About Immaculate Conception · Ithaca, New York
Immaculate Conception Church is a Roman Catholic parish in downtown Ithaca, New York, at 113 N. Geneva Street, serving Tompkins County as part of the Diocese of Rochester. The parish was founded in 1848 and worships in its present Gothic Revival-style church, built in the 1890s and beautifully restored in recent years. It offers daily and weekend Masses, a robust youth and family faith-formation program, a food pantry, outreach to the homebound and to Cayuga Ridge nursing facility, and parish cemeteries. Father Augustine Chumo, originally from Kenya, is the current pastor.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Augustine Chumo
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a place where Catholic faith, tradition, and community service meet in the heart of Ithaca. Parishioners are devoted to the Eucharist and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the parish is known for its generous stewardship of time, talent, and care for one another's needs. With a restored 1898 Gothic Revival sanctuary, daily and weekend Masses, a strong youth and family faith-formation program, a food pantry serving the wider community, and outreach to the homebound and to Cayuga Ridge nursing facility, it offers abundant ways to pray, serve, and grow together.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm (per parish homepage; the Diocese of Rochester directory lists Saturdays 2:00 – 4:00 pm)
About Immaculate Conception Parish
Immaculate Conception Church is a Roman Catholic parish at 113 N. Geneva Street in downtown Ithaca, New York, in Tompkins County. A member of the Diocese of Rochester, the parish welcomes long-time parishioners and first-time visitors to gather as brothers and sisters to share the Catholic faith and encounter the Lord in the Eucharist. The church building is open daily from 6:00 am to 5:30 pm, and the Parish Center is staffed Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 pm).
History of the Parish
Founded in 1848 by Rev. M. Guilbride — with the first Mass celebrated in the old City Hall — the parish built its first church, St. Luke's, in 1851 on what is now the site of the Parish Center. A second, larger church followed in 1863 and was incorporated as Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The present Gothic Revival church was begun in 1896, with the cornerstone laid by Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid, and was dedicated on September 11, 1898. For more than a century it was the only Catholic parish in Ithaca, and it has been recognized with Historic Ithaca's 1997 Preservation Award.
- 1848 — Parish founded; first Mass in former City Hall
- 1851 — First church, St. Luke's, built on the present Parish Center site
- 1863 — Second church, Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built at Geneva and Seneca Streets
- Sept. 20, 1896 — Cornerstone of the present church laid by Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid
- Sept. 11, 1898 — Current church dedicated; congregation 'packed the building' (Ithaca Journal)
- 1997 — Received Historic Ithaca's Preservation Award for excellence
- 1998 — Sesquicentennial/centennial renovation; Belgian tapestry of Murillo's Immaculate Conception installed above the reredos
2019–2023 Church Restoration
Shortly after arriving, Pastor Father Augustine Chumo established a grounds committee in 2019 to address the building's needs. The committee discovered significant envelope issues; funding came from the sale of the parish's former school and generous parishioner support. The multi-year project returned the church to its Gothic roots and reopened the original baptism chapel, which had a stained-glass window uncovered and a new Belgian Bluestone font installed. Air conditioning, a new sound system, a fully replaced lift system, and the removal of all asbestos were also completed.
- 2019 — Grounds committee formed by Father Chumo
- Roof and flashing repairs; stained-glass windows rebuilt where required
- Original baptism chapel reopened; Belgian Bluestone baptismal font from Belgium installed
- Air conditioning and new sound system added
- All asbestos removed from the building
- Wheelchair spaces added near the pillars; full lift-system replacement for accessibility
- Exterior stone cleaned and repainted
The Church Building & Architecture
The 1898 church is mainly Gothic Revival in style with Romanesque Revival features, including large rusticated stone blocks in pinkish (below) and orange/buff (above) tones. Three Gothic-arched entrances with stained-glass transoms open on the west façade, beneath a large rose window and a tall bell tower with a carved Madonna in a niche. The interior features Gothic arches on pink marble Corinthian columns, a wooden trusswork ceiling, a Gothic wooden altar with Florentine mosaics, and a hand-woven Belgian tapestry above the reredos.
Staff & Ministerial Team
The parish is led by Father Augustine Chumo, originally from Kenya, who came to the United States in 2006 and serves in the Diocese of Rochester. He is assisted by Deacons George Kozak and Dan Hurley, and supported by lay staff in faith formation, music, administration, and cemetery care.
- Rev. Augustine Chumo — Pastor
- Deacon George Kozak
- Deacon Dan Hurley
- Rich Rasmussen — Director of Multi-Parish Faith Formation
- Mary Holzhauer — Director of Music
- Erika Linsdell — Administrative Assistant
- Mike Moravec — Cemetery Manager
Mission & Vision
Adopted in 2018, the parish vision is 'to be a community of God's love and service.' Its mission statement reads: 'Immaculate Conception Catholic Church celebrates the Eucharist and proclaims the gospel — in worship through our love of God and for each other and with our ministry to the marginalized. We journey together in our faith, united by our trust in Christ's love and mercy and the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.' The parish pursues four pastoral goals: abundant spiritual opportunities, diverse youth and family ministry, community outreach, and financial transparency and stewardship.
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Directed by Rich Rasmussen (Director of Multi-Parish Faith Formation), the parish offers a 'flipped' Family Based Program for K–6th graders that meets every other week from September through May, plus a middle school youth group and a weekly high school youth group (9th–12th grade). Sacramental preparation is a hybrid online/in-person model, with First Reconciliation celebrated mid-December, First Eucharist in May, and Confirmation as a two-year diocesan process beginning no sooner than 8th grade. Youth retreats and service opportunities are also available.
- Family Based Program (K–6th) — every other week, Sept–May
- High School Youth Group (9th–12th) — weekly, Sept–May
- Middle School Youth Group
- First Reconciliation preparation (begins October; celebrated mid-December)
- First Eucharist preparation (March–May)
- Confirmation preparation (two-year, no sooner than 8th grade, integrated with youth groups)
Community Outreach & Service
Outreach is one of the parish's four pastoral goals. Volunteers bring the Eucharist to the homebound and to residents of Cayuga Ridge Nursing Facility, coordinate the parish food pantry, and serve on the Service Team that feeds the hungry and supports those in need. The parish also connects parishioners with broader community resources through its 'How Can We Help You?' page.
- Parish Food Pantry — every Tuesday 1:00–2:00 pm in the Parish Hall (Southern Tier Food Bank)
- Eucharistic ministry to the homebound
- Monthly Mass at Cayuga Ridge Nursing Facility — 2nd Wednesday, 11:00 am
- Service Team — feeding the hungry, supporting those in need
- Community referrals: Birthright of Ithaca, Ithaca Pregnancy Center, Project Rachel, Elizabeth Ministry, Catholic Charities, The Samaritan Center
Cemeteries
The parish maintains cemeteries managed by Cemetery Manager Mike Moravec. Information about burial plots, rules, and pricing is available by calling the parish office at 607-273-6121 or by emailing the cemetery manager.
Parish School (Historical)
Immaculate Conception School was founded on September 5, 1884, when seven Sisters of St. Joseph arrived from Rochester by train to teach; the school was officially dedicated three days later by Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid. For more than 130 years it served Ithaca Catholic families, but with enrollment dropping to a historic low of 70 students, the parish — with the approval of Bishop Salvatore R. Matano and the Diocesan Presbyteral Council — closed the school in June 2017. It was the last remaining Catholic school in Tompkins County. Proceeds from the sale of the school building helped fund the 2019–2023 restoration of the church.
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, with a lunch closure from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. The church building itself is open daily from 6:00 am to 5:30 pm. A parish app is available for news, schedules, and giving.
- Address: 113 North Geneva Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
- Phone: 607-273-6121
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Thu, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm (closed 12:00–1:00 pm)
- Church open daily: 6:00 am – 5:30 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. M. Guilbride1848–
Founding pastor; celebrated the first Mass in the former City Hall.