History

Diocese of Buffalo

In 1847, the Diocese of Western New York was created and John Timon appointed the first Bishop of Buffalo by Pope Pius IX. Bishop Timon, of proud Irish heritage, was instrumental in improving the lives of Catholics in the region. Bishop Timon created the parochial school system with the first schools being St. Mary's and St. Boniface on the German East Side and St. Patrick's and St. Bridget's on the Irish South Side.