About St. Augustine · Baldwinsville, New York
St. Augustine's is a Roman Catholic parish in Baldwinsville, New York, belonging to the Diocese of Syracuse. Founded in 1966 from a mission started by neighboring St. Mary's Parish, it now serves over 800 families from its campus on O'Brien Road, where the present church was dedicated in December 1985. The parish shares worship, faith formation, and youth ministry with two neighboring Baldwinsville parishes, St. Mary's and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and is currently led by the Most Rev. Douglas J. Lucia, the Bishop of Syracuse, as pastor, with Fr. Benjamin Schrantz serving as parochial vicar.
- Established
- 1966
- Patron
- St. Augustine
- Rector
- Most Rev. Douglas J. Lucia (Bishop of Syracuse, serving as pastor)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
St. Augustine's is a busy, involved, deeply Catholic community where more than a third of regular parishioners serve in a ministry at least once a week. The parish runs a covenant-based ministry model across four pillars — Stewardship, Parish Outreach, Parish Life & Worship, and Spiritual Development — so newcomers can find a place in faith formation, youth ministry, liturgical service, or outreach to the poor. Sharing worship and youth ministry with neighboring St. Mary's and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton means families in the Baldwinsville area have access to a wide network of programs while still belonging to a close-knit parish of over 800 families.
Mass times at St. Augustine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 10:00 am at St. Augustine's (after the morning Mass)
- Saturday: 4:00 pm at St. Mary's
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm (rotating among St. Augustine's, St. Mary's, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton)
- First Friday is marked by special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
About St. Augustine's Parish
St. Augustine's is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Syracuse located at 7333 O'Brien Road in Baldwinsville, NY, serving more than 800 families. The parish's mission statement declares: 'St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Christian community is rooted in Jesus the Christ and embraces the values of peace, justice, and love. As a people of Word and Sacrament and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we strive to act as Jesus would. We reach out in faith, prayer, support, and service to all, while fostering our spiritual growth. We are an active, welcoming parish, sharing our gifts and talents.' The parish is led by Bishop Douglas J. Lucia as pastor (the current Bishop of Syracuse) and Fr. Benjamin Schrantz as parochial vicar.
- Address: 7333 O'Brien Road, Baldwinsville, NY 13027
- Phone: (315) 638-0585
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese: Syracuse
- Pastor: Most Rev. Douglas J. Lucia
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Benjamin Schrantz
Parish History
The story of St. Augustine's begins in 1964 when St. Mary's Parish of Baldwinsville, under Msgr. John B. Daley, bought 10 acres on O'Brien Road and built a Catechetical Center. In 1966 Bishop Walter A. Forey created St. Augustine's as a new parish and appointed Fr. John J. Daley as its first pastor. Over the following decades the parish built a rectory (1967), a Religious Education Center (1969), the Parish Hall (1973–1981, much of it volunteer-built), and finally the present church, dedicated by Bishop Frank J. Harrison in December 1985. The Pastoral Center followed in 1999.
- 1964: St. Mary's purchases 10 acres on O'Brien Road; Catechetical Center built
- 1966: Parish created by Bishop Walter A. Forey; Fr. John J. Daley named first pastor
- 1967: Rectory built
- 1969: Religious Education Center built
- 1973–1981: Parish Hall built in stages by parishioners
- 1985: Present church dedicated by Bishop Frank J. Harrison
- 1999: Pastoral Center completed
- 2008: Linked with St. Mary's Baldwinsville
- 2010: Delinked from St. Mary's; linked with Diocesan Office of Seminarian Formation
Covenants — Putting Our Mission Into Action
Each year parishioners are invited to sign a covenant committing to serve in one or more ministries for a year. The parish holds 'Covenant Sunday' in the Parish Hall after the 10:30 am Mass once a year, where ministry leaders share information and answer questions; booklets and covenant forms are available at church entrances and online. Adult and youth covenant forms are available, and parishioners are asked to complete a new covenant form each year since renewal is not automatic.
- Annual covenant commitment to a ministry
- Covenant Sunday held in the Parish Hall
- Adult and Youth covenant forms available
- Over a third of regular parishioners involved in a ministry at least once a week
Stewardship Ministries
The Stewardship Ministry makes recommendations to the Pastoral Council on all aspects of parish finance and budget — personnel, stewardship of resources, church and fundraising coordination, and upkeep of physical facilities and properties — rooted in the Biblical concept of stewardship. The parish is led by Sharon App, Stewardship Ministries Representative.
- Sharon App — Stewardship Ministries Representative
- Finance and budget recommendations
- Stewardship of resources and facilities
Parish Outreach Ministries — Sharing the Love of Christ
The Parish Outreach Ministries discern the needs of persons in the parish and wider community, especially the poor, and identify resources to meet these needs, enlisting the active cooperation of parishioners. They acknowledge our baptismal call to service and work for justice, with a twofold scope: meeting immediate needs and working for changes in structures of society. Peggy Ford serves as Parish Outreach Ministries Representative.
- Peggy Ford — Parish Outreach Ministries Representative
- Service to the poor and vulnerable
- Working for justice and structural change
Parish Life & Worship Ministries
The Parish Life & Worship Ministries nourish and give direction to the liturgical life of the parish, ensuring parishioners have opportunities to deepen their faith through prayer experiences and liturgical celebrations. All ministers are required to complete Safe Environment Training. Cece Kurpita serves as Parish Life & Worship Representative.
- Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers
- Art & Environment
- Liturgy Committee
- Music Ministry
- Cece Kurpita — Parish Life & Worship Representative
- Safe Environment Training required for all ministers
Spiritual Development Ministries
Spiritual Development is described as a life-long process aimed at personal conversion and growth in faith. These ministries design, implement, and evaluate the total Catholic Christian educational and formational process in the parish — sacramental preparation, formational and educational programs for adults, youth and children, and various spiritual and social opportunities. Darlene St. John serves as Spiritual Development Ministries Representative.
- Faith Formation — Grades 1–5 (twice-monthly, Sunday morning or Monday 7–8 pm)
- Faith Formation — Grades 6+ including Confirmation prep (monthly Sunday evenings with 5 pm Mass, dinner, and learning session)
- Sacramental Preparation Teams — First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation
- Special Education Catechists
- Shared Youth Ministry (grades 6–12) with St. Mary's and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Bible Study
- Darlene St. John — Spiritual Development Ministries Representative
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Augustine's runs its faith formation program in collaboration with neighboring St. Mary's and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Elementary grades 1–5 meet twice a month for an hour either Sunday morning or Monday 7:00–8:00 pm, with a 'Living the Lesson' monthly family activity to connect church and home. Grades 6 and higher meet once a month on Sunday evenings, beginning with a 5:00 pm Mass attended with families, followed by dinner, fellowship, and a learning session ending at 8:00 pm. The parishes also share a professional Youth Minister for grades 6–12 across the three parishes, supported by an adult volunteer team.
- Elementary (Grades 1–5): twice-monthly, Sunday morning or Monday 7–8 pm
- Middle/High School (Grades 6+): monthly Sunday evenings, 5:00 pm Mass, dinner, learning session
- Living the Lesson monthly family activity
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist direct preparation
- Confirmation preparation included in grades 6+ program
- Special Education accommodations available
Pastoral Council & Governance
The Pastoral Council is an advisory board to the pastoral leadership team that plans for the future of the parish while staying true to its mission. It serves as a unifying body for the parish's organizations and activities, helps establish vision and goals, and advises and makes recommendations to the pastor. Members serve three-year terms and the council meets once a month.
- Lyn Pinto — Diocesan Pastoral Council Representative
- Kathy Fisselbrand — Delegate-at-Large
- Angie Banes — Staff Representative
- Elizabeth Case — Staff Representative
- Sharon App — Stewardship Ministries Representative
- Peggy Ford — Parish Outreach Ministries Representative
- Cece Kurpita — Parish Life & Worship Representative
- Darlene St. John — Spiritual Development Ministries Representative
- Members serve 3-year terms; council meets monthly
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish by phone at (315) 638-0585, by fax at (315) 635-0931, or by email at [email protected]. The church building is open Monday–Thursday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and the Parish Office is staffed Monday–Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The parish also publishes weekly bulletins, Mass Intentions, funeral planning resources, and a Thursday email newsletter through its website.
- Phone: (315) 638-0585
- Fax: (315) 635-0931
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: staugustinesparish.org
- Church hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Parish Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Weekly email newsletter on Thursdays
- Facebook: facebook.com/staugustinesparishbville
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John J. Daley1966–1973
First pastor; founding pastor of the new parish, previously served St. Mary's Baldwinsville as Msgr. John B. Daley
- Father Thomas J. McLaughlin1973–1989
Second pastor; greatly expanded the parish and rebuilt the interior of the original center into a church
- Rev. Msgr. Paul A. Brigandi1989–1991
Third pastor
- Rev. John F. Rose1991–2003
Fourth pastor
- Rev. Paul Alciati2003–2008
Fifth pastor
- Rev. Abraham Esper2008–2010
Pastor of St. Augustine's and St. Mary's linked parishes
- Fr. Tom Servatius2010–
Came to the parish via a linkage with the Syracuse Diocesan Office of Seminarian Formation