About Holy Apostles · Rochester, New York
Holy Apostles is a Catholic parish in the Lyell Avenue neighborhood of Rochester, New York, founded in 1884 as the 12th parish of what was then the new Diocese of Rochester. A bilingual (English and Spanish) community, it serves the city's west side from its present church at 530 Lyell Avenue, a Medina-stone building dedicated in 1897, and operates the Mother Teresa Missionary Center next door for neighborhood outreach. The parish describes itself as 'a Church of hope where we invite all people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ' and as 'sinners called to be saints.'
- Established
- 1884
- Patron
- The Holy Apostles (the Twelve Apostles)
- Rector
- Rev. Anthony P. Mugavero (Fr. Tony Mugavero)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
Holy Apostles is a bilingual, pro-life Catholic community with a deep missionary identity — its very name, given by Bishop McQuaid, was meant to send the parish out to serve its west-side Rochester neighborhood. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, with weekday and Sunday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration for life, and a full Faith Formation and OCIA (RCIA) program for children and adults. Out of the Mother Teresa Missionary Center on Austin Street, the parish runs a clothing closet, an ecumenical food cupboard, neighborhood dinners, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and the long-running Christmas Blessing Project, which turns the church into a free 'store' so struggling families can pick out gifts and a food basket at Christmas.
Mass times at Holy Apostles
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00 PM – 3:40 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Tuesdays 6:30 PM (Adoration in Spanish, before the 7:00 PM Spanish Mass)
- Thursdays — Adoration to the Blessed Sacrament for all Pro-Life Concerns
Parish History
Holy Apostles was founded in 1884 as a mission of the Rochester Cathedral by Bishop Bernard McQuaid, the first Bishop of Rochester. He named the new parish 'The Church of the Holy Apostles' because it was the twelfth parish of the diocese and because he wanted the community to carry an apostolic, missionary identity. The first 128 families grew rapidly; the original combination church-and-school opened in 1884–1885, and by the 1890s the parish was large and active enough to help found new daughter parishes in the diocese. The cornerstone of the present church was laid on May 31, 1896, and the current building was dedicated on March 28, 1897. The parish keeps the founding missionary spirit central to its identity today.
- Founded 1884 by Bishop Bernard McQuaid
- Named for the Twelve Apostles as the 12th parish in the Diocese of Rochester
- First church/school combination built 1884; school opened 1885 under Sisters Borgia and Paneratia
- Present church dedicated March 28, 1897
- First pastor: Rev. Timothy C. Murphy (1884–1900), later rector of St. Mary's, Rochester
- Succeeded by Rev. James A. Hickey (from 1900), with Rev. George T. Jones as assistant (from 1904)
Building & Architecture
The present church at 530 Lyell Avenue was constructed in 1896–1897 of Medina stone, with a portico supported by granite pillars and a high square tower. Its interior features quartered-oak woodwork and a hand-carved high altar, and the building seats 800. A 1907 county history called it 'a model of architectural beauty.' Adjacent on Austin Street are the parish office (No. 7) and the former convent that became the Mother Teresa Missionary Center (No. 8).
- Medina-stone exterior with granite pillars and high square tower
- Quartered-oak interior, hand-carved high altar
- Seating capacity: 800
- Cornerstone laid May 31, 1896; dedicated March 28, 1897
Vision, Mission & Identity
Holy Apostles describes itself as 'a Church of hope where we invite all people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ,' 'a vibrant Catholic parish family of sinners called to be saints who rejoice in our Faith, celebrate our God-given diversity, serve our neighbors, are unconditionally pro-life and are sent out to share the Love of Our Lord.' Its stated purpose is 'to make saints out of sinners,' and the parish motto is 'Holy Apostles parish… where sinners are welcomed and apostles are made!' The parish takes seriously the apostolic, missionary commission baked into its very name.
- Vision: a Church of hope inviting all into relationship with Jesus Christ
- Mission / purpose: to make saints out of sinners
- Stated values: Catholic faith, God-given diversity, service to neighbors, unconditional pro-life stance, evangelization
- Parish motto: 'where sinners are welcomed and apostles are made'
Mass & Worship Schedule
Weekend Masses are Saturday at 4:00 PM (English), Sunday at 9:30 AM (English), and Sunday at 11:30 AM (Spanish). Weekday Masses are Tuesday through Friday at 12:10 PM (English), plus a Tuesday evening Mass at 7:00 PM (Spanish) preceded by Spanish Eucharistic Adoration at 6:30 PM. All Masses are live-streamed on the parish website, YouTube, and Facebook (Holy Apostles Church Rochester, NY).
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM English
- Sunday: 9:30 AM English, 11:30 AM Spanish
- Tue–Fri: 12:10 PM English
- Tuesday evening: 7:00 PM Spanish (with 6:30 PM Adoration in Spanish)
- Thursdays: Adoration to the Blessed Sacrament for all Pro-Life Concerns
- Live-streamed on website, YouTube and Facebook
Faith Formation & OCIA (RCIA)
The Faith Formation program at Holy Apostles serves children from pre-school (age 4) through high school, as well as adults, using USCCB-approved materials for sacramental preparation (First Communion and Confirmation) and the deepening of Catholic Christian faith. The OCIA / RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults and Children) welcomes adults considering the Catholic faith, as well as baptized Catholics who have not yet received the remaining Sacraments of Initiation. The program is offered in both English and Spanish.
- Faith Formation — preschool age 4 through high school; First Communion and Confirmation prep
- OCIA / RCIA for adults and children, in English and Spanish
- Coordinators: Miriam Ojeda and Jesus Castro
- Phone: 585-254-7170
Parish Staff & Clergy
Holy Apostles is pastored by Rev. Anthony P. Mugavero (Fr. Tony Mugavero), assisted by Deacon Nemesio Martinez. The parish team includes an Administrative Assistant / Bilingual Communications Director / Faith Formation Coordinator (Miriam Ojeda), a Secretary (Joanne Kleisley), a Latino Ministry coordinator (Joselis Hernandez), a Pastoral Visitor (Richard Caruso), a Parish Minister (Matthew Smith), an Outreach Coordinator (Betsy MacKinnon), a Music Ministries coordinator (Marisa DeMario), a Youth Ministry coordinator (Yolanda Nuñez), a Regional Finance Director (Emanuel Colon), and a Religious Education coordinator (Jesus Castro).
- Pastor: Rev. Anthony P. Mugavero
- Deacon Nemesio Martinez
- Miriam Ojeda — Administrative Assistant / Bilingual Communications Director / Faith Formation
- Joanne Kleisley — Secretary
- Joselis Hernandez — Latino Ministry
- Richard Caruso — Pastoral Visitor
- Matthew Smith — Parish Minister
- Betsy MacKinnon — Outreach Coordinator
- Marisa DeMario — Music Ministries
- Yolanda Nuñez — Youth Ministry
- Jesus Castro — Religious Education coordinator
- Emanuel Colon — Regional Finance Director
Parish Ministries & Prayer Life
Beyond Faith Formation and OCIA, the parish runs a full slate of ministries: Youth Ministry, Music Ministries (for Masses and special occasions), Latino Ministry, Pastoral Care (home and hospital visits, anointing coordination), Social/Outreach Ministries, and the bilingual Círculo de Oración / Prayer Group. The prayer group meets every Friday at 6:30 PM at the Mother Teresa Missionary Center, beginning with the Holy Rosary, and is open to all.
- Youth Ministry (Yolanda Nuñez)
- Music Ministries (Marisa DeMario)
- Latino Ministry (Joselis Hernandez)
- Pastoral Care / Pastoral Visitor (Richard Caruso)
- Parish Minister (Matthew Smith) — sick and shut-ins, hospital visits
- Social/Outreach Ministries (Betsy MacKinnon)
- Círculo de Oración / Prayer Group — Fridays 6:30 PM at Mother Teresa Center, 8 Austin St.
Mother Teresa Missionary Center & Outreach
In 1998 Holy Apostles converted its former convent at 8 Austin Street into the Mother Teresa Missionary Center, named for the recently beatified Mother Teresa of Kolkata. From this building the parish operates a clothing closet, an ecumenical food cupboard, neighborhood dinners, and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and it runs the long-running Christmas Blessing Project, which turns the church into a free 'department store' so struggling neighborhood families can pick out toys and a food basket at Christmas. Fr. Mugavero and parishioners marked Mother Teresa's 2016 canonization with a prayer vigil that began at 4 a.m. and watched the Rome ceremony live.
- Former convent at 8 Austin St, converted 1998
- Clothing closet and ecumenical food cupboard
- Neighborhood dinners and AA meetings
- Christmas Blessing Project (running since at least 2007): free toy 'store' and food baskets for neighborhood families
- Parish marked Mother Teresa's canonization with a Sept. 4, 2016 vigil and Mass
Visit, Contact & Sacraments
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The church is at 530 Lyell Avenue at the corner of Austin Street; the parish office is at 7 Austin Street. To schedule Mass Intentions, sacraments, or other pastoral needs, call the Rectory at (585) 254-7170 or email [email protected]. Confessions are heard Saturdays 3:00–3:40 PM and by appointment.
- Parish Office: 7 Austin St., Rochester, NY 14606 — 585-254-7170
- Email: [email protected]
- Mass Intentions: call the Rectory or email
- Confession: Saturdays 3:00–3:40 PM, or by appointment
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Timothy C. Murphy1884 – July 1, 1900
First pastor, appointed by Bishop McQuaid from St. Michael's, Livonia; built the original church/school and the present 1897 church. Promoted to irremovable rector of St. Mary's, Rochester, in 1900.
- Rev. James A. HickeyJuly 1, 1900 –
Succeeded Father Murphy; came from Geneseo, NY.
- Rev. George T. Jonesfrom July 1, 1904
Appointed assistant rector under Fr. Hickey.
- Rev. Anthony P. Mugaveropresent (current)
Current pastor; led the parish's Mother Teresa canonization celebration in 2016.