About St. Anthony of Padua-St. Mary Parish @ St. Anthony · Cortland, New York
St. Anthony of Padua–St. Mary Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Cortland, New York, part of the Diocese of Syracuse. Worship is celebrated at two neighboring churches — St. Anthony of Padua (50 Pomeroy Street) and St. Mary's (46 N. Main Street) — sharing one parish center at 59 N. Main Street. The parish is rooted in the Italian immigrant community that founded St. Anthony's in 1917, and it continues a vibrant Italian-American heritage through its annual St. Anthony's Festival, feast-day procession with the thirteen little monks, and Old Timers Band leading the Italian march "Caderna." Today's parish offers daily and weekend Mass across both sites, a faith formation program linked to St. Mary's School, youth and young adult ministries, a live-stream ministry, and a wide range of sacramental and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1917
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Father Malachi F. Clark
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua–St. Mary Parish is a welcoming Catholic family that brings together two historic Cortland churches under one pastor and pastoral team. The parish combines the heritage of Italian Catholic devotion — an annual St. Anthony's Festival, the thirteen little monks, Italian Mass and procession — with vibrant present-day ministries such as OCIA, faith formation for grades K–10, a youth group, a young adult group, a live-stream ministry, a landscaping ministry, emergency meals for families in need, and an active music ministry. Daily Mass is offered at both churches, baptism, marriage, and anointing preparation programs are readily available, and visitors are warmly invited to register at the Parish Center on North Main Street and find a place to serve.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua-St. Mary Parish @ St. Anthony
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment (contact Parish Center at 607-756-9967)
- 2nd Wednesday of the month, 5:30–6:30 PM (followed by Coffee after Confessions)
St. Anthony of Padua–St. Mary Parish at a Glance
St. Anthony of Padua–St. Mary Parish is a single Roman Catholic community in the city of Cortland, New York, combining St. Anthony of Padua Church (50 Pomeroy Street) and St. Mary's Church (46 N. Main Street) under one pastor and parish staff housed at the Parish Center, 59 N. Main Street. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Syracuse and is rooted in the Italian Catholic devotional traditions of its founder community while remaining a multi-ethnic and welcoming parish today.
- Two worship sites: St. Anthony of Padua (50 Pomeroy St) and St. Mary's (46 N. Main St)
- Parish Center / Office: 59 N. Main Street, Cortland, NY 13045
- Part of the Diocese of Syracuse
- Weekend Masses Saturday Vigil 4 PM (St. Mary's); Sunday 8 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM
- Weekday Mass: Monday 5:30 PM, Tuesday 10 AM, Wednesday 7 AM, Friday 7 AM
History: From Italian Mission to Centennial Parish (1917–2017+)
St. Anthony of Padua was founded on June 10, 1917, as St. Anthony's Italian Roman Catholic Church under Father Vincenzo Penta to serve the growing Italian Catholic community of Cortland. The original church on Pomeroy Street was replaced with a larger structure on the same site, dedicated on June 13, 1951, by Bishop Walter A. Foery. A 1984 renovation introduced a central altar blessed by Bishop Frank J. Harrison on June 13, 1984. In June 2017 the parish marked its centennial with a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Bishop Robert J. Cunningham, led by then-pastor Father Joseph Zareski. Today St. Anthony's is twinned with St. Mary's of Cortland in a single parish configuration, preserving both communities' heritage.
- 1917 — Parish founded June 10 as St. Anthony's Italian Roman Catholic Church by Father Vincenzo Penta.
- 1951 — New church dedicated on June 13 by Bishop Walter A. Foery.
- 1984 — Renovated interior with central altar blessed on June 13 by Bishop Frank J. Harrison.
- 2017 — Centennial Mass with Bishop Robert J. Cunningham; Father Joseph Zareski leads the year.
- Eleven pastors have served St. Anthony's across its first century (Penta → Binazzi → Monteleone → Delahunt → Denti → Pilla → Stirpe → Katz → Kaminski → Urbaniak → Zareski).
Mission & Parish Identity
St. Anthony's mission statement, revised in 1998, calls the parish to gather as a family of faith drawing strength from the Word and nourishment from the Eucharist, to live the sacramental life through religious education, evangelization, and a sensitivity to social justice, and to walk in discipleship by embracing the call to service. The parish lives out this identity through year-round ministries, active sacramental preparation, and the annual Italian festival and procession that keep its founding heritage visible in the wider Cortland community.
- Mission Statement (revised 1998)
- To gather as a family of faith around Word and Sacrament
- Religious education, evangelization, and social justice
- Discipleship and service
Pastoral Staff & Leadership
The parish is currently led by Father Malachi F. Clark as Pastor (listed as Administrator in parish bulletins) and Father Moses M. Arung, OP, as Parochial Vicar. Three deacons — Kurt Behrenfeld, Timothy Stedman (retired: Stephen Smith) — assist with liturgical and pastoral ministry. Lay leadership runs through the Parish Center staff and the Pastoral Council, with parish trustees supporting financial stewardship.
- Father Malachi F. Clark — Pastor
- Father Moses M. Arung, OP — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Kurt Behrenfeld
- Deacon Timothy Stedman
- Deacon Stephen Smith (Retired)
- Sue Laman — Parish Secretary
- Joan Sweeting — Office staff
- Brittany Laman — Bulletin Editor
- Annamaria Maniaci — Pastoral Council President (St. Anthony's)
Faith Formation, St. Mary's School & OCIA
Faith formation is run jointly for the parish family under co-Directors of Religious Education Bob Densmore and Stephanie Passeri-Densmore (607-756-6723). Religious Education classes meet Sundays from 11:10 AM to 12:00 PM for children in public schools in grades K through 10, with Confirmation classes for high-school students. Catholic-school families participate through St. Mary's School, which accepts children pre-K through grade 6 under principal Denise Hall. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) is coordinated for St. Anthony's by Stephanie Passeri-Densmore and at St. Mary's by Deacon Timothy Stedman.
- Co-Directors of Religious Ed: Bob & Stephanie Densmore (607-756-6723)
- Sunday classes 11:10 AM–12:00 PM, K–10
- Confirmation classes for high-school students
- St. Mary's School pre-K–grade 6 (principal Denise Hall)
- OCIA (RCIA) adult initiation process
Music, Liturgy & Live-Stream Ministry
Music Ministry is led by Director Nancy Yang Stevens, supported by Armand DiScenna and Erika Linsdell, and plays a central role in weekend Masses, holy days, and the Italian feast-day liturgy. The parish also maintains a live-stream ministry bringing the weekly Mass to shut-ins and distance parishioners; coordinator Gabe Fadale (607-745-1730) recruits and trains volunteers.
- Director of Music: Nancy Yang Stevens
- Armand DiScenna and Erika Linsdell — Music Ministry
- Live-stream ministry — contact Gabe Fadale 607-745-1730
Feast Day, Italian Festival & Procession
St. Anthony's Italian Festival, with roots in a parish devotional celebration recorded as early as 1905, is the signature event of the year and was celebrated in 2017 as the kickoff of the parish's centennial year. On the Saturday evening a Mass in Italian is celebrated at 5:30 PM, followed by a spaghetti dinner and an evening of music and fireworks. Sunday opens with a 9:30 AM traditional Mass and Benediction, then the Old Timers Band enters the church playing the Italian march "Caderna" and leads the procession through the East Side streets — carrying the ornate banner from Italy, the statue of St. Anthony borne on four shoulders, colorful regional banners by the late artist Mario Venturini, parish organizations, and the thirteen boys dressed as St. Anthony singing an Italian hymn in his honor.
- St. Anthony's Italian Festival (June weekend closest to the feast)
- Mass in Italian (Saturday 5:30 PM)
- Sunday 9:30 AM Mass and Benediction
- East-Side procession with the Old Timers Band and "Caderna"
- Thirteen little boys tradition (since the 1930s)
- St. Anthony's Banner from Italy, regional banners by Mario Venturini
Sacraments — Baptism, Marriage, Anointing
The parish prepares its members for every stage of Catholic sacramental life. Baptisms are normally celebrated after a weekend Mass following a preparation class. Marriage arrangements must be made at least six months in advance and include Pre-Cana. The parish arranges Anointing of the Sick, Holy Communion, and pastoral visits to the hospital, nursing home, or home for those in need. OCIA accompanies adults into full initiation.
- Baptism after weekend Mass + prep class
- Marriage: 6-month notice; Pre-Cana required
- Anointing of the Sick and Communion for the sick/homebound
- OCIA for unbaptized, other Christians, and uncatechized Catholics
Parish Outreach: Emergency Meals, Landscaping & Young Adult Group
Hands-on service ministries are a daily expression of the parish mission. The Emergency Meals program delivers prepared meals to parish families dealing with illness, birth, or crisis (contact Becky Stedman at 315-401-6295). The Landscaping Ministry cares for the church grounds under Robert D'Addario (607-745-6585). A new Young Adult Group and ongoing Youth Group provide community and formation for parishioners from their teens through their twenties.
- Emergency Meals — Becky Stedman 315-401-6295
- Landscaping Ministry — Robert D'Addario 607-745-6585
- Youth Group
- Young Adult Group (sign-up via QR code in bulletin)
Visiting, Joining & Contacting the Parish
St. Anthony's bulletin greets new faces warmly: "We Always Welcome New Parishioners — please introduce yourselves, register at the Parish Center and let us know what we can do to make you feel right at home!" Office hours at 59 N. Main Street are Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Friday and Saturday closed). An emergency line is staffed at 607-756-2494.
- Parish Center: 59 N. Main Street, Cortland, NY 13045
- Phone: 607-756-9967 • Fax: 607-753-3444
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–3 PM
- Emergency line: 607-756-2494
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Vincenzo Penta1917–1927
Italian-born founder of St. Anthony's Italian Roman Catholic Church on June 10, 1917.
- Father Bindo Binazzi1927–1932
- Father Carmen Monteleone1932–1948
- Father Joseph Delahunt1948–1960
- Father Carl Denti1960–1971
- Father Alexander Pilla1971–1981
- Father Carlo Stirpe1981–1995
- Father Jerome Katz1995–2003
- Father Mark Kaminski2003–2011
- Father Lucian Urbaniak2011–2013
- Father Joseph Zareski2013–
Led the parish's centennial celebrations in 2017, including the Centennial Mass with Bishop Robert J. Cunningham.