St. Mary's History

Saint Mary's History (1833 - 1984)

Click on any year to get you down the page:

1833 1853 1859 1879 1917 1947 1978 1984

January 1833
A group of parishioners from St. Patrick's purchase unused Methodist Church on South Avenue, near Main Street, for use as a site for a new Catholic parish
Rev. Patrick Foley, assistant at St. Patrick's, is assigned the work of organizing the new congregation and leads loyal volunteers in repainting, plastering and furnishing the new church building and making it suitable for celebrating Mass

1834
Rev. Bernard O'Reilly becomes the first pastor. On July 13,1834, the church opens with the first high Mass offered for the people of the parish, named St. Mary's of the Assumption

1848
222 Baptisms were recorded at St. Mary's

1852
Land is purchased for a new church on South Street (now named St. Mary's Place)

1853
On September 18, the cornerstone is blessed for the new church building, with Bishop John Timon of Buffalo officiating.

1856
Sisters of the Irish Order of St. Bridget begin giving religious instructions in various parish homes and working with the poor.

1857
On June 9, the first Sisters of Mercy arrive in Rochester and begin work at St.. Mary's. A new convent is erected just north of the present church.
St. Mary's School opens in the church basement with an enrollment of 200 pupils.

1858
On October 24, St. Mary's Church is dedicated by Bishop John Timon. over 130 gas burning lamps are installed to illuminate the church. (Recession scuttles plans to complete the church bell tower for eighty years!)

1858-59
Sister Mary dePazzi founds St. Mary's soup kitchen and cares for over 40 families during the hard winter.
Father Daniel Moore delivers a fiery sermon against slavery.
During the recession years of the late 1850's, St. Mary's opens a House of Mercy "for the protection of distressed women of good character." Later an employment office is incorporated into the endeavor.

1859
St. Mary's Saint Vincent de Paul Men's Society raises money for the poor of the city regardless of religious belief.

1860

Two rooms are set aside for the teaching of boys in the parish. The Religious Order of the Christian Brothers from Canada begin work in the school.

1861
With the outbreak of the Civil War, Rev. Daniel Moore, pastor of St. Mary's obtains state authority to raise an "Irish Brigade" of soldiers in western New York.
In November, 1861, Father Moore resigns to become chaplain of the Irish troops.
Sacred concerts are given to raise money for orphans and widows of the Civil War.

1864
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet open a home for orphaned boys in a new building at Court and South Streets. (Eventually this organization would develop into St. Joseph's Villa in 1942.)

1868
Diocese of Rochester is formed, with Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid as the first Bishop.

1870's
St. Mary's Industrial School for orphaned girls opens. Vocational skills such as sewing, lace making, making of wax flowers and shoe repair are taught. The Sisters open a small shoe store in the school.

1873
New school building is opened at St. Mary's with over 500 students.

1879
St. Mary's Church picnic draws 10,000 people

1881
Day care center for small children is opened.

1884
On March 22nd, Thomas F. Hickey, St. Mary's parishioner from birth, is ordained to the priesthood and then celebrates his First Solemn High Mass at St. Mary's Church. he later becomes Archbishop Hickey, the second Bishop of Rochester.

1891
St. Mary's pastor, Rev, J.P. Stewart, gives a sermon at the laying of the cornerstone of St. Bernard's Seminary
St. Mary's literary and musical club is formed.

1898
Architect W. Foster Kelly is hired to double the size of St. Mary's School.

1905
New rectory is built.

1916
Transepts are added to the church giving it its present cruciform shape. Tiffany rose window is installed behind the organ.

1917

A two year commercial program is added to St. Mary's School, with Sister M. Pauline Mills as principal.

1918
Influenza rages in Rochester, Sisters from St. Mary's work among the black community of Rochester, and minister to the many victims of the epidemic.

1934
St. Mary's celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding as a parish.
On October 15, Archbishop Edward Mooney officiates at the ceremony; Archbishop Thomas Hickey preaches. Rev. James B. Keenan is pastor

1938
Monsignor Fulton J. Sheen of Catholic University preaches at the 80th anniversary celebration of the dedication of the church.

1940
The bell tower is added to the church

1942
Outdoor shrine is built to Mary, protectress of travelers. Prayers are offered for the safe return of the 145 parishioners fighting in World War II

1943-49 St. Mary's has a weekly radio broadcast on WHEC

1947
New stained glass windows are installed . St. Mary's becomes the first church to be air-conditioned.

1949
Monsignor James C. McAniff becomes pastor after the untimely death of Rev. George Kettell, who had been pastor for 15 years

1950's
Over 150 parish homes are demolished to make room for city highways.

1950
St. Mary's School closes, due to declining enrollment and financial difficulties.

1951
New Italian marble high alter is dedicated in memory of Dr. Kettell.

1953
New Austin organ is installed at cost of $50,000, is completed in 1955

1955
Rectory is enlarged and cloister walk is added between church and rectory

1960's
Transept windows are added and main church and baptistry are completed and redecorated.

1971
Fire causes extensive damage to basement church on Easter Sunday.

1978
On September 18, St. Mary's celebrated the 125th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone; also the chimes given by Kilian and Caroline Schmitt were rededicated.

1980
Monsignor McAniff retires after 31 years, the longest pastorate of any priest at St. Mary's.

1983
A lift is installed in July, to assist people in wheelchairs and who find steps difficult, to attend services at St. Mary's.
Monsignor McAniff celebrates his 50th anniversary of ordination on November 20. On December 24, he passes on to his eternal reward.

1984
St. Mary's begins a year-long celebration of its 150th year with a Mass of Thanksgiving on the New Year's Eve. South Street becomes St. Mary's Place
150th anniversary Mass and picnic July 8 mark the foundation of St. Mary's parish in July, 1834

January 1833	A group of parishioners from St. Patrick's purchase unused Methodist Church on South Avenue, near Main Street, for use as a site for a new Catholic parish Rev. Patrick Foley, assistant at St. Patrick's, is assigned the work of organizing the new congregation and leads loyal volunteers in repainting, plastering and furnishing the new church building and making it suitable for celebrating Mass
1834	Rev. Bernard O'Reilly becomes the first pastor. On July 13,1834, the church opens with the first high Mass offered for the people of the parish, named St. Mary's of the Assumption
1848	222 Baptisms were recorded at St. Mary's
1852	Land is purchased for a new church on South Street (now named St. Mary's Place)
1853	On September 18, the cornerstone is blessed for the new church building, with Bishop John Timon of Buffalo officiating.
1856	Sisters of the Irish Order of St. Bridget begin giving religious instructions in various parish homes and working with the poor.
1857	On June 9, the first Sisters of Mercy arrive in Rochester and begin work at St.. Mary's. A new convent is erected just north of the present church. St. Mary's School opens in the church basement with an enrollment of 200 pupils.
1858	On October 24, St. Mary's Church is dedicated by Bishop John Timon. over 130 gas burning lamps are installed to illuminate the church. (Recession scuttles plans to complete the church bell tower for eighty years!)
1858-59	Sister Mary dePazzi founds St. Mary's soup kitchen and cares for over 40 families during the hard winter. Father Daniel Moore delivers a fiery sermon against slavery. During the recession years of the late 1850's, St. Mary's opens a House of Mercy "for the protection of distressed women of good character." Later an employment office is incorporated into the endeavor.
1859	St. Mary's Saint Vincent de Paul Men's Society raises money for the poor of the city regardless of religious belief.
1860	Two rooms are set aside for the teaching of boys in the parish. The Religious Order of the Christian Brothers from Canada begin work in the school.
1861	With the outbreak of the Civil War, Rev. Daniel Moore, pastor of St. Mary's obtains state authority to raise an "Irish Brigade" of soldiers in western New York. In November, 1861, Father Moore resigns to become chaplain of the Irish troops. Sacred concerts are given to raise money for orphans and widows of the Civil War.
1864	Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet open a home for orphaned boys in a new building at Court and South Streets. (Eventually this organization would develop into St. Joseph's Villa in 1942.)
1868	Diocese of Rochester is formed, with Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid as the first Bishop.
1870's	St. Mary's Industrial School for orphaned girls opens. Vocational skills such as sewing, lace making, making of wax flowers and shoe repair are taught. The Sisters open a small shoe store in the school.
1873	New school building is opened at St. Mary's with over 500 students.
1879	St. Mary's Church picnic draws 10,000 people
1881	Day care center for small children is opened.
1884	On March 22nd, Thomas F. Hickey, St. Mary's parishioner from birth, is ordained to the priesthood and then celebrates his First Solemn High Mass at St. Mary's Church. he later becomes Archbishop Hickey, the second Bishop of Rochester.
1891	St. Mary's pastor, Rev, J.P. Stewart, gives a sermon at the laying of the cornerstone of St. Bernard's Seminary St. Mary's literary and musical club is formed.
1898	Architect W. Foster Kelly is hired to double the size of St. Mary's School.
1905	New rectory is built.
1916	Transepts are added to the church giving it its present cruciform shape. Tiffany rose window is installed behind the organ.
1917	A two year commercial program is added to St. Mary's School, with Sister M. Pauline Mills as principal.
1918	Influenza rages in Rochester, Sisters from St. Mary's work among the black community of Rochester, and minister to the many victims of the epidemic.
1934	St. Mary's celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding as a parish. On October 15, Archbishop Edward Mooney officiates at the ceremony; Archbishop Thomas Hickey preaches. Rev. James B. Keenan is pastor
1938	Monsignor Fulton J. Sheen of Catholic University preaches at the 80th anniversary celebration of the dedication of the church.
1940	The bell tower is added to the church
1942	Outdoor shrine is built to Mary, protectress of travelers. Prayers are offered for the safe return of the 145 parishioners fighting in World War II
1943-49	St. Mary's has a weekly radio broadcast on WHEC
1947	New stained glass windows are installed . St. Mary's becomes the first church to be air-conditioned.
1949	Monsignor James C. McAniff becomes pastor after the untimely death of Rev. George Kettell, who had been pastor for 15 years
1950's	Over 150 parish homes are demolished to make room for city highways.
1950	St. Mary's School closes, due to declining enrollment and financial difficulties.
1951	New Italian marble high alter is dedicated in memory of Dr. Kettell.
1953	New Austin organ is installed at cost of $50,000, is completed in 1955
1955	Rectory is enlarged and cloister walk is added between church and rectory
1960's	Transept windows are added and main church and baptistry are completed and redecorated.
1971	Fire causes extensive damage to basement church on Easter Sunday.
1978	On September 18, St. Mary's celebrated the 125th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone; also the chimes given by Kilian and Caroline Schmitt were rededicated.
1980	Monsignor McAniff retires after 31 years, the longest pastorate of any priest at St. Mary's.
1983	A lift is installed in July, to assist people in wheelchairs and who find steps difficult, to attend services at St. Mary's. Monsignor McAniff celebrates his 50th anniversary of ordination on November 20. On December 24, he passes on to his eternal reward.
1984	St. Mary's begins a year-long celebration of its 150th year with a Mass of Thanksgiving on the New Year's Eve. South Street becomes St. Mary's Place 150th anniversary Mass and picnic July 8 mark the foundation of St. Mary's parish in July, 1834