About Annunciation. Cabrini Parish. · Rochester, New York
The Church of the Annunciation at 1760 Norton Street in Rochester, New York, is today one of three surviving Catholic worship sites of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish (commonly known as Cabrini Parish or Cabrini Rochester), a bilingual English/Spanish Catholic community serving northeast Rochester. Annunciation has roots stretching back to 1914, when it was founded as a mission church for Rochester's growing Italian-American community; it became a standalone parish in 1946. In 2011, Annunciation joined eleven other former northeast-Rochester parishes to form Cabrini Parish under the patronage of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American citizen to be canonized. Today the parish continues Annunciation's 110-year tradition of welcoming immigrant and working-class Catholics, with Saturday vigil and weekday morning Masses celebrated in English at Norton Street.
- Established
- 1914 (as a mission; incorporated as a parish in 1946)
- Patron
- The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (parish-wide: St. Frances Xavier Cabrini)
- Rector
- Father Daniel Ruiz-Sierra
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
Annunciation is the oldest continuously-used Catholic church building in northeast Rochester, with more than a century of immigrant, working-class, and now bilingual Catholic life rooted at 1760 Norton Street. Worshippers can attend a Saturday 4:00 pm vigil Mass and weekday morning Masses in English, take children to free Saturday faith-formation classes (Pre-K through 7th grade at 869 N. Clinton Ave.), prepare for First Communion, Confirmation, or marriage through the parish's bilingual sacramental programs, and serve neighbors in need through the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Conference. It is a small, warm worship site where families, longtime Italian-American parishioners, and newer Spanish-speaking Catholics share the same pews.
Mass times at Annunciation. Cabrini Parish.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 – 3:30 pm at Annunciation, 1760 Norton St (in the confessional to the left of the Sanctuary) — offered in English and Spanish; the Blessed Sacrament is exposed during this time for those who wish to pray.
- Tuesday 10:45 – 11:45 am at Saint Michael, in the back of the church near the restroom — English and Spanish.
- Wednesday 6:30 – 7:30 pm at Corpus Christi, in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel — English and Spanish.
- By appointment — contact Father Bob Werth in English at (585) 633-0098 / [email protected], or Father Daniel Ruiz-Sierra in Spanish at (585) 210-3024 (call, text, or WhatsApp) / [email protected].
Adoration times
- During scheduled confession times at all three Cabrini worship sites (Annunciation Saturday 2:30–3:30 pm, Saint Michael Tuesday 10:45–11:45 am, Corpus Christi Wednesday 6:30–7:30 pm) the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for prayer.
- Holy Hour in Spanish — Friday 7:00 pm at Corpus Christi, 864 E. Main St.
History of Annunciation Church
Annunciation began in 1914 as an Italian-American mission church in a private home on Norton Street, grew into the 'Catacomb Church' basement chapel of 1917, added a wood-frame top in 1923, became an independent parish in 1946, opened a school in 1958, and dedicated a new larger church across the street in 1967 for its golden jubilee. The school closed in 1989 and, decades later, the community moved back into the original 1917/1923 mission building (which had been used as a hall), installing pews repurposed from Our Lady of Mercy in Greece. In 2011, Annunciation joined eleven other former parishes to form the new St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish.
- 1914 — first Masses celebrated in a private home on Norton Street
- 1917 — basement 'Catacomb Church' chapel built as a mission of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
- 1923 — wood-frame top added; main floor used for Mass
- 1946 — Annunciation incorporated as an independent parish
- 1957 — choir-loft fire; Catacombs re-used for worship during restoration
- 1958 — parish school opens
- 1960 — Catacombs pressed back into service for simultaneous Masses
- 1967 — new larger church completed across the street for 50th anniversary
- 1989 — parish school closes
- Later decades — 1967 building sold; community moves back to the renovated 1917/1923 mission building
- 2011 — Annunciation joins 11 former parishes to form St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish
Patron and Feast Day
Annunciation is named for the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated liturgically on March 25 — the same date on which the first Masses were offered for the community in 1914. Each year the parish marks the patronal feast with a bilingual Mass and family gathering in April. The broader parish is named for St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American citizen to be canonized.
- Patron: The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Feast day: March 25
- Bilingual Patronal Feast Mass — celebrated in April at Annunciation, 1760 Norton St.
Parish Leadership and Staff
Cabrini Parish is led by Father Daniel Ruiz-Sierra as Pastor, with Father Robert 'Bob' Werth serving as Parochial Vicar. Three deacons — Jorge Malavé, Agenol Rodríguez, and Carlos Vargas — assist with Spanish-language ministry, weddings, and pastoral care. The lay staff includes Dawn Burdick (Pastoral Associate and Faith Formation Coordinator), Carol Wynne (Assistant for Faith Formations and Communications), and Gloria Taveras (Finance Director). Emanuel Colón handles space reservations.
- Father Daniel Ruiz-Sierra — Pastor
- Father Robert 'Bob' Werth — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Jorge Malavé
- Deacon Agenol Rodríguez
- Deacon Carlos Vargas
- Dawn Burdick — Pastoral Associate & Faith Formation Coordinator
- Carol Wynne — Assistant for Faith Formations and Communications
- Gloria Taveras — Finance Director
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Cabrini Parish offers free, bilingual faith formation for all ages. Children in Pre-K through 7th grade meet on selected Saturdays from 10:00–11:30 am at 869 N. Clinton Ave. (next to Saint Michael's Church). Older youth (grades 8–12) follow a parallel track that includes Youth Ministry and Confirmation preparation. Adults can take part in ongoing Adult Faith Formation gatherings and special family sessions throughout the year. All programs are offered at no cost.
- Pre-K through 7th Grade Faith Formation — Saturdays 10:00–11:30 am at 869 N. Clinton Ave.
- First Reconciliation preparation (Lenten season, 4–6 meetings)
- First Communion preparation
- Grades 8–12 Youth Ministry
- Confirmation preparation (teen track)
- Adult Faith Formation — ongoing and special family sessions
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation for adults
- Young Adult Group 'Light and Salt'
- Casa — young-adult fellowship with monthly service at Rochester Hope
Sacramental Preparation
The parish prepares children and adults for all the sacraments of initiation, healing, and vocation. Weddings may be celebrated in English or Spanish, during Mass or outside Mass, with options for bilingual ceremonies. Couples choose Father Daniel Ruiz, Father Bob Werth, or one of the deacons (Malavé, Vargas, or Rodríguez) as the officiating minister.
- Baptism (infant) — preparation required; contact the parish office
- First Reconciliation / First Communion — preparation each Lent
- Confirmation — teen track through faith formation; adult track via OCIA
- Penance / Confession — Saturday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and by appointment
- Holy Matrimony — English, Spanish, or bilingual; during or outside Mass
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment through the parish
Outreach and Social Ministry
The St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society is the parish's principal outreach arm. Volunteers pick up donated furniture and household goods, run St. Vincent's Treasure Trove antiques and collectibles store, conduct home visits, and connect neighbors in northeast Rochester with needed resources — including furniture, kitchenware, lamps, linens, and (when available) medical supplies such as canes, wheelchairs, and shower chairs. Service is offered regardless of religious affiliation, race, or national origin.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Conference
- Furniture and household-item pickup and distribution
- St. Vincent's Treasure Trove (antiques and collectibles store)
- Home visits and resource referrals
- Volunteer opportunities: pickups, store staffing, warehouse organizing, fundraising, accounting
- Coverage area: zip 14621 and portions of 14605/14609
- Contact: (585) 338-2330
Parish-Wide Devotions and Feasts
Throughout the liturgical year Cabrini Parish gathers at its three worship sites for bilingual Masses, processions, retreats, and patronal-feast celebrations tied to the heritage of each former parish. These events are central to the life of Annunciation and to the wider parish community.
- Annunciation Patronal Feast — bilingual Mass in April at 1760 Norton St.
- Lenten Retreat for the Whole Family — Corpus Christi
- Penance Service for the Whole Family — Corpus Christi (child care available)
- Eucharistic Revival Gatherings — Wednesdays in Lent/Easter at Corpus Christi
- Bilingual Pentecost Mass with international food — Corpus Christi
- Corpus Christi Patronal Feast & First Communion Celebration — June
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel / Our Lady of Perpetual Help Patronal Feast — July at Corpus Christi
- St. Philip Neri Patronal Feast — August at Saint Michael
- Our Lady of Sorrows Procession and Festival — September 15 at Corpus Christi
Facilities and Use of Space
In addition to the church, Annunciation has a parish hall that fits up to 100 people and is offered free of charge to community organizations (note: nine steps to access, no lift, kitchen not available to outside groups). The parish hall at Corpus Christi seats up to 152 and can be rented for celebrations. All space use requires a reservation through Emanuel Colón and proof of insurance for non-parish events per Diocese of Rochester policy.
- Annunciation Hall — capacity 100, free for community organizations (9 steps, no lift, no kitchen access for outside groups)
- Corpus Christi Hall — capacity 152, available for rent
- Reservation required for all spaces — submit Reserve Space form on cabriniroc.org
- Insurance required for outside events ($95 special-event insurance available through the Diocese of Rochester)
- Celebration events (Quinceañera, Wedding): $900 donation + $600 refundable deposit
- Emergency line during events: (585) 210-3024
About Cabrini Parish (the Larger Community)
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish was constituted in 2011 to serve the Catholic community of northeast Rochester. It gathered the faithful of twelve former parishes — Saint Philip Neri, Holy Redeemer, Saint Francis Xavier, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Saint Andrew, Light of Christ, Our Lady of the Americas, Our Lady of Sorrows, Corpus Christi, Saint Michael, and Annunciation — of which only Annunciation, Corpus Christi, and Saint Michael's remain as active Catholic churches. The parish is named for St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850–1917), the first American citizen to be canonized (by Pope Pius XII in 1946), an Italian-born Missionary Sister of the Sacred Heart who founded schools, hospitals, and orphanages for Italian immigrants across the Americas.
- Constituted: 2011
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
- Patron: St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
- Active worship sites: Annunciation, Corpus Christi, Saint Michael's
- Twelve former parishes merged to form Cabrini Parish
- Bilingual English/Spanish community
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John KilleenMar. 25, 1914 – 1917
Ministered to Italians in the area; celebrated the first Masses for Annunciation's parishioners.
- Msgr. John M. Ball1917 – 1921
- Fr. Benedict Masselli1921 – 1923
- Fr. George J. Weinmann1923 – 1938
Led the effort to build a wood-frame church on top of the basement 'Catacomb' chapel.
- Fr. Charles J. AzziOct. 1938 – 1946
- Fr. Francis Cristantielli1946 – June 26, 1953
First resident pastor after Annunciation's incorporation as a parish.
- Msgr. Albert L. SimonettiJune 26, 1953 – Sep. 1, 1978
Built the new (1967) church and led the parish school effort; retired due to poor health.
- Fr. William J. GrafSep. 1, 1978 – July 1, 1987
- Robert F. O'NeillJuly 1, 1987 – Aug. 1988; Oct. 1988 – June 23, 1998
- Fr. Joseph W. DaileyAug. 1988 – Oct. 1988
Temporary administrator.
- Fr. Sean Garrity CSBMar. 19, 1995 – June 27, 1995
Temporary administrator during sabbatical.
- Dennis SewarJune 23, 1998 – 2003
- Sr. Marie Susanne Hoffman2003 – 2004
Administrator.
- Fr. Michael Mayer2004 – 2010
- Fr. Paul Gitau and Deborah A. Housel2010 – Sep. 1, 2011
Co-administrators during the transition into Cabrini Parish.
- Deacon David Palma2011 – July 2012
Administrator.
- Fr. William F. McGrath and Fr. Robert WerthJuly 2012 – June 25, 2019
Co-pastorate of Annunciation within the new Cabrini Parish.
- Fr. William F. McGrathJune 25, 2019 – June 29, 2021
- Father Daniel Ruiz-SierraJune 29, 2021 – Present
Current pastor.