About Christ Our Hope Parish @ St. Mary of the Snows Oratory · Otter Lake, New York
Christ Our Hope Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Northern Oneida County, New York, formed in 2009 from the merger of three historic churches: St. Joseph Church in Boonville, St. Patrick Church in Forestport, and St. Mary of the Snows Oratory in Otter Lake. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Syracuse and is administered by Rev. Thomas I. Ward. St. Mary of the Snows Oratory operates as a seasonal summer chapel on State Route 28 in Otter Lake, hosting Sunday Mass at 11:15 AM from Memorial Day through Columbus Day, and serving the faithful of the surrounding lake region. The parish's mission is grounded in the Great Commission from Matthew 28, and its life is shared across three worship sites, a parish office in Boonville, food pantry, thrift shop, faith formation program, and the Catholic Women's Club.
- Established
- 2009 (parish); 1921 (St. Mary of the Snows Oratory)
- Patron
- St. Mary of the Snows (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas I. Ward (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
Christ Our Hope offers a rare three-church Catholic community in Northern Oneida County, where worshippers can attend Mass at a 19th-century mission church, an Irish canal-era parish, or a seasonal lakeside chapel — all under one pastoral family. The parish combines traditional devotions (Eucharistic Holy Hour with confessions, Tuesday adoration, rosary making) with active outreach through St. Patrick's Food Pantry and Thrift Shop, formation for children Pre-K through 10th grade, OCIA for adults, and the Catholic Women's Club. St. Mary of the Snows itself is a beloved summer destination chapel on Route 28 in Otter Lake, open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.
Mass times at Christ Our Hope Parish @ St. Mary of the Snows Oratory
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Friday, 6:15 – 6:45 PM at St. Joseph Church (during Eucharistic Holy Hour)
Adoration times
- Tuesdays following daily Mass (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
- Eucharistic Holy Hour with Evening Prayer, Monday – Friday, 6:00 PM at St. Joseph Church
About Christ Our Hope Parish
Christ Our Hope Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Syracuse serving Northern Oneida County, New York. It is a single parish family made up of 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 mission statement is taken from Matthew 28:19–20 — 'Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations…' — and the parish is administered from a central office in Boonville.
- Roman Catholic parish in Northern Oneida County, NY
- Diocese of Syracuse
- Three worship sites: St. Joseph (Boonville), St. Patrick (Forestport), St. Mary of the Snows (Otter Lake)
- Parish office: 108 Charles St., Boonville, NY 13309
- Mission statement based on Matthew 28:19–20
Parish History
The three worship communities that make up Christ Our Hope each have deep local roots. St. Patrick Parish in Forestport was established in 1848 for the Irish canal workers who settled along the Black River Canal. In 1878, St. Joseph Church in Boonville was founded as a mission from Constableville and grew into the mother parish of both St. Patrick and St. Mary of the Snows. St. Mary of the Snows itself was established as a summer chapel for the Otter Lake area and was marked by a 100th-anniversary celebration on July 18, 2021. In 2009, the three communities were formally combined into Christ Our Hope Parish, 'The Catholic Community of Northern Oneida County.'
- 1848 – St. Patrick Parish founded for Irish Black River Canal workers (Forestport)
- 1878 – St. Joseph Church founded as a mission out of Constableville (Boonville)
- 1921 – St. Mary of the Snows established as a summer chapel (Otter Lake)
- July 18, 2021 – St. Mary of the Snows marked its 100th anniversary
- 2009 – St. Joseph, St. Patrick, and St. Mary of the Snows combine to form Christ Our Hope Parish
Clergy
The parish is currently administered by Rev. Thomas I. Ward of the Diocese of Syracuse, listed by the diocese as Administrator for Christ Our Hope at St. Joseph (Boonville), Christ Our Hope at St. Patrick Mission (Forestport), and St. Mary of the Snows Oratory (Otter Lake). He succeeded Father Matt Rawson, who was assigned as Parish Administrator on February 1, 2021, later named pastor by Bishop Douglas Lucia, and was farewelled by the parish on June 22, 2025 before taking up a pastorate at Annunciation in Clark Mills and St. John the Evangelist in New Hartford effective July 1, 2025.
- Rev. Thomas I. Ward – current Administrator (Diocese of Syracuse)
- Father Matt Rawson – Administrator/Pastor, Feb 1, 2021 – July 1, 2025; now Pastor of Annunciation (Clark Mills) and St. John the Evangelist (New Hartford)
Mass & Service Schedule
Mass and the sacraments are shared across the three worship sites. The single weekly Mass at St. Mary of the Snows Oratory in Otter Lake is celebrated on Sunday at 11:15 AM, and the oratory is open seasonally from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. All other Masses, weekday devotions, confessions, and adoration take place at St. Joseph Church in Boonville (and one Wednesday Mass at St. Patrick Church in Forestport).
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM – St. Joseph Church
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – St. Patrick Church
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – St. Joseph Church
- Sunday: 11:15 AM – St. Mary of the Snows (Memorial Day – Columbus Day)
- Weekday Masses: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 7:30 AM – St. Joseph; Wed 7:30 AM – St. Joseph; Wed 8:30 AM – St. Patrick; Sat 8:30 AM – St. Joseph
St. Mary of the Snows Oratory (Otter Lake)
St. Mary of the Snows is the seasonal, lakeside oratory of Christ Our Hope Parish, located on State Route 28 in Otter Lake. Originally established in 1921 as a summer chapel, it continues as a summer devotional for the faithful of the area. The oratory hosts a single Sunday Mass at 11:15 AM each week during the season, which runs from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. It is one of the rare summer chapels of the Diocese of Syracuse.
- Location: State Route 28, Otter Lake, NY 13338
- Summer chapel / oratory (open Memorial Day – Columbus Day)
- Sunday Mass: 11:15 AM
- 100th anniversary celebrated July 18, 2021
Faith Formation & OCIA
Christ Our Hope offers Family Faith Formation for children from Pre-K through 10th grade, meeting on Sunday mornings at Gill Hall in Boonville. The parish also runs OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church, sacramental catch-up, or simply a refresher in the faith. The 2025 formation schedule includes First Reconciliation (February), a First Communion celebration (May), and a May Crowning.
- Faith Formation for children Pre-K through 10th grade, Sunday mornings at Gill Hall, Boonville
- First Reconciliation (February)
- First Communion (May)
- May Crowning (May)
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) – adults, by appointment with the parish office (315) 942-4618
Outreach: Food Pantry, Thrift Shop & Catholic Women's Club
Outreach is a major part of parish life, centered at St. Patrick's in Forestport. The St. Patrick's Food Pantry accepts non-perishable food, personal care items, and monetary donations. St. Patrick's Thrift Shop is open to all on Saturdays and includes a clothing drop-off box; a $3 bag sale began in May 2025. The Catholic Women's Club is supported by the pastor as a spiritual advisor and offers fellowship and service opportunities.
- St. Patrick's Food Pantry – non-perishable food, personal care items, and cash donations
- Donations: 'St. Patrick's Food Pantry' — collection basket or mail to Food Pantry, c/o Christ Our Hope, 108 Charles St., Boonville, NY 13309
- St. Patrick's Thrift Shop – Saturdays 10 AM – Noon ($3 bag sale from May 2025)
- Clothing drop-off box at St. Patrick's Church
- Catholic Women's Club
Locations, Buildings & Cemeteries
Beyond the three churches, Christ Our Hope maintains parish halls and cemeteries that anchor community life in each town. The parish office (108 Charles St., Boonville) is the mailing address for all locations.
- Parish Office – 108 Charles St., Boonville, NY 13309 (mailing address for all locations)
- St. Joseph Church – 112 Charles St., Boonville, NY 13309
- St. Patrick Church – 11996 River St., Forestport, NY 13338
- St. Mary of the Snows Oratory – State Route 28, Otter Lake, NY 13338
- St. Joseph's Gill Hall – 114 Charles St., Boonville, NY (parish hall, formation, rosary making)
- St. Joseph's Cemetery – Moose River Rd., Boonville, NY
- St. Patrick's Kiefer Hall – 9004 E. River St., Forestport, NY
- St. Patrick's Thrift Shop – 12000 River St., Forestport, NY
- St. Patrick's Cemetery – River Rd., Forestport, NY
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email. The parish website (christourhoperc.org) hosts the current bulletin, weekly schedule, and updates; the Syracuse Diocese online (syrdio.org) lists Rev. Thomas I. Ward as Administrator for all three Christ Our Hope sites.
- Parish Office Phone: (315) 942-4618
- Parish Office Fax: (315) 942-3686
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.christourhoperc.org
- Diocese: www.syracusediocese.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Matt RawsonFeb 1, 2021 – July 1, 2025
Ordained June 2, 2018 in Syracuse; assigned to Christ Our Hope as Parish Administrator; later named Pastor by Bishop Douglas Lucia; oversaw Faith Formation, food pantry, Catholic Women's Club, and restoration of parish buildings; appointed Pastor of Annunciation (Clark Mills) and St. John the Evangelist (New Hartford), effective July 1, 2025.