About Catholic Community of Whitesboro @ St. Paul · Whitesboro, New York
St. Paul's Catholic Church in Whitesboro, New York, is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Syracuse that worships from a church on 16 Park Avenue, just off the village green in the heart of Whitesboro. The parish has grown through several waves of merger and now encompasses St. Anne's in Whitesboro, St. Stephen's in Oriskany, and St. Leo's/St. Anne's in Holland Patent, with the pastor overseeing all four worship sites. Along with the main church, the campus includes the Nazareth Center (which houses the Pre-K/Day Care) and welcomes parishioners with the motto 'Building the Kingdom of God Together.' The parish runs faith formation for Pre-K through Confirmation, the Life Teen youth ministry, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), liturgical ministries, and outreach such as a Christmas Project, all under the direction of Pastor Fr. John Canorro and a team of deacons.
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. John Canorro
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
St. Paul's offers a genuine 'family community' in the heart of Whitesboro, anchored by its historic Park Avenue church and the Nazareth Center, with Mass celebrated at multiple worship sites so parishioners can pray close to home. The parish invests in every stage of faith life — Pre-K through Confirmation religious education, the Life Teen youth movement for grades 7-12, OCIA for adults entering the Church, and a Memorial Society — and supports both worship and service through a wide roster of liturgical, educational, community and social ministries. Newcomers are warmly invited to register, and the parish explicitly welcomes those joining from merged or closed parishes, accompanying them through the transition with the conviction that 'it's only the location, it isn't their faith.'
Mass times at Catholic Community of Whitesboro @ St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Parish Identity & Multi-Site Catholic Community
St. Paul's Catholic Church is the central parish of the Catholic Community of Whitesboro @ St. Paul, worshipping from 16 Park Avenue just off the Whitesboro village green. Through diocesan consolidation it now serves as the umbrella parish for several historic congregations: St. Anne's in Whitesboro, St. Stephen's in Oriskany, and St. Leo's with St. Anne's in Holland Patent. The parish motto, 'Building the Kingdom of God Together,' is carried into a multi-site schedule with Sunday Mass offered at both the main church and the Holland Patent worship site.
- St. Paul's Church, 16 Park Avenue, Whitesboro (main worship site)
- St. Anne's, Whitesboro (merged worship site)
- St. Stephen's, Oriskany (merged worship site)
- St. Leo's / St. Anne's, 7939 Elm Street, Holland Patent (summer office: M–F 9 AM–1 PM, 315-865-5371)
History of the Parish
St. Paul's has been a fixture of Whitesboro Catholic life for well over a century, but its modern character has been shaped by waves of parish mergers in the Diocese of Syracuse. In 2009 the Utica Observer-Dispatch introduced then-new pastor Father Tom Durant, who had come from St. Peter's in North Utica to lead St. Paul's, St. Ann's and St. Stephen's as one combined faith family. Father Durant, a dairy-farm kid from Vernon Center who was ordained in 1976 after his home parish of St. Agnes closed and St. Catherine's in Vernon burned down, framed the consolidation as a 'marvelous spirit' of community continuing in a new location. St. Leo's and St. Anne's in Holland Patent have since joined as well. The parish sells a 'Saints & Sinners' history book through the parish office to preserve the memory of these communities.
- Parish merged with St. Ann's (Whitesboro) and St. Stephen's (Oriskany) — in process as of 2009 under Father Tom Durant
- St. Leo's and St. Anne's (Holland Patent) later merged into St. Paul's
- 'Saints & Sinners' parish history book available through the parish office
- Father Tom Durant profiled by Utica Observer-Dispatch, Feb. 19, 2009
Pastor, Deacons & Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. John Canorro, who also serves the merged St. Leo's and St. Anne's community in Holland Patent. He is assisted by three deacons and supported by a parish staff reachable through the office email list. The parish's Pastor's Page emphasizes the team approach: 'We are blessed with three Deacons and our Seminarian, is now ordained to the priesthood. Our dedicated team and our staff are here to support you on your spiritual journey as we walk together in faith.' Deacon Tony in particular is the contact for youth ministry and faith formation. Cindy Godemann is listed as a staff contact for faith formation.
- Fr. John Canorro — Pastor
- Deacon Tony — youth ministry & faith formation contact
- Deacon Tom — sacramental contact
- Third Deacon on staff
- Cindy Godemann — faith formation staff contact
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
The parish publishes a weekly Mass schedule covering St. Paul's main church and St. Leo's/St. Anne's in Holland Patent. Weekday Masses are offered Tuesday through Friday mornings at the main church, with no Mass on Thursdays. The Sunday Vigil and two Sunday Masses (one a designated 'Quiet Mass') are celebrated at St. Paul's, and a third Sunday Mass is celebrated at 9:00 AM at the Holland Patent worship site. Confessions are heard Saturday afternoons before the Vigil Mass.
- Tuesday–Wednesday & Friday: 8:15 AM at St. Paul's
- No Mass on Thursday
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM at St. Paul's
- Sunday 8:00 AM (Quiet Mass) and 10:30 AM at St. Paul's
- Sunday 9:00 AM at St. Leo's / St. Anne's, Holland Patent
- Confessions: Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Paul's runs 'a fun place for children to learn about their faith' from Pre-K all the way through Confirmation. The program is structured around three core commitments — worship, education and service — and is overseen by a Faith Formation Director with Deacon Tony as a key contact. Teens in grades 7-12 are served through the Life Teen youth ministry, a Eucharist-centered movement within the Roman Catholic Church that 'leads teenagers and their families into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church.' Adults seeking to become Catholic journey through OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults).
- Religious Education: Pre-K through Confirmation
- Life Teen youth ministry for grades 7-12
- OCIA for adults entering the Catholic Church
- Successful Child Church Program
- Contact: Deacon Tony (youth) and Faith Formation Director via parish office
Parish Ministries & Service
The parish describes its ministries under the theological framework of 'Fulfilling the Commission' — carrying out Jesus' command in Matthew 28:19-20 to make disciples, baptize, and teach. Its ministry list is organized into three families — Worship, Education, and Mission — plus Community & Social Ministry. In addition to liturgical roles and faith formation, the parish runs a Memorial Society and a Christmas Project as practical expressions of care for members and neighbors in need.
- Worship ministries (liturgical roles)
- Education ministries (faith formation, youth)
- Mission ministries (outreach and evangelization)
- Community & Social Ministry
- Memorial Society
- Christmas Project
Sacraments
The parish handles the usual Catholic sacraments of initiation and vocation through the parish office. Couples are asked to call ahead so a date can be set on the parish calendar, and the Pastor's Page instructs those needing any sacrament to call the office: 'They will ask for the information needed and that will be given to Fr. Tom or one of the Deacons, who will call you.' Adult initiation into the Church is handled through OCIA, while children and youth receive First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation through the faith formation program.
- Baptism — arranged through the parish office
- Marriage — call the office to set a date
- OCIA — adult Christian initiation
- First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation via Faith Formation
Nazareth Center: Pre-K & Day Care
On the same 16 Park Avenue campus as the church, the parish operates the Nazareth Center, which houses its Pre-K program and Day Care (315-736-4807). The Center is part of how the parish lives out its mission to families in Whitesboro and surrounding villages, and is referenced on the parish's main contact line alongside the parish office number.
- Nazareth Pre-K & Day Care — 315-736-4807
- Located on the 16 Park Avenue parish campus
- Fall hours (starting September): 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Getting Involved & Newcomers
St. Paul's encourages newcomers to register as parishioners through an online form on its website and to update family member information as it changes. The parish offers a downloadable Ministry Sign-Up sheet (a fillable PDF) so people of all ages and backgrounds can find a place to serve. The website quotes the parish's invitation: 'We offer a variety of ministries and programs for people of all ages and backgrounds. Review our Ministry Sign Up sheet to see where God may be calling you to serve in Ministry.'
- Online new parishioner registration form
- Family information update form
- Ministry Sign-Up PDF (fillable)
- Ministry Descriptions page on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Tom Durant
Pastor as of February 2009 per Utica Observer-Dispatch profile; previously pastor of St. Peter's, North Utica; originally from Vernon Center; oversaw the merger of St. Paul's with St. Ann's and St. Stephen's.
- Fr. John Canorro
Current pastor of St. Paul's Whitesboro and the merged St. Leo/St. Anne's Holland Patent parishes.