About St. Anthony & St. Agnes · Utica, New York
St. Anthony & St. Agnes is a Roman Catholic parish in East Utica, New York, served from a single worship site at 422 Tilden Avenue in a 1928 Romanesque-Lombard style church. Founded in 1911 by Italian immigrants from southern Italy, the parish continues to honor its founders' patron saints — St. Anthony of Padua, Sts. Cosmas & Damian, and St. Theresa — and its annual September Feast of Saints Cosmas & Damian draws thousands of the faithful from across the country and Canada. The parish is today led by Rev. Jim Cesta, pastor since July 2023, and belongs to the Diocese of Syracuse.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua (joint patron with St. Agnes, following the 2008 merger)
- Rector
- Rev. Jim Cesta
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
St. Anthony & St. Agnes is a welcoming parish rooted in Italian Catholic heritage but today home to many ethnicities, all united by devotion to the Eucharist and to the healing Saints Cosmas & Damian. The parish offers a complete sacramental life — weekly Masses in English, Saturday confessions, Baptism, Marriage preparation with the pastor, First Communion and Confirmation programs, and visits to the sick and homebound — alongside strong K-10 faith formation and a partnership in the Greater Utica Catholic Teen Formation Program. With an attentive priest, dedicated deacon, music ministry, and the deeply loved September Feast of Saints Cosmas & Damian, it is a community where families can grow in faith together.
Mass times at St. Anthony & St. Agnes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45 p.m. (Reconciliation before Vigil Mass)
Our Story: From 1911 Italian Immigrant Parish to Today's St. Anthony & St. Agnes
St. Anthony & St. Agnes was founded in 1911 when Italian immigrants in East Utica — with the encouragement of Elizabeth Butler Kernan, daughter of U.S. Senator Francis Kernan — formed the St. Anthony Society and bought land on the former Devereux farm for $2,500. Monsignor James Lynch celebrated the parish's first Mass on Christmas Eve 1911, with Bishop John Grimes presiding. A Romanesque-Lombard style church, designed by Leslie Devereux, was not raised until 1928; that building, with its tower and half-ton bell, is the church parishioners know today. After a 1947 fire nearly destroyed the interior, the building was refurbished within five months and continued to serve the community, including through a parish school that ran from 1954 to 1976. The companion parish of St. Agnes had been founded in 1887; on January 21, 2008, the Diocese of Syracuse merged St. Agnes into St. Anthony of Padua to form the present-day Parish of St. Anthony & St. Agnes with one worship site at 422 Tilden Avenue.
- Founded Christmas Eve 1911; first Mass offered by Monsignor James Lynch
- Land purchased from the Devereux farm for $2,500
- 1928: Romanesque-Lombard style church designed by Leslie Devereux; tower houses a half-ton bell still in use
- 1947: Fire nearly destroys the building; refurbished within five months
- 1954–1976: Parish operates its own school
- January 21, 2008: Merger of St. Agnes (est. 1887) and St. Anthony of Padua into today's parish
- 2011–2012: Centennial celebration
Italian Heritage & the Feast of Saints Cosmas & Damian
The parish's founding immigrants brought their most treasured saints with them — St. Anthony of Padua, Sts. Cosmas & Damian, and St. Theresa — and that devotion continues. Sts. Cosmas & Damian, the patron saints of doctors, are two fourth-century brothers who gave their services as physicians to the poor and died as martyrs for the faith. The annual Feast of Saints Cosmas & Damian, observed every September since 1912, is one of the largest Italian Catholic devotions in upstate New York: a triduum of special Masses, Italian festival food, and a Grand Procession through East Utica with statues of the saints. By the parish's own count, the weekend regularly draws between 10,000 and 14,000 pilgrims, including visitors from across the country and Toronto who credit the saints with healings and miracles in their families.
- Devotion brought from southern Italy; observed at St. Anthony's since 1912
- Annual weekend includes triduum, procession with saint statues, and Italian food festival
- Annual attendance of 10,000–14,000 pilgrims
- St. Anthony's bread distribution on the parish's feast day
Parish Staff, Deacons & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is led by Rev. Jim Cesta, who also serves as pastor of St. Mary of Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament and, beginning in July 2023, assumed the pastorship of St. Anthony & St. Agnes. Deacon William R. Dischiavo serves as Deacon and Parish Office Manager. The staff team includes Rick Hensel (Youth Ministry / Parish Business) and Tori (Guzski) Hensel (Catechesis), Michael Riccardi (Music Ministry), Joe Schmitt (Maintenance), and sacristan Walter Siegenthaler. Office volunteers Tania Montana, Judith Rosato, and Maria Viggiano keep the rectory running. Tania Montana also serves as Pastoral Council President; Rosemary Roy and Andrew Voce serve as Trustees.
- Pastor: Rev. Jim Cesta
- Deacon / Parish Office Manager: Rev. Mr. William R. Dischiavo
- Youth Ministry / Parish Business: Rick Hensel
- Catechesis: Tori (Guzski) Hensel
- Music Ministry: Michael Riccardi
- Maintenance: Joe Schmitt
- Sacristan: Walter Siegenthaler
- Office Volunteers: Tania Montana (Wed.), Judith Rosato (Mon. – bulletin), Maria Viggiano (Tue.)
- Pastoral Council President: Tania Montana
- Trustees: Rosemary Roy and Andrew Voce
Sacramental Life
St. Anthony & St. Agnes celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church. Baptisms are scheduled once each month. Weddings must be scheduled at least six months in advance and begin with a meeting with Father Cesta. First Communion is a two-year program for children generally enrolled in both first- and second-grade Faith Formation; Confirmation is also a two-year program delivered through the Greater Utica Catholic Teen Formation Program, with the sacrament typically conferred in 10th grade. The parish also makes regular Visits to the Sick and Homebound, arranged through the parish office. Mass Intentions are scheduled at least five weeks in advance; bulletin announcements are due at least two weeks in advance.
- Baptism — monthly; contact Parish Office
- Marriage — 6 months in advance; appointment with Fr. Cesta
- First Communion — 2-year preparation
- Confirmation — 2-year preparation, typically in 10th grade
- Visits to the Sick & Homebound — by arrangement
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:45 p.m.
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Catechesis for the children of the parish is a key part of its evangelizing mission. Children in kindergarten through sixth grade meet Sunday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., October through April, in the Mahaney Church Hall, taught under the direction of catechetical leader Tori Hensel. The parish is also a proud partner of the Greater Utica Catholic Teen Formation Program — a collaboration of six Utica-area parishes (St. Anthony & St. Agnes, Mt. Carmel / Blessed Sacrament, Historic Old St. John's, St. Joseph & St. Patrick, Sacred Heart & St. Mary's, and Mary, Mother of Our Savior). Grades 7-8 meet at Mt. Carmel / Blessed Sacrament on Sundays, 12:15–1:45 p.m., with Confirmation preparation occurring in grades 9-10. Regardless of the class site selected by families, the registration form and sacrament are administered through St. Anthony & St. Agnes with coordinator Rick Hensel.
- K-6 Faith Formation: Sundays 10:30–11:30 a.m., October–April, Mahaney Church Hall (Tori Hensel)
- Grades 7-8: Greater Utica Catholic Teen Formation at Mt. Carmel / Blessed Sacrament, Sundays 12:15–1:45 p.m.
- Confirmation Prep (Grades 9-10): 2-year program through the Teen Formation collaborative
- Sacrament typically received in 10th grade with the teen's home parish
- K-10 Faith Formation Registration Form available on the parish website
Music, Liturgy & Devotions
Music Ministry is led by Michael Riccardi. The parish's liturgical life is rounded out by the long-standing Italian-Catholic devotions the founders brought from southern Italy — most prominently the September Feast of Saints Cosmas & Damian and the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua (June 13) with its triduum and distribution of St. Anthony's bread.
- Music Ministry Director: Michael Riccardi
- Sacristan: Walter Siegenthaler
- Annual Feast of St. Anthony of Padua with triduum and bread distribution
- Annual September Feast of Saints Cosmas & Damian with triduum, Italian festival and Grand Procession
Giving, Office & Practical Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (315) 732-1177, open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Mass Intentions should be requested at least five weeks in advance; bulletin announcements are due at least two weeks ahead. Parish correspondence is handled through [email protected]. Weekly bulletins are posted on the parish website, and a YouTube channel (@stanthonyutica5430) carries parish video content.
- Parish office phone: (315) 732-1177
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stanthonystagnes.com
- YouTube: @stanthonyutica5430
- Mass Intentions: at least 5 weeks in advance
- Bulletin announcements: at least 2 weeks in advance
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Alfred Roth1911–
Founding pastor; a native of Durhamville
- Msgr. Carl J. Denti1971–1987
Late; served 16 years
- Rev. Anthony La Fache–2012
Pastor at the parish's centennial in 2011–2012
- Msgr. Francis Willenburg
In residence after the 2008 merger with St. Agnes (his former parish)
- Rev. Jim Cesta2023–present
Also pastor of St. Mary of Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament since July 2009; assumed St. Anthony & St. Agnes in July 2023; celebrated 50th jubilee in 2024