About Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish @ Our Lady of Lourdes · Utica, New York
Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Syracuse serving the Utica and New Hartford communities of Oneida County, New York. It was formed in 2021 when Bishop Douglas J. Lucia merged two historic parishes — Our Lady of Lourdes Church in South Utica (founded 1919) and Our Lady of the Rosary Church in New Hartford (tracing its roots to 1942) — into a single, unified parish with two campuses. The parish continues a strong tradition of Eucharistic devotion, robust faith formation for children and teens, active outreach, and interfaith collaboration, with Masses celebrated daily and weekends across both the Lourdes Campus on Genesee Street and the Rosary Campus on Burrstone Road.
- Established
- 2021
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary, under the titles of Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of the Rosary
- Rector
- Rev. Jason C. Hage
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish combines the deep Catholic roots of two historic congregations — the Lourdes Campus in South Utica and the Rosary Campus in New Hartford — into one welcoming family of faith. With daily Mass on both campuses, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, a vibrant OCIA process for adults, and a wide range of formation programs for children, teens, and young adults, parishioners of every age can find a place to grow in discipleship. The parish is also known for its strong outreach — from bereavement and sick-and-homebound ministry to the Christ Child Society, a Prayer Warriors group, and interfaith collaboration with neighboring Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities — making it a place where worship, formation, and service come together.
Mass times at Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish @ Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays: 5:30–6:30 pm (Parish Holy Hour) at Lourdes Campus, or by appointment
- Saturdays: 3:00–4:00 pm (before the 4:00 pm Vigil Mass) at Lourdes Campus
Adoration times
- Wednesday Parish Holy Hour at Lourdes Campus: Exposition & Solemn Vespers 5:15 pm; Adoration 5:30–6:30 pm; Solemn Benediction 6:30 pm
- Eucharistic Adoration at Seton Center: Monday–Thursday 10:00 am–2:00 pm
- Eucharistic Adoration at Seton Center: Friday 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Our History: Two Parishes Become One
Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish is the result of a merger between Our Lady of Lourdes Church and Our Lady of the Rosary Church, unified in 2021 under Bishop Douglas J. Lucia after years of shared pastoral leadership by Father Joseph Salerno. The Bishop chose the new name so it would reflect the Marian theology already present in the names of both predecessor parishes. The histories of the two original parishes — one stretching back to World War I-era Utica and the other to a World War II Army hospital chapel in New Hartford — are preserved in detail on the parish website.
- Our Lady of Lourdes founded April 1919 in South Utica
- Our Lady of the Rosary founded July 22, 1949 in New Hartford
- Merger accepted by Bishop Lucia in 2021
- Father Salerno continued as pastor of the new parish
Our Lady of Lourdes Campus (South Utica)
Our Lady of Lourdes was founded in April 1919 to serve the growing Catholic population of South Utica. The original church stood at Genesee Street and Barton Avenue, was enlarged with a stone exterior in 1940, and moved to its present home on the opposite corner in 1968. A Lourdes Grotto was added to the grounds in 1976. Founding pastor Rev. James F. Collins served the parish for roughly 40 years, and the parish celebrated its centennial with a Mass on May 5, 2019.
- 1919 — parish founded by Rev. James F. Collins
- 1940 — church enlarged with stone exterior
- 1968 — moved to current building on Genesee Street
- 1976 — Lourdes Grotto added
Our Lady of the Rosary Campus (New Hartford)
Our Lady of the Rosary traces its roots to 1942, when the U.S. Army selected a 175-acre farm on Burrstone Road for Rhodes General Army Hospital. The hospital's interdenominational St. Thomas More Chapel was purchased in 1949 for $1,250 by founding pastor Rev. Alfred J. Holdredge and moved across Burrstone Road, where it was dedicated as the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary on July 22, 1949. Two wings were added in 1960; the rectory was built in 1951; and two former hospital barracks were relocated to the parish grounds in 1955 and joined to form a Faith Formation Center.
- 1942 — site chosen for Rhodes General Army Hospital
- 1947 — Rev. Alfred J. Holdredge appointed chaplain
- 1949 — Army chapel moved and renamed Church of Our Lady of the Rosary
- 1951 — rectory built; 1955 — barracks converted into Faith Formation Center; 1960 — two wings added
Our Team & Clergy
The parish is currently served by Pastor Rev. Jason C. Hage, who previously served as the Diocese of Syracuse's Director of the Office of Vocation Promotion. Pastor Emeritus Rev. Joseph Salerno continues in ministry at the parish and remains the long-time chaplain of the Utica Police and Fire Departments. Deacon Stan Olkowski serves as Parish Minister. The staff also includes a Business Manager, Music Director, Facilities Manager, Audio/Visual coordinator, Faith Formation team, Teen Formation leaders, and three parish trustees.
- Rev. Jason C. Hage — Pastor
- Rev. Joseph (Joe) Salerno — Pastor Emeritus
- Deacon Stan Olkowski — Parish Minister
- Heather Starsiak — Business Manager
- Htee Mu — Music Director
- Anthony Bates — Facilities Manager
- Dick Vetere — Teen Formation & Youth Ministry
- Brittany Wilcox — Teen Formation & Youth Ministry
- Nate Discavage — Teen contact (faith formation office)
- Janis Farley — Summer Fun Program Director (Notre Dame)
- Elizabeth Kearns, CPA — Trustee
- Nate Lorraine — Trustee
- Karen Stanislaus, Esq. — Trustee
- Dan Swider — Trustee
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith Formation is one of the largest ministries of the parish. The program for grades 7 and 8 meets Monday evenings from 6:30–8:00 pm in the Seton Center at the Lourdes Campus. Grades 9 and 10 (including Confirmation preparation, usually in 10th grade) participate in a Greater Utica collaboration that offers multiple class times and locations. Registrations open every September. The parish also runs a separate Youth Ministry for teens in grades 7–12 that meets Monday nights in the Seton Center, with dinner included.
- Children's Liturgy of the Word during Mass
- Family Life Catechesis
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Grades 7–8 Faith Formation — Mondays 6:30–8:00 pm, Seton Center
- Grades 9–10 Faith Formation & Confirmation prep — Greater Utica collaborative
- Youth Ministry Nights — Mondays 6:30–8:00 pm, Seton Center
Ministries: Worship, Witness & Service
The parish organizes its ministries into three pillars — Worship, Witness, and Service — and offers a downloadable Ministry Guide from its website. Opportunities range from liturgical roles at Mass to adult faith formation, family outreach, bereavement support, and community-building events.
- Worship: Acolytes, Lectors, Ushers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Music Ministry, Hospitality, Livestream Ministry, Adoration Society
- Witness: Adult Faith Formation, Family Life Catechesis, OCIA, Young Adult Ministry, Youth Ministry, Vocations Ministry, Genesis Mission, Catholic Women's Club
- Service: Altar & Rosary Society, Parish Men's Club, Christ Child Society, Parish Bazaar Committee, Prayer Warriors, Bereavement, Visits to the Sick & Homebound, Community Building & Outreach
Outreach & Community Life
Beyond Sunday worship, the parish runs an active outreach footprint: visits to the sick and homebound (especially residents of assisted-living facilities), a Bereavement Ministry supporting families before and after funerals, the Christ Child Society serving children and families in need, and the Prayer Warriors intercessory prayer group. The parish also hosts the Summer Fun Program in partnership with Notre Dame Schools.
- Visits to the Sick & Homebound (including St. Luke's Home)
- Bereavement Ministry (Utica and New Hartford campuses)
- Christ Child Society
- Prayer Warriors
- Parish Bazaar Committee
- Summer Fun Program with Notre Dame
Facilities: Lourdes Campus & Seton Center
The Lourdes Campus (2222 Genesee Street, Utica) houses the main church, the parish offices, and the Seton Center, which serves as the hub for Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, the daily Eucharistic Adoration chapel, and adult meetings (including the DePaul room used for Youth Ministry Nights). The Rosary Campus (1736 Burrstone Road, New Hartford) hosts the Sunday evening Mass and the weekly Tuesday Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes.
- Lourdes Campus — church, parish offices, Seton Center
- Seton Center — Adoration chapel, Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, DePaul room
- Rosary Campus — Sunday 5:00 pm Mass; Tuesday Our Lady of Lourdes Novena
- Partnership with Notre Dame Jr.-Sr. High School for Faith Formation classes and school liturgies
Getting Involved & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to download the parish's Ministry Guide PDF from the website or contact the parish office to learn how to join a ministry, register for Faith Formation, or schedule a baptism, wedding, or funeral. The parish office can be reached by phone at (315) 724-3155 or by email at [email protected].
- Parish phone: (315) 724-3155
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Faith Formation email: [email protected]
- Website: motherofoursavior.org
- Live Mass streams on YouTube — Mary Mother of Our Savior Parish Utica NY
- Parish updates on Facebook — facebook.com/MaryMotherUtica
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James F. Collins1919–~1959
Founding pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes; served approximately 40 years
- Rev. Msgr. Daniel E. Lawler
Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes; contributed significantly to parish life
- Rev. Msgr. Joseph L. May
Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rev. Donald Karlen
Former pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes; concelebrated the centennial Mass in 2019
- Rev. Alfred J. Holdredge1947–?
Founder and first pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary; bought the Army chapel for $1,250 in 1949
- Rev. Peter Paige
Former pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary
- Rev. James Riley
Former pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary
- Rev. James Fallon
Former pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary
- Rev. Felix Colosimo
Former pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary
- Rev. Thomas Honold
Former pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary
- Rev. Joseph (Joe) Salerno2002–present (as Pastor Emeritus)
Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes from 2002; oversaw the 2021 merger and served as first pastor of Mary, Mother of Our Savior; 25-year chaplain of Utica Police & Fire; ordained 1980
- Rev. Jason C. HageCurrent
Current pastor; former diocesan Director of Vocation Promotion; appointed by Bishop Lucia