About Holy Trinity-St. Stephen Parish @ Holy Trinity · Fulton, New York
Holy Trinity-St. Stephen Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Fulton, New York, sharing one pastor across two worship sites: Holy Trinity Church at 309 Buffalo Street in Fulton and St. Stephen Church at 469 Main Street in nearby Phoenix. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Syracuse and is currently shepherded by Rev. Joseph E. Scardella. Tracing its roots to the Church of the Immaculate Conception founded on December 8, 1854, the parish is the product of mergers of Fulton's old ethnic parishes and remains a community of family faith formation, music ministry, festival traditions, and outreach to those in need.
- Established
- 1854
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception (original patron of the founding parish; the merged parish itself is named Holy Trinity)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph E. Scardella
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
Holy Trinity-St. Stephen is a family-friendly parish that warmly welcomes both longtime Catholics and newcomers, including the Deaf community (which celebrates Mass at the 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass at Holy Trinity with a certified ASL interpreter). Members can grow in faith through a graded Family Faith Formation program for children, deeper learning and service opportunities for middle- and high-school students, and meaningful adult roles as liturgical ministers, choir members, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, Golden Agers, or Altar-Rosary Society members. The parish also keeps a generous outreach profile through Mary's Closet (for mothers in need) and a free community dinner the last Wednesday of every month, and it celebrates together at the annual Strawberry Festival (St. Stephen's) and the Family Fun Festival (Holy Trinity).
Mass times at Holy Trinity-St. Stephen Parish @ Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Every Saturday, 3:00–3:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity
Our History
Holy Trinity Parish grew out of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Fulton, founded December 8, 1854 in the Diocese of Albany. Early services were held in various halls until a building was purchased and dedicated in 1858; the present church began construction in 1888 and was dedicated in 1895. A school was added in 1914, with an addition in 1960, and an atrium and elevator were added in 2001. St. Stephen Parish was established on July 1, 1928 by Bishop Daniel Curley as a 'daughter parish' of Immaculate Conception, with the Prendergast family — the area's first Catholic family — donating the original land and construction money. After Fulton's economic decline in the 1990s, the three local parishes merged in stages, with Holy Trinity Parish formally created in March 2008 and Immaculate Conception Church selected as its worship site.
- 1854 — Church of the Immaculate Conception founded (originally Diocese of Albany)
- 1858 — First dedicated church building purchased and blessed
- 1888–1895 — New church constructed and dedicated
- 1914 — Parish school built adjacent to the church (addition added 1960)
- 1928 — St. Stephen Parish established as a 'daughter parish' of Immaculate Conception, July 1
- 1942 — Rev. Edmund D. Berrigan appointed pastor of St. Stephen's
- 1951 — Land for the present St. Stephen Church purchased (October 1)
- 1954–1957 — Present St. Stephen Church constructed
- 2001 — Atrium and elevator added at Immaculate Conception / Holy Trinity for accessibility
- 2006 — St. Michael's closed; parishioners merged into Holy Family/St. Michael
- March 2008 — Holy Trinity Parish formally created from merger of Holy Family, St. Michael's, and Immaculate Conception parishes
St. Stephen Parish
St. Stephen Parish in Phoenix, NY was created by Most Reverend Daniel Curley, Bishop of Syracuse, on July 1, 1928, as the 'daughter parish' of Immaculate Conception in Fulton. The Reverend Harold J. Flynn was its first pastor; he later served as the sixth pastor of Immaculate Conception. The present St. Stephen Church was built between 1954 and May 1957 on land purchased under the pastorate of Rev. Edmund D. Berrigan.
- Worship site: 469 Main Street, Phoenix, NY 13135
- Office phone: 315-695-4531
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Office Administrator: Beth Edic ([email protected])
- Director of Music: Tonette Orlando (315-243-3642)
Parish Staff & Clergy
Holy Trinity-St. Stephen Parish is served by one pastor across both worship sites, supported by a deacon, office administrators, a business administrator, faith formation coordinator, music directors, a website/social media coordinator, and maintenance staff.
- Rev. Joseph E. Scardella — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Jeff Dean — 315-668-3845, [email protected]
- Tracy McAfee — Parish Business Administrator ([email protected])
- Kelly LeVea — Holy Trinity Office Administrator ([email protected])
- Beth Edic — St. Stephen Office Administrator ([email protected])
- Lucy Hawthorne — Coordinator of Catechesis, Grades 1–12 ([email protected])
- James Feeney — Holy Trinity Director of Music, 315-559-3966 ([email protected])
- Tonette Orlando — St. Stephen Director of Music, 315-243-3642
- Denise Pawlewicz — Website & Social Media Coordinator
- Mark Reilly — Maintenance for both parishes
- Dana Howell — Holy Trinity Buildings / Grounds / Cemetery, 315-236-5532
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish offers a Family Faith Formation program open to all elementary-aged parishioners, with parents taking a leading role as the first educators in the faith. Middle and high school students participate in a program geared toward learning the faith in a deeper way through fun and service. Adults seeking to become Catholic are welcomed through the Adult Initiation (RCIA) process.
- Family Faith Formation (elementary ages)
- Middle School faith formation
- High School faith formation
- Adult Initiation / RCIA
- Coordinator of Catechesis: Lucy Hawthorne ([email protected])
Liturgical & Music Ministry
The parish is served by two Directors of Music who lead the choirs at each worship site. Volunteers are invited to share their love of music and help enhance the spiritual atmosphere of the liturgies.
- Holy Trinity Choir — Director: James Feeney, 315-559-3966
- St. Stephen Choir — Director: Tonette Orlando, 315-243-3642
- Liturgical Ministers (welcome, readers, extraordinary ministers, etc.)
- Ushers — contact Gary Wood, 315-695-2212
Parish Organizations & Fellowship
Several long-standing parish organizations give parishioners ways to build community, support the church, and serve others. Adult members may join the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, the Golden Agers, or the Altar-Rosary Society, all of which combine faith and fellowship with service and fundraising.
- Knights of Columbus
- Catholic Daughters
- Golden Agers
- Altar-Rosary Society — promotes devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Funeral Luncheon Ministry — contact Beth Edic
- Annual Strawberry Festival (St. Stephen's)
- Annual Family Fun Festival (Holy Trinity)
Outreach & Charity
The parish operates two major outreach programs that serve neighbors in the greater Fulton area. Mary's Closet is a place where mothers can obtain whatever they need to help parent their children, and the Parish Council hosts a free community dinner the last Wednesday of every month for anyone in need.
- Mary's Closet — staffed by the Family/Respect Life Committee
- Free community dinner — last Wednesday of each month, open to anyone in need
- Family/Respect Life Committee — promotes sanctity of life and strengthens families through prayer, education, and outreach
- Deaf Community Mass celebrated at 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass at Holy Trinity with a certified ASL interpreter
Parish Identity & Welcome
The parish describes itself as a vibrant community with a 'common' history shared across its two worship sites — a place of 'faith and fun' where members can find many ways to become involved, and where newcomers and longtime parishioners alike are warmly welcomed.
- Two worship sites sharing one pastor: Holy Trinity (Fulton) and St. Stephen (Phoenix)
- Part of the Diocese of Syracuse (Vicariate 1 — Oswego County)
- Pastoral welcome extended by Fr. Joseph Scardella
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Harold J. FlynnJuly 1928 – August 1942
First pastor of St. Stephen Parish; later served as the sixth pastor of Immaculate Conception in Fulton.
- Rev. Edmund D. BerriganAugust 1942 –
Appointed pastor of St. Stephen's in August 1942; during his tenure the land for the present church was purchased in 1951 and the current St. Stephen Church was built 1954–1957.
- Rev. Joseph E. Scardellapresent
Current pastor of Holy Trinity-St. Stephen Parish, serving both the Fulton and Phoenix worship sites.