About Immaculate Conception · Fayetteville, New York
Immaculate Conception Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Fayetteville, New York, part of the Diocese of Syracuse. Founded in 1869 by Rev. James O'Reilly as a mission parish serving about 110 families, it has grown into a thriving parish of more than 2,160 families spanning the Fayetteville, Manlius and East Syracuse communities. The parish operates an elementary school (Immaculate Conception School, opened 1958), a faith formation program for children and adults, an OCIA process for those entering the Church, and a Confirmation program for high-school students. It is currently served by Rev. Clifford Auth as pastor, alongside several priests in residence, a permanent deacon, and weekend associates, and worship is offered in English at traditional daily and Sunday Masses.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Rev. Clifford (Cliff) Auth
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse, New York
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a Christ-centered, joy-filled community of more than 2,160 families rooted in 150 years of Catholic life in Fayetteville. Worship is offered at a daily 7:30 a.m. Mass, three Sunday Masses (the 9:00 a.m. is live-streamed), and Saturday Reconciliation, with the building noted as handicap accessible. Families are served by Immaculate Conception School, a robust K–8 and high-school Faith Formation program, Confirmation preparation, OCIA for adults, and sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation and Marriage.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
History of Immaculate Conception Parish
The parish traces its roots to 1850, when Fayetteville was still a mission of St. James Church in Cazenovia and Mass was celebrated in private homes and at the Beard Hotel. In August 1869, Father James O'Reilly became Fayetteville's first resident priest and immediately set about building a church for the 110 families of his new parish. He raised $3,000 in three months and hired a builder to put up a brick church at the southeast corner of Genesee and Manlius Streets; the cornerstone was laid on November 25, 1869 (the parish also commemorates November 18, 1869, Thanksgiving Day) and the first Mass was celebrated there on Christmas Day in 1870. By the 1950s the building had become too small, and in 1953 Rev. M. Shields Dwyer purchased 54 acres of farmland between Salt Springs Street and Hoag Lane to accommodate a new church, school and convent.
- 1869 — Father James O'Reilly named first pastor of Fayetteville.
- November 25, 1869 — Cornerstone laid for the original brick church at Genesee & Manlius.
- December 25, 1870 — First Mass celebrated in the new church.
- 1953 — Rev. M. Shields Dwyer purchases the 54-acre current campus.
- September 1958 — Immaculate Conception School opens.
- 1964 — Convent built near the school.
- May 4, 1961 — Original church severely damaged by fire; continued in use until new church completed.
- March 23, 1969 — New church dedicated on the 100th anniversary of the parish.
- August 1969 — Old church building demolished.
- 2019 — 150th anniversary of the parish and 50th anniversary of the current campus.
- July 2024 — Rev. Clifford Auth appointed pastor of both Immaculate Conception and St. Ann's, Manlius.
Parish Staff & Clergy
Immaculate Conception is led by its pastor along with priests in residence, a permanent deacon, a school principal, and weekend associate priests. The pastoral team serves the parish and its affiliated ministries and school.
- Rev. Clifford (Cliff) Auth — Pastor
- Rev. Msgr. Ronald C. Bill — In Residence
- Rev. Philip Hearn — In Residence
- Deacon Craig Rheaume
- Nancy Ferrarone — School Principal
- Rev. Michael Carmola — Weekend Associate
- Rev. Jason Downer, S.J. — Weekend Associate
Sacraments
Immaculate Conception celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments and provides preparation programs for each. The parish welcomes inquiries through the Parish Office at 315-637-9846 or [email protected].
- Baptism — Infant/Child: one parent and one godparent must be Catholic (godparent must be 16+ and confirmed); first-time parents take a Baptism Class. Adults go through OCIA.
- First Eucharist & First Reconciliation — Sacramental fee $45; children must be baptized Catholic and provide a Baptismal Certificate if baptized elsewhere; contact Anne Marie Voutsinas at [email protected] / 315-637-9840.
- Confirmation — Two-year high-school program; classes once a month September–April; ceremony in May. Contact Gail Capozzi at [email protected].
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Monday evenings at 7:00 PM beginning in September; for the unbaptized, Christians from other traditions, and Catholics completing initiation. Coordinator: Deacon Craig Rheaume, [email protected].
- Marriage — Coordinated through the Parish Office.
- Funerals — Arranged through the Parish Office.
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at Immaculate Conception is described by the parish as more than classroom learning — it is 'a way of life.' Programs are offered for children, youth, and adults, with separate tracks for elementary/Jr. high, high-school Confirmation, Vacation Bible School, and adult education.
- Elementary & Junior High (K–8): Weekday classes held in Dwyer Hall; F-M District buses take students from Fayetteville Elementary, Mott Road Elementary, and Wellwood back to school after class; Sunday classes at IC School for students from other schools.
- High School / Confirmation: Two-year program; classes once a month, September–April; Confirmation in May.
- Adult Education and Circle of Care programs.
- Vacation Bible School.
- Registration fees: $40/child, $120 family max (3+); $10 late fee after August 25.
Immaculate Conception School
Immaculate Conception School opened in September 1958 on the parish campus between Salt Springs Street and Hoag Lane, founded as part of Rev. M. Shields Dwyer's vision for a church–school–convent campus. It serves as the parish's K-8 elementary school and is led by Principal Nancy Ferrarone.
- Opened September 1958 on the 54-acre parish campus.
- Located at 400 Salt Springs Street, Fayetteville, NY 13066.
- Phone: 315-637-3961.
- Principal: Nancy Ferrarone.
Fayetteville-Manlius Catholic Community
In July 2024 Bishop Lucia appointed Rev. Clifford Auth as pastor of both Immaculate Conception (Fayetteville) and St. Ann's (Manlius), creating the 'Fayetteville-Manlius Catholic Community.' Because of declining priest numbers across the diocese (the parish notes only 20 priests under 50 in the entire Diocese of Syracuse) and the limits of Canon Law on the number of Masses a priest may celebrate daily, the two parishes worked together through a joint 'Project Concordia' committee to consolidate weekend Masses, reducing total weekend Masses between the two churches from seven to five effective July 1, 2025.
- Rev. Clifford Auth appointed pastor of both parishes in July 2024.
- Retired priests assisting: Msgr. Ronald C. Bill, Father Philip Hearn, Father Michael Carmola.
- Jesuit weekend associates from Le Moyne College: Father Lou Sogliuzzo, Father Brian Linnane, Father Jason Downer.
- Project Concordia committee shapes the shared weekend Mass schedule.
Contact & Visiting
The parish offices are at the rectory on the Salt Springs Street campus. Visitors should note the published Parish Office hours and that the church building is handicap accessible.
- Address: 400 Salt Springs Street, Fayetteville, NY 13066
- Rectory phone: 315-637-9846
- Email: [email protected]
- School: 315-637-3961
- Convent: 315-637-6312
- Faith Formation K-8: 315-637-9840
- Faith Formation 9-12: 315-637-2375
- OCIA: 315-637-9846
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James O'Reilly1869–
First pastor; raised $3,000 in three months, built the original brick church at Genesee & Manlius; cornerstone laid November 25, 1869; first Mass Christmas Day 1870.
- Rev. M. Shields Dwyer1953–
Purchased 54 acres between Salt Springs Street and Hoag Lane for the current campus.
- Rev. Thomas J. Ryan
Fourteenth pastor; oversaw a major renovation including expanding the main entrance with a large gathering vestibule.
- Rev. Clifford Auth2024–
Appointed by Bishop Lucia in July 2024 as pastor of both Immaculate Conception (Fayetteville) and St. Ann's (Manlius), forming the Fayetteville-Manlius Catholic Community.