Homilies-audio/video

For many in our parish, he is the only pastor they have ever known at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. Very Rev. Gregory J. Dobson, VF, Rector of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and pastor of the basilica’s parish community for the past 22 years, will be leaving his assignment in Olean this summer, he announced to parishioners this weekend during all four scheduled Masses. This announcement has been long anticipated by both Fr. Dobson and the local Catholic community.

Beginning August 1, he will be serving as the priest in Gowanda at St. Joseph’s Church.  Most Rev. Richard J. Malone, Bishop of Buffalo, confirmed Fr. Dobson’s temporary reassignment last week that coincides with the Olean pastor’s long-standing plans for serving the remainder of his tenure in ministry as a Roman Catholic priest in the Buffalo region near his family. 

While in Gowanda, Fr. Dobson will be covering for Rev. Joseph Porpiglia, pastor of St. Joseph’s,  while Fr. Porpiglia is on sabbatical until Christmas. A more permanent assignment for Fr. Dobson will be announced by the bishop later this year, it is anticipated. 

The 70-year-old South Buffalo native arrived in Olean in January, 1997, and celebrates his 35th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood this July.  He has always teased about being a simple country priest no matter where his ministry took him.

Following his ordination, he served 14 years as a parochial vicar in several Buffalo parishes. Fr. Dobson took on his first assignment as a pastor when Most Rev. Edward Head, Bishop is Buffalo, assigned him to St. Mary of the Angels in 1997.  With this assignment came the additional appointment as Vicar Forane, Southern Cattaraugus Vicariate. 

In 2003 Fr. Dobson assumed the pastorship of Sacred Heart parish in Portville, a position he maintained until the 2007 merger with St. Mary's in Olean. 

Among highlights of his past 22 years in Olean, Fr. Dobson helped clear the parish debt; strengthened several parish ministries including the annual Christmas Dinner serving more than 900 meals on Christmas Day, youth ministry, Stephen Ministry; became an integral leader in strengthening the local Catholic schools, ecumenical and interfaith interactions and dialogue ; and led a parish capital campaign to refurbish the 103-year-old historic church building which included painting the spectacular artwork in the ceilings. Fr. Dobson is credited with spearheading the Vatican application process in getting the historic Olean church designated as a Minor Basilica—a title Pope Francis granted in 2017. 

He is one of the senior clergy member among all Christian clergy in Olean.

Fr Dobson served as Canonical Administrator for Southern Tier Catholic School and currently serves on Archbishop Walsh Academy’s governing board.

He is a frequent  speaker at Catholic, ecumenical and community events.

Some of the region’s top civic citations have been bestowed upon Fr. Dobson. 

Among them:

       ◦     the Chamber of Commerce's Good News Award (2001)

       ◦     The Olean Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Fellow (2001), Rotary’s highest honor.

       ◦     Unity Award by the Bahá’í Community (2002) for his work in fostering religious unity in the community

       ◦     The Olean YMCA's Salute to Olean (2007) in which he was honored for humanitarian leadership in the community

       ◦     The BPO Elks Man of the Year (2007); he joined their ranks in 2008

       ◦     St. Bonaventure University’s Gaudete Award for his leadership in western New York exemplifying the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi through his “joy, hope, positive outlook on life, sincerely compassionate spirit and desire to serve humankind.”

       ◦     Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce’s Heart of Olean Distinguished Service Award 

Fr. Dobson has served through his time in Olean on several governing boards including the Olean YMCA, Greater Olean Association of Churches (president), Friends of Good Music (president), the Renodin Foundation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, and Genesis House family shelter in Olean.

In addition to the governing boards, Fr. Dobson serves as chaplain to the Olean Police Department and other area chaplaincies.

In the Fall of 2014, Fr. Dobson was appointed to the Catholic Charities of Buffalo Board of Trustees. 

Coinciding with the worldwide Christian Unity Week in January, 2016, he was awarded the Ecumen Award by the Greater Olean Association of Churches for fostering an ecumenical spirit in the Olean-area for almost 20 years.

The Olean community will honor Fr. Dobson at a special dinner celebration sponsored by the parish on the basilica grounds on June 8. A celebration with members of the parish community is being planned later this summer.

###

Bishop Richard J. Malone of the Diocese of Buffalo offers his homily during the Mass Solemnizing the designation by Pope Francis of St. Mary of the Angels as a Minor Basilica. This Mass-- celebrated with three bishops-- was the most important celebration in the 165 years of the Olean Catholic Community. We invite you to listen to Bishop Malone's important words explaining the significance of this designation by Pope Francis. 

140 years ago St. Mary of the Angels became a parish in the Diocese of Buffalo. Although we had been operating as a mission church in the diocese since 1852 on this very lot, we did not become an official parish until 1876 with the appointment of Rev. John J. Hamel as our first resident pastor. We celebrate the arrival of Fr. Hamel in this special Mass that included descendants of Fr. Hamel's family!