About Church of the Annunciation · Ilion, New York
The Church of the Annunciation is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of Ilion, Herkimer County, New York, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. The parish traces its roots to a mission established in 1845 serving Ilion, Herkimer, Mohawk, and Frankfort from Little Falls, and was formally established as Annunciation Parish with the dedication of its first church in August 1868. The current Gothic-design church on West Street was dedicated March 27, 1938. Today the parish is led by Very Rev. Paul Catena, who also serves as pastor of nearby Our Lady Queen of Apostles in Frankfort, and offers weekday and Sunday Masses, a robust faith-formation program, midweek Eucharistic Adoration, and a regular schedule of devotions including the Miraculous Medal Novena and Sacred Heart Prayer Group.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Very Rev. Paul Catena
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
Annunciation is a welcoming, multigenerational parish rooted in 150+ years of Catholic life in the Mohawk Valley and centered on the Eucharist and devotion to Our Lady. Worship is complemented by weekly Eucharistic Adoration (Wednesday mornings through Thursday morning), a Miraculous Medal Novena, Sacred Heart and Healing Prayer groups, and a graded faith-formation program (Faith and Life for grades 1–8, Altaration and Chosen for high-school Confirmation prep) shared with neighboring Our Lady Queen of Apostles in Frankfort. Couples planning a wedding are asked to contact the parish at least six months in advance, and sacramental preparation for Baptism is supported by instructional classes.
Mass times at Church of the Annunciation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 7:30 am
- Wednesday 7:30 am
- Saturday 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm (November–April, and by appointment)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 7:30 am – 7:30 pm (begins after morning Mass and continues through the day)
Parish History
Catholic life in the Ilion area grew out of a 19th-century mission that included Irish and German immigrants drawn to work at the Remington plant. The first resident pastor, Rev. William Howard, oversaw construction of the first Church of the Annunciation, dedicated in August 1868. The parish grew steadily, separating missions into their own parishes (Frankfort 1886, Mohawk 1909), and built the School of the Annunciation in 1925–26. The present Gothic church on West Street was dedicated March 27, 1938, after a six-week fundraising drive gathered $115,000 in pledges.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a full faith-formation program coordinated with Our Lady Queen of Apostles in Frankfort. About 170 children are enrolled between the two parishes. Younger students use the Faith and Life series with activity books and textbooks, while high-school students use Altaration: The Mystery of the Mass Revealed (six sessions for 9th grade) and Chosen (18 sessions) along with 'You' sessions on the theology of the body, preparing them for Confirmation.
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Maryel Wallace
- Assistant: Pamela Gydesen
- Faith and Life series — grades 1–8
- Altaration: The Mystery of the Mass Revealed — 9th grade
- Chosen — 9th and 10th grade Confirmation preparation
- 'You' theology-of-the-body sessions — 10th grade
- Parish Office: 315-894-3766; Frankfort: 315-894-2360
Devotions and Prayer Groups
A regular rhythm of devotions complements the liturgical life of the parish, including a Monday evening Miraculous Medal Novena and Scripture Rosary, a Healing Prayer Group that meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm, and the Sacred Heart Prayer Group that gathers the first Friday of each month after the 9:00 am Mass.
- Miraculous Medal Novena & Scripture Rosary — Monday 7:00 pm
- Healing Prayer Group — First Wednesday, 7:00 pm
- Sacred Heart Prayer Group — First Friday, after the 9:00 am Mass
Sacraments
Infant Baptism is normally celebrated on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month after the 11:00 am Mass; instructional classes for parents are held at the Parish Center, and Baptisms are not normally celebrated during Lent. Couples planning a wedding are asked to notify the priest at least six months in advance. Anointing of the Sick is available by contacting the Parish Office.
- Baptism — 2nd and 4th Sundays after 11:00 am Mass; classes at Parish Center; not during Lent
- Weddings — six months' notice to the priest
- Anointing of the Sick — by request through the Parish Office
- Reconciliation — Monday & Wednesday 7:30 am; Saturday 3:00–3:45 pm (Nov–Apr)
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Very Rev. Paul Catena, who also serves as pastor of Our Lady Queen of Apostles in Frankfort. Faith Formation is coordinated by Maryel Wallace with the assistance of Pamela Gydesen; Vicki Angell assists in the parish office.
- Very Rev. Paul Catena — Pastor
- Maryel Wallace — Faith Formation Coordinator
- Pamela Gydesen — Faith Formation Assistant
- Vicki Angell — Parish Office Assistant
Parish Office and Contact
The Parish Main Office is located at 109 West Street, Ilion, NY 13357, with telephone (315) 894-3766 and fax (315) 894-1550. Email contact is [email protected]. The official parish website is annunciationilion.org. The parish mailing and office is shared with the Annunciation School facilities at 60 West Street.
- Parish Main Office — 109 West Street, Ilion, NY 13357
- Telephone — (315) 894-3766
- Fax — (315) 894-1550
- Email — [email protected]
- Website — annunciationilion.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Howard1867–1878
First resident pastor; purchased the original church site and built the first church dedicated August 1868.
- Rev. John F. Hyland1878–1901
Second pastor; reduced parish debt, oversaw 1884 repairs; Frankfort separated from parish in 1886.
- Rev. John V. Quinn1901–1909
Third pastor; population grew to 5,000; relocated parish house to West Street in 1904.
- Rev. James B. Gilloon1909–1936
Fourth pastor; oversaw separation of Mohawk in 1909 and built the School of the Annunciation (opened 1926) with the Sisters of Mercy; died May 27, 1936.
- Rev. James A. Nolan1936–1944
Fifth pastor; led the fundraising drive and construction of the present Gothic church dedicated March 27, 1938.
- Msgr. Daniel A. Horan1944–1961
Sixth pastor; liquidated the church debt, redecorated the interior in 1953; purchased cemetery land on Barringer Road (1946) and near Litchfield Cemetery (1960).
- Rev. J. Gregory Mulhall1961–1985
Seventh resident pastor; completed the Sisters of Mercy Convent in 1962 and oversaw the 1966–67 sanctuary renovation.
- Rev. Anthony Barratt
Listed as additional pastor in parish booklet notes.
- Rev. John R. Roos
Served the parish at some point after 1985 (per alumni notes).
- Rev. Joseph A. Benintende1992–2004
Pastor 1992–2004; died April 15, 2016 at A.O. Fox Hospital, Oneonta.
- Rev. Paul Catenapresent
Current pastor; also serves as pastor of Our Lady Queen of Apostles, Frankfort; brother of Dr. Tom Catena, the missionary physician in the Nuba Mountains.