebrate St. Mary of the Cataract Church and give people an opportunity to visit and worship at this sacred site.

St. Mary of the Cataract’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575522371787

The church is part of the Niagara Falls Roman Catholic Family of Parishes https://www.nfrcfparish.org/

History of St. Mary of the Cataract Church

🕰️ Founding & Early Catholic Presence

• Catholic roots at Niagara Falls trace back to 1678, when Fr. Louis Hennepin became the first European to record seeing the Falls. Early settlers in the region were largely French and Irish Catholics.
• The parish itself began in 1836, when Fr. John Neumann—now St. John Neumann—established a mission station on the site where the church stands today.

🏛️ Construction & Architecture

• The current church building was completed in 1847, making it the oldest church structure in Niagara Falls.
• The sacristy, however, predates the church—it was built in 1813 and is the oldest structure still in use in the city.
• The church’s tallest steeple was intentionally built to match the height of Niagara Falls, symbolically linking the parish to the natural wonder beside it.

🙏 Role in the Community

• For more than 150 years, St. Mary’s has been the central Catholic presence in downtown Niagara Falls, serving residents, workers, and the millions of visitors who come to see the Falls.
• It is recognized as the mother church of Niagara Falls, a title also reflected in multiple parish directories.

🔔 Modern Additions & Preservation

• In 2004, the church underwent a major renovation to restore its interior to a style consistent with its early history.
• In 2009, the parish added the Shrine of the Holy Relics, containing first‑class relics of numerous saints, making it a site of pilgrimage.

📍 Location

St. Mary of the Cataract Church, 237 4th St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303, just steps from the American Falls and the Canadian border.