About Sacred Heart · Rochester, New York
Sacred Heart Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Rochester, New York, and the seat of the diocesan bishop. Located at 296 Flower City Park in the northwest section of Rochester, the parish was founded in 1911 to serve the city's growing Irish, Italian, and German immigrant population, and the current Gothic Revival limestone church was completed in 1927. It was designated pro-cathedral in 1937 after St. Patrick's Cathedral was sold to Eastman Kodak and demolished, and Pope Pius XII officially named it the diocesan cathedral on June 21, 1952. A sweeping $11 million renovation in 2005 reconfigured the sanctuary to post-Vatican II norms and added a Paul Fritts organ in 2008, and the parish is now grouped with two former sister churches as the "Cathedral Community."
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Very Rev. Fr. Peter D. Van Lieshout (Rector)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
Sacred Heart Cathedral is the spiritual heart of Catholic life in the Diocese of Rochester — the bishop's own parish and a place where the wider diocesan family gathers for ordinations, confirmations, and major liturgies. As part of the Cathedral Community, parishioners here encounter a full range of liturgies (Sunday and weekday Masses, weekday confessions, Eucharistic adoration, First Friday Devotions, and a Divine Mercy Holy Hour), the cathedral's renowned Paul Fritts organ, outreach programs that support the homeless and refugees (notably at St. Joseph's House of Hospitality and a partnership with Mary's Place), active faith formation (Becoming Catholic / RCIA, Confirmation prep, youth and homeschool programs, women's groups, and the Defending the Faith apologetics series), and a commitment to liturgical beauty grounded in the post-Vatican II renewal.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 noon
- Tuesday: No confessions
- Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 noon
- Thursday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 noon
- Friday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 noon
- Friday: 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Adoration times
- Divine Mercy Holy Hour / Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament annually on Divine Mercy Sunday, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (with a brief homily on the message of Divine Mercy)
- Extended Eucharistic adoration during First Friday Devotions
History of Sacred Heart Cathedral
Sacred Heart traces its origin to Bishop Thomas F. Hickey's 1910 recognition that Rochester's Irish, Italian and German Catholic immigrants in the northwest of the city needed their own parish. Father George V. Burns was recruited from St. Patrick's in Owego and founded the parish in 1911; he led it for forty-one years until 1952. The original church/school building opened that year on the south side of Flower City Park; the present neo-Gothic limestone church — designed by Chicago architect Charles H. Prindeville of Egan & Prindeville — had its cornerstone blessed in 1925 and was completed in 1927. When the downtown St. Patrick's Cathedral was sold to Eastman Kodak and demolished in 1937, Sacred Heart was named pro-cathedral and St. Patrick's marble altar and cathedra were reinstalled in its sanctuary. On June 21, 1952 — after all parish debt was paid off — Pope Pius XII officially constituted Sacred Heart as the cathedral church of the Diocese of Rochester.
Architecture and Building Features
The cathedral is built in the Gothic Revival / neo-Gothic style in limestone, with sixteen angel statues perched on the ceiling trusses of the nave and more than 100 angel figures throughout the interior, recalling the angel-crowded beams of Norman Gothic churches. Bishop Hickey required that the original design include a bishop's chapel in the west transept and a portable bishop's throne, anticipating the church's later role as cathedral.
- Gothic Revival / neo-Gothic style
- Architect: Charles H. Prindeville (firm Egan & Prindeville, Chicago)
- Limestone construction
- Cornerstone 1925; completed 1927
- More than 100 angel figures including 16 statues on ceiling trusses
- Bishop's chapel in the west transept; portable bishop's throne
- Marble altar and cathedra transferred from St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1937
2005 Renovation and 2008 Organ
In the early 2000s Bishop Matthew H. Clark launched an $11 million, eighteen-month renovation supervised by liturgical designer Fr. Richard S. Vosko (Diocese of Albany). The project reconfigured the sanctuary to post-Vatican II norms: the altar was moved forward, new chair-style seating replaced the pews, the Blessed Sacrament was moved to a side Eucharistic chapel, a rood beam and crucifix were installed above the former sanctuary, reconciliation rooms were added, and a new narthex, parking lot, back entrance, and office wing connected the cathedral to the rectory. The cathedral was re-dedicated on January 21, 2005; in 2008 the Paul Fritts organ — Opus 26, a three-manual, 53-rank mechanical-action instrument — was installed in the former sanctuary, completing the project.
- $11 million, 18-month renovation completed January 2005
- Supervised by liturgical design consultant Fr. Richard S. Vosko
- Altar moved forward; tabernacle moved to side chapel
- Rood beam and crucifix above former sanctuary; reconciliation rooms added
- New narthex, parking lot, back entrance, office wing
- Paul Fritts Opus 26 organ installed 2008 (3 manuals, 53 ranks)
The Cathedral Community
In 2005 Sacred Heart parish was clustered with nearby Holy Rosary and Most Precious Blood to form what was called the Cathedral Community. In 2008 Holy Rosary and Most Precious Blood celebrated their final Masses and the churches were officially closed.
- Clustering with Holy Rosary and Most Precious Blood parishes, 2005
- Holy Rosary and Most Precious Blood final Masses and closure, 2008
- Parish now known as Cathedral Community at The Sacred Heart Cathedral
Clergy and Staff
The current rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral is the Very Rev. Fr. Peter D. Van Lieshout, S.T.L., a priest of the Diocese of Rochester who completed a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in 2013 and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in 2015 with a concentration in dogmatic theology. He serves the cathedral while also teaching sacramental theology as an adjunct professor at St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry and acting as Co-Director of Priestly Vocation Awareness for the Diocese of Rochester. The current Bishop of Rochester is Most Rev. John S. Bonnici. Deacon Michael Kristan serves on the cathedral staff.
- Rector: Very Rev. Fr. Peter D. Van Lieshout, S.T.L.
- Deacon Michael Kristan
- Diocesan Bishop: Most Rev. John S. Bonnici
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon
Worship Schedule
- Sunday: 7:00 AM (no music), 9:15 AM, 11:15 AM
- Saturday: 4:00 PM (anticipated Sunday Mass)
- Weekday Masses: Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri at 12:10 PM; Tuesday at 7:30 AM
- 11:15 AM Sunday Mass livestreamed via Facebook and YouTube
- Confessions Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 11:30 AM – 12:00 noon; Fri 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM; Sat 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- First Friday Devotions; Divine Mercy Holy Hour and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Divine Mercy Sunday (3:00 – 4:00 PM)
- Saturday Rosary
Sacraments
As the cathedral of the Diocese of Rochester, Sacred Heart celebrates all seven sacraments. Baptisms are celebrated at the new immersion font in the main aisle; weddings are prepared at the Cathedral; the RCIA program welcomes those becoming Catholic; First Eucharist, Confirmation preparation, anointing of the sick (with Sick Calls and homebound visits), and funeral planning are all coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism (immersion font in the main aisle)
- First Eucharist and Confirmation preparation
- Confession (reconciliation rooms installed 2005)
- Marriage — Weddings at the Cathedral
- Anointing of the Sick / Sick Calls and Homebound Visits
- Funeral Planning
- Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
Ministries and Formation
- Liturgical Ministries (communion, lectors, servers, ushers, music/choir)
- Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
- Youth Faith Formation and Confirmation Prep
- Homeschool families group
- Parish Women's groups
- Defending the Faith apologetics / Homily Series
- Green Team (care of creation / facilities)
- Outreach — refugees and the poor (St. Joseph's House of Hospitality, Mary's Place food pantry partnership)
- Buildings and Grounds
Outreach and Charity
The Cathedral Community's outreach programs serve refugees fleeing difficult conditions, the poor, and families in the greater Rochester area. Sacred Heart is partnered with St. Joseph's House of Hospitality and Mary's Place, which offers food assistance and other services to those in need.
- Refugee resettlement and accompaniment
- St. Joseph's House of Hospitality support
- Mary's Place food pantry partnership
- Outreach to the poor in northwest Rochester
Music and Liturgy
Music at Sacred Heart centers on the 2008 Paul Fritts organ — Opus 26, a three-manual, 53-rank instrument with mechanical key action — installed in the former sanctuary under the rood beam. The choir and cantors support the principal Sunday and Saturday liturgies, with the 7:00 AM Sunday Mass celebrated without music.
- Paul Fritts organ, Opus 26 (2008), 3 manuals, 53 ranks, mechanical key action
- Choir and cantors supporting the 9:15 and 11:15 Sunday Masses and the Saturday Vigil
- 7:00 AM Sunday Mass without music
Visiting Sacred Heart Cathedral
The cathedral is located at 296 Flower City Park in northwest Rochester. Visitors are welcome at any of the scheduled Masses; the 11:15 AM Sunday Mass is livestreamed via Facebook and YouTube for those unable to attend in person. Outside of services the parish office is open Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM – noon. Features to look for inside include the side Eucharistic chapel housing the tabernacle, the rood beam and crucifix suspended above the former sanctuary, the relocated St. Patrick's marble altar and cathedra, the immersion baptismal font in the main aisle, and the Paul Fritts organ in the former sanctuary — all against a backdrop of more than 100 sculpted angel figures.
- 296 Flower City Park, Rochester, NY 14615
- Phone: 585-254-3221
- Office hours Mon–Thu 9–3; Fri 9–12
- Livestreamed 11:15 AM Sunday Mass on Facebook and YouTube
- On-site parking lot added 2005
Connection with the Diocese of Rochester
Sacred Heart Cathedral is the seat (cathedra) of the Bishop of Rochester and the mother church of the Diocese of Rochester, which was established in 1868. The cathedral hosts many of the diocese's major liturgies, ordinations, and confirmations, and the rector also serves in diocesan ministry. The Diocese of Rochester website is https://www.dor.org.
- Mother church and seat of the Bishop of Rochester
- Diocese of Rochester established 1868
- Deanery: Monroe Central
- Diocese website: https://www.dor.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. George V. Burns (later Monsignor)1911–1952
Founding pastor; recruited by Bishop Thomas F. Hickey in 1910 from St. Patrick's Church in Owego. Led the parish from its founding through its transition to pro-cathedral and full cathedral, and saw the parish debt eliminated by 1952.
- Most Rev. Lawrence B. Casey (then Rector, later auxiliary Bishop)c. 1952–after 1961
Auxiliary Bishop; oversaw 1950s interior redecoration including a new marble high altar and a bronze altarpiece of the Sacred Heart (1957), and the solemn consecration of the church building on October 25, 1961.
