About Immaculate Conception · Wellsville, New York
Immaculate Conception Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Wellsville, New York, in the Diocese of Buffalo. Founded in 1897, it serves as the principal worship site and administrative hub of the Christ Our Light Family of Parishes (formerly the Catholic Communities of South Eastern Allegany County), which also includes Our Lady of the Angels in Cuba, Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Belmont, and St. Jude Chapel & Campus Ministry in Alfred. The parish is led by Pastor Rev. James W. Hartwell and Parochial Vicar Rev. Jeffrey J. Donovan, with a Perpetual Adoration Chapel attached to the church. Immaculate Conception was historically the spiritual and educational anchor of Wellsville's Catholic community, supporting Immaculate Conception School from 1875 until its closure in 2023.
- Established
- 1897
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception (of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. James W. Hartwell
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception offers a warm, family-sized Catholic community in Wellsville with weekend Mass, weekday Masses, and a Perpetual Adoration Chapel open to parishioners. Newcomers are welcomed into Christ Our Light Family, joining other Catholics from Wellsville, Cuba, Belmont and Alfred under one pastor and one bulletin. The parish walks adults through the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, prepares children for First Holy Eucharist in third grade, and is supported by parish staff in faith formation, music ministry, and safe-environment coordination.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 PM to 5:00 PM (Immaculate Conception, before Mass or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration — Immaculate Conception Church only; contact the Parish Office at 585-593-4834 during business hours to obtain access to the Chapel after normal hours
About Immaculate Conception Parish
Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic parish in the Village of Wellsville, in Allegany County, New York. Founded in 1897 within the Diocese of Buffalo, the church sits on Maple Avenue and has long been the spiritual center of Catholic life in eastern Allegany County. Today it is the lead parish of Christ Our Light Family of Parishes (Family #1 in the Diocese of Buffalo), sharing pastors and a common bulletin with Our Lady of the Angels (Cuba), Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Belmont), and St. Jude Chapel & Campus Ministry (Alfred).
- Parish founded 1897 (parish society incorporated 1891)
- Lead parish of Christ Our Light Family #1
- Diocese of Buffalo
- Worship site for the Allegany County Catholic community
History
The parish traces its formal founding to 1897, though the parish society was incorporated in New York on July 10, 1891. Immaculate Conception School, which grew up alongside the parish, opened in 1875 and was operated for generations by the Sisters of Mercy before becoming a diocesan regional school in 2007. The school's 146-year contribution to Wellsville was recognized by the Diocese of Buffalo and the village mayor in February 2022. Declining enrollment led to the school's closure at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year. The Maple Avenue church itself was the subject of a 2022 historical tour organized by the Thelma Rogers Genealogical and Historical Society.
- Parish society incorporated July 10, 1891
- Church formally established 1897
- Immaculate Conception School opened 1875, closed 2023
- 2022 'Immaculate Conception Day' proclamation
Clergy and Staff
Immaculate Conception is led by Pastor Rev. James W. Hartwell and Parochial Vicar Rev. Jeffrey J. Donovan, with Deacons David Harvey and Michael Bray assisting. The parish office is staffed by Business Manager Kate Rahr and Administrative Assistant Martha Wandover (who also serves as Safe Environment Coordinator).
- Rev. James W. Hartwell — Pastor
- Rev. Jeffrey J. Donovan — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon David Harvey
- Deacon Michael Bray
- Kate Rahr — Business Manager
- Martha Wandover — Administrative Assistant & Safe Environment Coordinator
- Susan Scott — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Doug Bushnell and Mary Risewick — Music Ministry
Sacraments
The parish prepares Catholics of every age for the sacraments of initiation and life. Children typically receive First Holy Eucharist in their third-grade year after Sunday School preparation. Adults entering the Catholic Church participate in OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly RCIA) — with a sponsor walking them through the process. The parish also celebrates the Anointing of the Sick and prepares couples for Matrimony.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- First Holy Eucharist — third grade, after Sunday School
- Confirmation — diocesan preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
- Matrimony — contact parish office
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adults
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious Education is coordinated by Susan Scott and is offered through Sunday School for parish children. First Holy Eucharist is celebrated in the third grade. For adults, OCIA (the restored name for RCIA) is offered, in which a fully initiated Catholic sponsor walks each inquirer through the beliefs, worship, and life of the Christian community.
- Sunday School program for parish children
- First Eucharist preparation in 3rd grade
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Susan Scott
Music Ministry
Music at Immaculate Conception is led by Doug Bushnell and Mary Risewick. Music Ministry supports the sung liturgy of weekend and weekday Masses across the Christ Our Light family of parishes.
- Music Director: Doug Bushnell
- Music Ministry: Mary Risewick
Immaculate Conception School (1875–2023)
Immaculate Conception School was founded in 1875 and for many decades was the only Catholic school in Allegany County, originally staffed in large part by the Sisters of Mercy. The school became a diocesan regional school in 2007 and was formally honored in 2022 during National Catholic Schools Week, when Bishop Michael W. Fisher and Wellsville's mayor recognized 146 years of Catholic education. After years of declining enrollment and budget deficits, the Board of Trustees recommended closure, and Bishop Fisher accepted the decision in June 2023. The parish continues to discern the future of the Maple Avenue school building.
- Founded 1875 — Catholic school for Allegany County
- Operated for generations by the Sisters of Mercy
- Diocesan regional school from 2007
- Immaculate Conception Day proclaimed Feb. 2, 2022
- Closed at the end of 2022-2023 school year
- Parish now soliciting ideas for the former school building
Christ Our Light Family of Parishes
Immaculate Conception is the lead parish of Christ Our Light Family #1, a grouping of Catholic parishes in eastern Allegany County sharing pastors, bulletins, and staff under the Diocese of Buffalo's Families of Parishes model. The four worship sites rotate Sunday Masses so that Catholics throughout the region can attend at a nearby church while remaining one parish family.
- Immaculate Conception, Wellsville (lead parish)
- Our Lady of the Angels, Cuba
- Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Belmont
- St. Jude Chapel & Campus Ministry, Alfred
Contact and Visiting
The parish office is at 17 Maple Avenue in Wellsville (mailing address) with the church itself located at 6 Maple Avenue. Visitors and new parishioners are warmly welcomed — registration forms are available on the parish website. The office can be reached by phone at 585-593-4834 or by email at [email protected].
- Parish Office: 17 Maple Ave, Wellsville, NY 14895
- Church: 6 Maple Ave, Wellsville, NY 14895
- Phone: 585-593-4834; Fax: 585-593-7167
- Email: [email protected]
- New parishioner registration forms available online