A North Tonawanda priest who was charged with harassing one of his parishioners has been removed as the Buffalo Bills’ Catholic team chaplain.
Fr. Michael LaMarca, of the Tonawanda Family of Churches, was appointed a team chaplain in 2023, replacing Rev. Fran Weldgen, who had been in the role for more than 30 years. The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reported that Weldgen was brought out of retirement to again serve in the role this season.
Bills spokesperson Derek Boyle confirmed the change but did not provide further comment.
LaMarca was charged with second-degree harassment by North Tonawanda police after a Dec. 23, 2025 incident with parishioner Donna McCrohan at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church in North Tonawanda. During an argument, McCrohan said the priest grabbed both her arms and forced her against a sacristy counter; she suffered a contusion on her arms. He turned himself in to city police on Jan. 9.
He was ordered to undergo six months of counseling in February, along with a no-offensive contact order being issued, after which the violation would be dismissed if he lives a law-abiding life.
LaMarca has also been involved with Diocese of Buffalo efforts to close another North Tonawanda church, St. Jude the Apostle on Niagara Falls Boulevard, over the past year and a half.