Immaculate Conception. St. Bridget

About Immaculate Conception/St. Bridget's

Immaculate Conception/St. Bridget's Parish is a community of multicultural believers drawn together by faith in Jesus Christ, worshipping through prayerful and inspiring liturgies. The parish is a Roman Catholic community with African American traditions, whose members are African American, Latino, Caribbean, African, and European. Most parishioners live outside the immediate parish area and travel past many churches to get to this one — about 110 registered families representing some 30 different ZIP codes, with only around 20 families living within parish boundaries. The parish describes itself as "small but close knit," with heartfelt worship, honest friendships, and compassionate care for those in need, and welcomes all who come through its doors.

Our History

Immaculate Conception was founded in 1847 to serve Irish immigrants in Rochester's Corn Hill neighborhood. The first church was built in 1849, burned in 1864, and replaced by the current modified-Romanesque building, which was expanded in 1872 after another fire. The parish built its first school in 1871, a larger one in 1894, and the present school in 1926 — at its peak the parish had about 4,000 parishioners. As Rochester's African American population grew during the Great Migration and afterward, Black Catholic families joined Immaculate Conception, drawn by outreach programs like the Catholic Interracial Council; folk and gospel choirs became central to worship, and a banner of Black Jesus was hung behind the altar. St. Bridget's, also founded by Irish immigrants in 1854, became predominantly African American over time and merged with Immaculate Conception in 2010 after its own building closed in February 2010.

• 1847 — Immaculate Conception founded for Irish immigrants
• 1849 — first brick church built
• 1864 — original church destroyed by fire; current Romanesque-style church built at 445 Frederick Douglass St.
• 1871 — first parish school built
• 1872 — church expanded after a second damaging fire
• 1894 — larger school built; 1926 — current school structure
• 1950s–60s — African American Catholic population grows under pastors Maloney and Kreckle
• 1966–1975 — Rev. Robert G. Kreckle serves as pastor
• 1974–75 — parish school closes
• 1989–1993 — Rev. Michael Upson, first Black pastoral leader
• 1990 — church exterior refurbished
• 1992 — added to the National Register of Monroe County Historic Buildings
• 2010 — St. Bridget's building closes; parishes merge as Immaculate Conception/St. Bridget's

Parish Staff & Leadership

The parish is pastored by Rev. Raymond H. Fleming, with Rev. Robert Bradler serving as Assisting Priest and Deacon Richard Rall supporting sacramental life. The lay staff and volunteer leaders include coordinators of religious education and RCIA, finance and business managers, a facilities director, an executive assistant, the Liturgical Dance director, and the chairs of the Parish Council and Finance Council.

• Rev. Raymond Fleming — Pastor ([email protected])
• Rev. Robert Bradler — Assisting Priest
• Deacon Richard Rall — ([email protected])
• Myrtle Fontenette — Religious Education & RCIA Coordinator
• Harry Pierre-Philippe — Religious Education Coordinator
• Carol Wynne — Director of Finance & Administration
• Jeanne Engelbrecht — Finance Manager / Regional Business Manager
• Tracy Jordan — Administrative / Executive Assistant
• Kevin David — Facilities Director
• Vasyl Danylyshyn — Maintenance
• Nicolette Ferguson — Liturgical Dance Director
• Vincent Stroud — Pastoral Council Chair
• Joanie Fraver / William Castle — Finance Council Chair
• George Fontenette — Trustee

Parish & Finance Councils

The Parish Council helps shape the life of the community and generally meets on the first Saturday of the month from September through June. The Finance Council oversees the temporal affairs of the parish.

• Parish Council members: George Fontenette (trustee), Myrtle Fontenette (staff), Joanne Gordon, Ramona Moore, Keith Parris, Harry Pierre-Philippe (staff), Vincent Stroud (chair)
• Meetings: generally the first Saturday of each month, September–June

Mass & Sacrament Schedule

Sunday Mass is the heart of parish life at Immaculate Conception/St. Bridget's, celebrated in the African American Catholic tradition with gospel choir and liturgical dance. The Diocese of Rochester parish locator lists Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.; the parish's own bulletin and website materials have at times listed Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m. — visitors should confirm current times with the parish office. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered by appointment, and arrangements for Baptism, Marriage, and RCIA are made through the parish office.

• Sunday Mass — 9:00 a.m. (Diocese of Rochester listing) / 10:00 a.m. (parish bulletin)
• Confession — by appointment (call 585-325-3893)
• Baptism — call the office to make arrangements
• Marriage — Pre-Cana required; arrangements at least six months in advance
• RCIA / Catechumenate — adults interested in joining the Catholic Church should call the office
• Holy Days — consult the bulletin or call the office

Liturgical Ministries

Lay people play a central role in the parish's worship — a hallmark of its African American Catholic heritage. Liturgical ministries serve at every Mass, with formation provided and roles filled on a rotating basis.

• Eucharistic Ministers — assist the priest in distributing Holy Communion; open to confirmed adults, appointed by the pastor on a rotating basis
• Altar Servers — assist the priest during Mass and clean-up; training provided
• Lectors — bring the Word of God to life for the assembly; rotating schedule
• Sacristans — prepare the altar and assist the priest; appointed by the pastor
• Liturgy Committee — plans and implements special liturgies throughout the year
• Ushers
• Children's Liturgy of the Word — for the parish's children

Music, Dance & Worship Style

Music is one of the great strengths of Immaculate Conception/St. Bridget's and a major reason Black Catholic families have been drawn to the parish since the 1960s–70s. Worship begins with folk choirs in that era and grew into the powerful gospel choirs that animate the liturgy today. A youth choir, liturgical dance teams for both children and adults, and a Director of Liturgical Dance all shape the parish's distinctive worship.

• Parish Choir / Gospel choirs
• Youth Choir
• Liturgical Dance — youth and adult teams
• Children's Liturgy of the Word
• Banner of Black Jesus displayed behind the altar (long-standing symbol of the parish's African American tradition)

Faith Formation & RCIA

Faith formation at ICSB spans every age. The parish runs ongoing Religious Education for children, an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program for those exploring or entering the Catholic faith, an adult Bible Study, and a men's group. The RCIA Coordinator works alongside the Religious Education Coordinators to walk with both catechumens and candidates.

• Religious Education for children and youth
• RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
• Adult Bible Study — Tuesdays 1:00–3:00 p.m. at the church rectory
• Men's Group

Outreach & Social Ministry

Outreach is part of the parish's DNA, reflecting its mission to "serve those in need." The Social Ministry coordinates monthly service at a local soup kitchen, and the Hospitality Ministry cultivates the parish's famously warm welcome at events and gatherings.

• Social Ministry — fourth Saturday of every month, serving at St. Joseph's Soup Kitchen
• Hospitality Ministry — fosters fellowship and welcoming at parish events
• Men's Group
• Bible Study fellowship

Becoming a Member

ICSB welcomes all who wish to register and join the parish family. Registration forms are available at the rear of the church, and the parish office can also help with the process.

• Pick up a registration form at the back of the church, or
• Call the church office at (585) 325-3893 to register

Contact, Location & Visiting

The church stands at 445 Frederick Douglass Street in Rochester's historic Corn Hill neighborhood; the parish office is located at 34 Monica Street, Rochester, NY 14619, with office hours of 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visitors can call the office, email [email protected], or follow the parish's Facebook page for updates and the weekly bulletin.

• Church address: 445 Frederick Douglass Street, Rochester, NY 14608
• Parish office: 34 Monica Street, Rochester, NY 14619
• Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
• Phone: (585) 325-3893 / (585) 235-3340
• Fax: (585) 235-8315
• Emergency line: (585) 723-6531
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: facebook.com/pg/immaculateconceptionrochester/