By most any measure, St. Patrick's Church on Church Street in Lockport is the city's most magnificent place to pray. If a Bishop were to take residence here St. Patrick's could properly be designated as a "cathedral." This Lockport landmark is known as the city's "Irish Church" because it was the poor Irish immigrants, here to build the canal at Lockport, who paid to build this tribute to God with their labor, money, and other resources.
Construction began in 1858 and the church was dedicated in 1863. But it was far from finished at this point. Much of the stone work on the church was done by church members who were Irish craftsmen and stone laborers who had worked on the canal. As parishioners raised money and contributed their labors the beautiful woodwork on the inside evolved, statues were raised, and the magnificent marble altars were installed.
Outside of the church over its main entry is a statue of St. Patrick.
Another large statue of the church patron is a part of the main altar complex.
The main church steeple (there are two secondary towers) is 161 feet high and was not completed until 1902. Our Lockport Page photographer admits to being unable to immediately produce a picture (frame left) that includes the full tower---it was just too tall to photograph (and exclude powerlines nearby) without a special lens. We hope to update the photos here during the summer months or when we are able to obtain better file photos.
Today the St. Patrick's parish community is more diverse than it was when the Irish built the church. As the church's longtime pastor, Rev. Francis Schimscheiner has indicated, while yesterday's Irish-American parishioners toiled long and hard to build this church, today the task for parishioners is to "seek through a variety of ministries to know, love and serve God and one another and to extend our prayer and stewardship to the missions in the spirit of St. Patrick."
The towering main center marble altar (frame left) at St. Patrick's is a
truly grand sight, especially when properly illuminated with full lighting.
Additionally there are two beautiful smaller side altars usually fronted by various
burning candles and seasonal displays.
Visitor's Advisory
The church is not normally open to the public outside of worship
hours. Weekday Masses are at 7AM and 8AM. "Sunday" Masses are at
8:30AM and 10:30AM plus Saturday at 5:15PM. You'll find that the musical talent and
presentation at the Sunday services, under music director Virginia Miller, is among the
very best heard in a Catholic church anywhere on the Niagara Frontier.
Father in heaven
you sent the great bishop Patrick
to the people of Ireland to share his faith
and to spend his life in loving service.
May our lives in Lockport,
bear witness to the faith we profess
and our love bring others
to the peace and joy of your Gospel
Learning
about St. Patrick's is both a joy and a challenge for historians. Little written
history exists of 5th century Ireland. There are two authoritative accounts of
the life of St. Patrick. The Confession of Saint Patrick,
has been translated from the Bishop's own rough Latin into English and is available
at major book sellers. However, much of what we hear about Patrick is Irish-romanced
legend.
We do know he was born in Celtic Britain, close to the Irish Sea, about 415.
About 430, Irish raiders came into the area and took him to slavery in Ireland. He
worked about six years in Ireland before escaping and returning to his homeland.
His studies led to ordination as a priest. In a dream he said he heard a call to
return to Ireland and did so, beginning a lifelong ministry there and converting thousands
to God and the Church. He died about 493.
Prayer To Saint Patrick
Hail, glorious Saint Patrick! We honor thy name,
tho' Erin may claim thee, the world knows thy fame.
The faith of our fathers is our treasure, too.
How holy the thought, that they learned it from you.
Thru crosses and trials its fire burn bright,
they show us the way, and the truth, and the light.
Our love and devotion be ever like thine,
our thought be of Jesus, our heart be His shrine.
And when to the end of life's path we have trod,
be near us great bishop, anointed of God.
Statue of St. Patrick
Lockportians Needn't Wait For Church To Pray.