About Our Mother of Sorrows · Rochester, New York
Our Mother of Sorrows is a Roman Catholic parish in Greece (a suburb of Rochester), New York, part of the Diocese of Rochester. Often called the 'Mother of Parishes' because six other local parishes were carved out of it over the decades, the parish traces its roots to 1829 when Irish Catholic settlers built the first rural Catholic church in New York State. Today it is served jointly with neighboring Holy Cross, Charlotte under a single pastor, Very Rev. William G. Coffas, VF, with weekend Masses at 5000 Mt. Read Blvd. and a livestreamed Mass on the parish Facebook page.
- Established
- 1829
- Patron
- Our Mother of Sorrows (the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows)
- Rector
- Very Rev. William G. Coffas, VF (Pastor since 2015; also Dean of the Monroe Central Deanery; since 2020 also pastor of Holy Cross, Charlotte)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
Our Mother of Sorrows welcomes newcomers and long-time Catholics alike with the message 'There is a place for you here.' A parish with deep roots in the Town of Greece since 1829, it offers daily and weekend Mass (livestreamed on Facebook), First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Saturday Reconciliation, a full Faith Formation program for children and youth, Confirmation preparation, and an active youth ministry under coordinator Cindy Lammes. The parish also runs the St. Francis Food Pantry (in cooperation with Foodlink) and reaches out to the wider North Greece community, making it both a worshiping community and a tangible neighbor.
Mass times at Our Mother of Sorrows
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Adoration times
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the First Friday of every month
Welcome to Our Mother of Sorrows
Our Mother of Sorrows invites visitors with the words 'There is a place for you here.' The parish welcomes newcomers, encourages registration as members of the parish family, and provides opportunities to worship, visit, pray, volunteer, or attend parish events. The parish office can be reached at 585-663-5432, ext. 121 (MOS) and is open Wednesdays 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM; on other days the ministry team responds to email and voicemail.
- Phone: (585) 663-5432, ext. 121 for MOS
- Parish office hours: Wednesday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Church open daily 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Sign up for the Holy Cross + OMOS Flocknote for parish updates
History of the Parish
Founded in 1829 by Irish Catholic settlers in the Town of Greece and dedicated as St. Ambrose in 1832, the parish was renamed Our Mother of Sorrows on September 16, 1860 under the long pastorate of Fr. John Maurice (1856–1895). The present church was dedicated by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen on September 22, 1968, and the parish celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2004 under Bishop Clark. Read the full parish history on the MOSHC website.
- First rural Catholic church in New York State (1829)
- Renamed Our Mother of Sorrows, September 16, 1860
- Present church dedicated by Bishop Sheen, September 22, 1968
- 175th anniversary celebrated September 12, 2004
- Known as the 'Mother of Parishes'
Clergy and Staff
Our Mother of Sorrows is served by Pastor Very Rev. William G. Coffas, VF (also Dean of the Monroe Central Deanery), Parochial Vicar Rev. Justin Miller, Senior Priest in Residence Rev. Robert Schrader, and Deacon Joseph Placious. A full lay staff supports liturgy, music, faith formation, youth ministry, and finance across the linked Holy Cross + OMOS community.
- Very Rev. William G. Coffas, VF — Pastor (ext. 102)
- Rev. Justin Miller — Parochial Vicar (ext. 122)
- Rev. Robert Schrader — Senior Priest in Residence
- Deacon Joseph Placious
- Donna Petrella — Lay Parish Minister (HC, ext. 104)
- Cindy Lammes — Youth Ministry & Confirmation Coordinator (ext. 126)
- Stephanie Hubbel — CASE Coordinator (ext. 125)
- Dr. Beata Golec — Director of Music (ext. 124)
- Christopher Frontale — Finance Director (ext. 134)
- Owen Lozy-Lester — OMOS Head Live Streamer
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
Faith Formation for children and youth is offered in several formats in coordination with neighboring Eastern Greece / Charlotte parishes, including Family Faith Formation (twice a month, alternating between Mother of Sorrows and St. Charles Borromeo), a Home Study Program, weekly classes, a summer camp option, and middle/high school programs. Sacramental preparation is parish-based, with First Penance and First Holy Communion preparation beginning each fall and a two-year Confirmation program starting in grade 8.
- Family Faith Formation — twice monthly, alternating locations
- Home Study Program ($50 first child / $10 each additional)
- First Penance and First Holy Communion preparation (begins in November)
- Confirmation — two-year program from grade 8; celebrated at Sacred Heart Cathedral
- Diocese requires at least one year of prior Faith Formation before sacramental preparation
- OCIA / Becoming Catholic inquiry
- Registration: www.nwfaith.org
Youth Ministry
Cindy Lammes serves as Youth Ministry & Confirmation Coordinator for the linked Holy Cross + OMOS community, organizing Jr/Sr High experiences including retreats, field trips, service opportunities, the IGNITE program, and CYO Sports. These events draw teens from across the Eastern Greece / Charlotte area and the wider Diocese of Rochester.
- Youth Ministry & Confirmation Coordinator: Cindy Lammes (ext. 126)
- IGNITE youth events
- CYO Sports
- Diocesan and area-wide youth retreats and service trips
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical music at OMOS is led by Director of Music Dr. Beata Golec (ext. 124). The Santamaria Altar Servers League supports the sacred liturgy, and the parish livestreams the Saturday 4:00 PM Mass on Facebook with volunteer technical support from Head Live Streamer Owen Lozy-Lester.
- Director of Music: Dr. Beata Golec
- Santamaria Altar Servers League
- Saturday 4:00 PM Mass livestreamed to Facebook
- Head Live Streamer: Owen Lozy-Lester
Parish Ministries and Groups
A wide range of parish groups give parishioners ways to serve, pray, and build community. The Women's Ministry, Knights of Columbus, and Prayer Ministry complement Faith Formation, Music, and Outreach arms of the parish, while the Good Shepherd Memorial Society supports the wider diocesan mission.
- Women's Ministry
- Knights of Columbus
- Prayer Ministry and Prayer Requests
- Good Shepherd Memorial Society
- Volunteering opportunities (via parish office)
Outreach: St. Francis Food Pantry
The St. Francis Food Pantry, operated at the rear of the 5000 Mt. Read Blvd. building in cooperation with Foodlink, serves families in the North Greece area. It is open on the 2nd Wednesday, 3rd Wednesday, and 4th Saturday of each month, and food donations are welcomed inside the church doors.
- Location: 5000 Mt. Read Blvd., back of the building
- Open: 2nd Wednesday, 3rd Wednesday, and 4th Saturday of each month
- Operated in cooperation with Foodlink
- Food donations accepted inside the church doors
Pastoral Partnership with Holy Cross, Charlotte
Since 2020, Bishop Salvatore R. Matano has asked Fr. William Coffas to pastor both Our Mother of Sorrows and Holy Cross, Charlotte. The parishes remain canonically distinct but share a pastor, a combined bulletin, combined ministries such as Lenten retreats, and a single Flocknote communication channel — building a bridge between the two communities.
- Linked pastor since 2020
- Combined parish bulletin
- Shared ministries (e.g., Lenten Retreats)
- Combined Flocknote: holycrosschurchofcharlot.flocknote.com
Sacraments at Our Mother of Sorrows
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, including Baptism, First Penance, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders (through diocesan vocations). Reconciliation is heard every Saturday afternoon.
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 2:30 – 3:30 PM
- First Penance and First Holy Communion preparation (annual)
- Confirmation preparation (two-year parish program)
- Marriage and Funeral arrangements through the parish office
Diocese of Rochester and Pastoral Deanery
Our Mother of Sorrows is part of the Diocese of Rochester, which serves 12 New York State counties with 7 deaneries and a Catholic population of approximately 300,000. The parish is in the Monroe County Cluster and the Monroe Central Deanery, currently led by Dean Very Rev. William G. Coffas, VF.
- Diocese of Rochester
- Monroe Central Deanery
- Monroe County Cluster: Holy Cross, Charlotte
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Biggio (Joseph Bioggio)1849–1855
First resident pastor of St. Ambrose (predecessor parish), appointed by Bishop John Timon of Buffalo.
- Fr. William Carroll1855 (a few months)
Brief tenure.
- Fr. John Maurice1856–1895
French priest, former African missioner and teacher; built the 1859 brick church; petitioned in 1860 to rename the parish Our Mother of Sorrows.
- Fr. Andrew B. Meehanuntil July 1896 (administrator)
Served as administrator between Maurice and Quinn.
- Fr. John P. Quinn1896–1929
Appointed by Bishop McQuaid; 33-year tenure.
- Fr. Daniel O'Rourke1929–1961
Organized the 1930 Parish Centennial, attended by Governor and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- Fr. George Wood1961–1981
Assisting on weekends since 1956; campaigned for and dedicated the present church in 1968 by Bishop Sheen.
- Fr. Thomas Statt1981–June 2000
- Fr. Alexander BradshawJune 2000–June 2012
Major renovation of the worship space, building/utilities upgrades, and introduced Stewardship.
- Rev. William G. Coffas, VF2015–present
Current pastor; also pastor of Holy Cross since 2020; Dean of the Monroe Central Deanery.