About Christ Our Hope Parish @ St. Joseph · Boonville, New York
Christ Our Hope Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Northern Oneida County, New York, serving three worship sites: St. Joseph Church in Boonville, St. Patrick Church in Forestport, and St. Mary of the Snows Oratory in Otter Lake. The parish was created in 2009 by merging the three historic congregations under a single Catholic community in the Diocese of Syracuse. Its mission, drawn from Matthew 28:19-20, is to 'make disciples of all the nations.' The parish grounds itself in daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, faith formation for children, the Catholic Women's Club, and a community food pantry and thrift shop that serve neighbors across the rural Black River Valley.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas Ward (effective July 1, 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
Christ Our Hope Parish offers the rare gift of a small, multi-site Catholic community where every face is known. Across its three churches in Boonville, Forestport, and Otter Lake, parishioners worship at daily Mass, gather for Eucharistic Holy Hour and confessions Monday through Friday evenings at St. Joseph's, adore the Blessed Sacrament on Tuesdays, and serve their neighbors through the St. Patrick's food pantry, the St. Patrick's thrift shop, the Catholic Women's Club, and Faith Formation for children from Pre-K through 10th grade. It is a faithful rural parish where stewardship, prayer, and warm fellowship converge under the Diocese of Syracuse.
Mass times at Christ Our Hope Parish @ St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday, 6:15–6:45 PM (during Eucharistic Holy Hour at St. Joseph Church)
Adoration times
- Tuesdays, following daily Mass (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
About Christ Our Hope Parish
Christ Our Hope Parish is the Roman Catholic community of Northern Oneida County, New York, drawing its name from the hope that anchors Christian discipleship. Formed in 2009, the parish brings together three historic churches — St. Joseph in Boonville, St. Patrick in Forestport, and St. Mary of the Snows in Otter Lake — under one pastor and one set of ministries. The parish mission, drawn from Matthew 28:19-20, is to go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That Great Commission frames everything from the celebration of daily Mass to outreach through the food pantry and thrift shop. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Syracuse under Bishop Douglas Lucia and is served from its central office at 108 Charles Street in Boonville.
- Three worship sites: St. Joseph (Boonville), St. Patrick (Forestport), St. Mary of the Snows (Otter Lake)
- Parish office: 108 Charles St., Boonville, NY 13309
- Phone: (315) 942-4618
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese of Syracuse
Our History
Catholic life in Northern Oneida County grew up alongside the Black River Canal. In 1848, St. Patrick Parish was established for the Irish canal workers who settled along the canal corridor; it began as a mission and remains a vibrant community in Forestport today. Three decades later, in 1878, St. Joseph's was founded as a mission out of Constableville and quickly became the mother parish of St. Patrick and of St. Mary of the Snows Oratory in Otter Lake. In 1921, the summer chapel at Otter Lake was formally recognized as St. Mary of the Snows and continues today as a seasonal devotional site. In 2009, the three churches merged to form Christ Our Hope Parish — 'The Catholic Community of Northern Oneida County' — preserving the unique heritage of each site while pooling pastoral, formation, and outreach resources.
- 1848 — St. Patrick Parish founded for Irish canal workers along the Black River Canal
- 1878 — St. Joseph founded as a mission out of Constableville; becomes the mother parish
- 1921 — St. Mary of the Snows recognized at Otter Lake as a summer devotional chapel
- 2009 — Merger creates Christ Our Hope Parish
- Feb 1, 2021 — Fr. Matthew Rawson assigned as Parish Administrator
- Fr. Rawson later named pastor by Bishop Douglas Lucia
- July 1, 2025 — Fr. Rawson reassigned; Fr. Thomas Ward returns to the parish as pastor
Locations and Buildings
The parish office at 108 Charles Street in Boonville serves as the mailing address for all three worship locations. St. Joseph Church itself stands at 112 Charles Street, just up the street from the office. Beyond the church buildings, the parish maintains halls, cemeteries, and a thrift shop that anchor parish life and community service.
- St. Joseph Church — 112 Charles Street, Boonville, NY 13309
- St. Patrick Church — 11996 River Street, Forestport, NY 13338
- St. Mary of the Snows Oratory — State Route 28, Otter Lake, NY 13338 (911: 14040 NY-28, Forestport, NY 13338)
- St. Joseph's Gill Hall — 114 Charles Street, Boonville, NY (parish hall, Faith Formation site, rosary-making)
- St. Joseph's Cemetery — Moose River Road, Boonville, NY
- St. Patrick's Kiefer Hall — 9004 East River Street, Forestport, NY
- St. Patrick's Thrift Shop — 12000 River Street, Forestport, NY
- St. Patrick's Cemetery — River Road, Forestport, NY
St. Mary of the Snows Oratory
Originally a summer chapel and formally recognized in 1921, St. Mary of the Snows remains a summer devotional serving the faithful of the Otter Lake area. The oratory is open seasonally from Memorial Day through Columbus Day, and the parish celebrates a Sunday Mass there at 11:15 AM during that season.
- Open Memorial Day – Columbus Day
- Sunday Mass at 11:15 AM (seasonal)
- Located on State Route 28 in Otter Lake
Mass and Sacraments Schedule
The parish offers a rich sacramental schedule across its three sites, with daily Mass Monday through Saturday at St. Joseph Church in Boonville and an additional Wednesday morning Mass at St. Patrick Church in Forestport. Weekend Masses rotate between St. Joseph, St. Patrick, and (in summer) St. Mary of the Snows. Confessions are heard every weekday evening during the Eucharistic Holy Hour at St. Joseph Church. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held on Tuesdays following daily Mass, and Rosary Making gathers in Gill Hall on Monday mornings after daily Mass.
- Weekend Mass: Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM (St. Joseph); Sunday 8:00 AM (St. Patrick); Sunday 9:30 AM (St. Joseph); Sunday 11:15 AM (St. Mary of the Snows, seasonal)
- Weekday Mass: Mon–Fri 7:30 AM (St. Joseph); Wednesday 8:30 AM (St. Patrick); Saturday 8:30 AM (St. Joseph)
- Confessions: Monday–Friday, 6:15–6:45 PM at St. Joseph Church
- Adoration: Tuesdays following daily Mass
- Eucharistic Holy Hour with Evening Prayer: Monday–Friday, 6:00 PM at St. Joseph Church
- Rosary Making: Monday mornings after daily Mass in Gill Hall
Faith Formation and OCIA
Faith Formation for children from Pre-K through 10th grade meets Sunday mornings at Gill Hall in Boonville. The program runs from January through May and includes preparation for First Reconciliation (early February) and First Communion (early May), with a May Crowning each spring. Adult inquirers interested in becoming Catholic participate in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) by appointment with the pastor.
- Faith Formation for Pre-K through 10th grade
- Sunday mornings at Gill Hall, Boonville
- First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation
- May Crowning each spring
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — call the parish office at (315) 942-4618
Outreach: Food Pantry and Thrift Shop
The St. Patrick's Food Pantry and the St. Patrick's Thrift Shop are the parish's main arms of corporal outreach, both operating out of Forestport. The thrift shop is open to all on Saturdays from 10 AM to Noon and ran a $3 bag sale starting in May 2025; a clothing drop-off box is available for donations. The food pantry gratefully accepts non-perishable food and personal care items at any time, with cash or check donations made out to 'St. Patrick's Food Pantry.'
- St. Patrick's Thrift Shop — Saturdays 10 AM – Noon ($3 bag sale May 2025)
- Clothing drop-off box at St. Patrick's Church
- Food Pantry — non-perishable food and personal care items accepted any time
- Mail donations to: Food Pantry, c/o Christ Our Hope, 108 Charles St., Boonville, NY 13309
Catholic Women's Club
The Catholic Women's Club (CWC) is one of the parish's most active lay organizations. Members participate in the prayer chain, volunteer at the food pantry and thrift shop in Forestport, prepare the altar at St. Patrick's for Masses, and raise funds for outreach. Funds raised by the CWC go to Abraham House, Central NY Veteran's Outreach, the winter fuel bill at Kiefer Hall, the Boonville/Otter Lake/Woodgate/Forestport Fire Departments, and others in need. Membership is open to all women of the parish; meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month except January, July, and August.
- President: Michele Smith
- Vice President: Rosemary Fitts
- Secretary: Anne Lyon (also reported as Jeannie Wolcott)
- Treasurer: Gerry Ritter
- Contact Michele Smith at (315) 831-2288 to join
- Meetings first Wednesday of each month (except Jan, Jul, Aug)
- Two large Garage/Book/Bake Sales at Kiefer Hall in May and August
- Holiday Bazaar in December
- Coffee & Donuts at Kiefer Hall after 8 AM Mass at St. Patrick's on the third Sunday of each month
Clergy and Staff
Christ Our Hope Parish is pastored by Fr. Thomas Ward as of July 1, 2025. He succeeds Fr. Matthew (Matt) Rawson, who served the parish from February 1, 2021 through July 1, 2025 and was named pastor by Bishop Douglas Lucia of the Diocese of Syracuse before his reassignment to Annunciation in Clark Mills and St. John the Evangelist in New Hartford. Fr. Sean O'Brien, a former pastor, remains connected to parish life and helped open the 2025 Catholic Women's Club installation dinner with prayer.
- Rev. Thomas Ward — Pastor (effective July 1, 2025)
- Rev. Matthew Rawson — Pastor, Feb 1, 2021 to July 1, 2025
- Rev. Sean O'Brien — Former Pastor
- Bishop Douglas J. Lucia — Bishop of Syracuse
Contact and Bulletin
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, mail, or email. The parish also publishes a bulletin with up-to-date announcements — see the parish website for the latest issue.
- Parish Office: 108 Charles St., Boonville, NY 13309
- Telephone: (315) 942-4618
- Fax: (315) 942-3686
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.christourhoperc.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Sean O'Brienprior to 2021
Former pastor of Christ Our Hope Parish; opened the 2025 Catholic Women's Club installation dinner with prayer.
- Rev. Matthew (Matt) RawsonFebruary 1, 2021 – July 1, 2025
Ordained June 2, 2018 in Syracuse; came from Holy Cross, Syracuse, where he was Parochial Vicar. Named pastor by Bishop Douglas Lucia. Managed three churches, Faith Formation, the food pantry, CWC spiritual advising, and restoration of church buildings.
- Rev. Thomas Wardeffective July 1, 2025
Returning pastor of Christ Our Hope Parish, succeeding Fr. Rawson.