About Nativity of The Blessed Virgin Mary · Brockport, New York
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in Brockport, New York, founded in 1848 — twenty years before the Diocese of Rochester itself was established. Located at 152 Main Street (Route 19), the parish is part of a cluster with St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hamlin and the Catholic Newman Community at SUNY Brockport, and it currently serves both English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics in western Monroe County. Under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Joseph (Joe) Marcoux, Nativity continues a 175-year-old tradition of welcoming everyone, including a sizable Hispanic community that has worshipped at the parish since the 1970s.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, September 8)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph (Joe) Marcoux
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester, New York
Why belong here
Nativity is a 175-year-old parish in the heart of Brockport with a clear mission to be 'a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven, and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel.' It is one of the few parishes in Monroe County offering a weekly Mass in Spanish (Sundays at 1:30 p.m.), and it actively ministers to SUNY Brockport students as part of its Catholic Newman Community. With active faith formation for children and adults (including the OCIA process), a children's liturgy program, a contemporary choir, Martha's Ministry funeral luncheons, and a vibrant Hispanic ministry, there are many ways to get involved — and the new Parish Center with its Main Street window makes the parish literally transparent to the village.
Mass times at Nativity of The Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm
- By appointment: call the parish office at 585-637-4500
History of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Founded in 1848 — twenty years before the Diocese of Rochester itself existed — Nativity is one of the oldest parishes in the region. The first Catholic Mass in Brockport was celebrated that year under the Diocese of Buffalo, and construction of the first church began in 1851 under founding pastor Father Michael Walsh, completed in 1855 on the corner of Erie and Utica streets. Father Story, the parish's second pastor, oversaw growth in the late 1800s, and the school and convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph were built nearby. The current church on Main Street was constructed in 1926, and the parish has been at 152 Main Street ever since. In November 2023, the parish marked its 175th anniversary with a walking procession through the streets of its history and a Mass celebrated by Bishop Salvatore R. Matano.
- 1848 — First Catholic Mass celebrated in Brockport
- 1851 — Construction begins on the first church under Father Michael Walsh
- 1855 — Original church at Erie and Utica streets completed
- 1876 — Parish school opens (in a converted horse barn)
- 1916 — School moves to new building on Holley and Utica streets
- 1926 — Current church built on Main Street
- 1970s — Hispanic ministry begins; Spanish Mass added
- 2003 — Parish school closes after 127 years
- 2023 — 175th anniversary celebrated with Bishop Matano
Pastor and Parish Cluster
Rev. Joseph (Joe) Marcoux serves as pastor of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hamlin, and the Catholic Newman Community at SUNY Brockport — a three-parish cluster in western Monroe County. In his welcome on the parish website, Fr. Marcoux emphasizes that all three communities, English- and Spanish-speaking alike, 'strive to live this Gospel of love in our daily lives' and that 'ALL ARE WELCOME.' He is assisted by two permanent deacons: Deacon Vincenzo Franco and Deacon Paul Virgilio.
- Rev. Joseph (Joe) Marcoux — Pastor (Nativity, SEAS, Newman Community at SUNY Brockport)
- Deacon Vincenzo Franco
- Deacon Paul Virgilio
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's Faith Formation serves grades K–7 and meets 2–3 Sundays a month between September and May, with classes for the Nativity cluster before the 11:00 a.m. Mass at Nativity and after the 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. The program uses the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies curriculum and offers Sacramental Preparation, Confirmation preparation, and a summer Vacation Bible School for the wider community.
- K–7 faith-formation classes Sundays, September–May
- Pflaum Gospel Weeklies curriculum
- Sacramental Prep (First Communion, Confirmation)
- Confirmation Registration & Pledge Form available
- Vacation Bible School in summer
Adult Faith Formation / OCIA
Nativity invites adults who have never been baptized, who wish to receive First Holy Communion, or who are seeking Confirmation to join the parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. Classes typically begin in the fall and meet in the Parish Center; the parish encourages those interested to contact [email protected] to start the conversation. Adult members are also invited into Bible study, a book club, retreats, and other ongoing formation opportunities.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) classes
- Bible Study / Bible Study Leader
- Book Club
- Retreats and outings
- Contact: [email protected]
Ministries and Ways to Get Involved
Nativity encourages every parishioner to share their time and talent and provides an Interest Form on its website for both Nativity and SEAS. Opportunities span faith formation (catechist, aide, youth group helper, Vacation Bible School helper), liturgy (contemporary choir, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, children's liturgy), outreach (Hispanic Ministry, Migrant Ministry, Homebound Ministry), and parish life (Martha's Ministry funeral luncheons, special events setup, Bible study, book club).
- Catechist / Classroom Aide
- Youth Group and Youth Group Helper
- Contemporary Choir
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Martha's Ministry (funeral luncheons)
- Homebound Ministry
- Hispanic Ministry
- Migrant Ministry outreach
- Bible Study / Book Club
- Special Events Setup
Newman Community at SUNY Brockport
Following the sale of the Newman Oratory that previously housed the campus ministry, Nativity has continued its long tradition of welcoming SUNY Brockport students as part of its parish life. The Catholic Newman Community at SUNY Brockport shares the pastor of Nativity and SEAS, allowing students to plug into the wider parish community of faith formation, liturgy, and outreach.
- Catholic Newman Community at SUNY Brockport
- Shared pastor with Nativity BVM and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Parish Center and Facilities
A new Parish Center connects the current church to the adjacent 1870s former convent, whose exterior was preserved while the interior was completely renovated. The center features a large gathering space that can be subdivided into smaller areas, more than a half-dozen multipurpose rooms usable for meetings or faith-formation classes, a kitchen, and handicapped-accessible bathrooms. Its defining feature is a floor-to-ceiling glass window facing Main Street that opens the parish to the village. The center also displays a pair of original benches from the parish's first church and a stained-glass window from the historic church.
- Large gathering space, subdivisible
- Six-plus multipurpose rooms
- Kitchen and handicapped-accessible bathrooms
- Floor-to-ceiling glass window onto Main Street
- Historic artifacts from the original church on display
- New permanent display of parish history and memorabilia
Mt. Olivet Cemetery
Mt. Olivet Cemetery, administered by the Church of Nativity, is located at 68812 East Canal Road and serves as the final resting place of many in the parish community. Tours of the cemetery have been offered as part of parish anniversaries, beginning at the altar where the Priests Circle is located.
- Address: 68812 E. Canal Road, Brockport
- Administered by the Church of Nativity
- Features the Priests Circle at the altar
Visit, Contact, and Practical Information
The parish office is open Monday afternoon (1:00–4:30 p.m.), Tuesday through Thursday (9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), Friday (9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.), Saturday (4:30–6:00 p.m.), and Sunday (10:30 a.m.–12:00 noon); it is closed on national holidays. Visitors are encouraged to enter the all-access doors through the Monroe Avenue parking lot entrance; on-street parking is also available around the church's perimeter. The parish maintains an online Mass archive so that those unable to attend in person can watch a recorded liturgy.
- Office: 152 Main Street, Brockport, NY 14420
- Phone: 585-637-4500
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours Mon 1–4:30; Tue–Thu 9–4:30; Fri 9–12:30; Sat 4:30–6; Sun 10:30–12
- All-access entrance and lift from Monroe Avenue parking lot
- On-street parking around the church perimeter
- Watch Mass online (Nativity Mass Archive playlist)
Hispanic Ministry and Spanish-Language Community
Since the 1970s Nativity has ministered to a sizeable Hispanic migrant population in the Brockport area, originally largely Mexican and more recently including a growing community of Ecuadoran parishioners. The parish celebrates a weekly Sunday Mass in Spanish at 1:30 p.m. and offers Hispanic Ministry and Migrant Ministry outreach as ways for Spanish-speaking Catholics to stay connected to the parish family.
- Spanish Mass every Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
- Hispanic Ministry
- Migrant Ministry outreach
- Mission statement posted in English and Spanish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael Walsh1851–
Founding pastor; oversaw construction of the first church at Erie and Utica streets, completed 1855.
- Father Story
Second pastor; had the longest early pastorate in Brockport and is remembered as the first priest to serve the parish long-term.
- Father Krieg
Subsequent pastor involved in property matters tied to the move from the original church site.