About St. Bridget. St. Benedict Parish. · East Bloomfield, New York
St. Benedict Parish is a multi-site Roman Catholic community in Ontario County, New York, formed in June 2012 from the merger of St. Mary Parish in Canandaigua and St. Bridget/St. Joseph Parish in East Bloomfield. It is part of the Diocese of Rochester and serves worshippers at St. Bridget's Church (15 Church Street, Bloomfield/East Bloomfield) and St. Mary's Church (95 N. Main Street, Canandaigua), alongside the parish's elementary school, St. Mary's School, located at 16 Gibson Street in Canandaigua. The parish describes itself as 'a vibrant religious community with rich worship, an exceptional and established parochial school, many active ministries, and lively activities,' with Mass celebrated daily at one of the two historic church buildings.
- Established
- 2012 (parish formed 2012; St. Bridget's predecessor parish founded 1850; St. Mary's predecessor parish founded 1844)
- Patron
- St. Benedict of Nursia (parish patron); St. Bridget of Kildare and St. Joseph are patrons of the two predecessor worship sites
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Costik (Pastor)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
St. Benedict Parish offers the rare combination of two historic, active worship sites — St. Bridget's (1850) in Bloomfield and St. Mary's (1844) in Canandaigua — together with St. Mary's School, a long-running Catholic elementary school (preschool through grade 6) celebrating more than 175 years of Catholic education in the Finger Lakes. Daily Mass is offered in both churches throughout the week, confession is regularly scheduled at each site, and the parish supports an unusually broad ministry roster — the Blessing Room food pantry at St. Bridget's Hall, Knights of Columbus, Stephen Ministry, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Catholic Men's Group, Women's Prayer Ministry, Walking with Purpose, Ministry of Motherhood, and a young-adult ministry — alongside a robust faith-formation program for children through teens.
Mass times at St. Bridget. St. Benedict Parish.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm in St. Bridget's Church
- Saturdays 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm in St. Mary's Church
About St. Benedict Parish
St. Benedict Parish is a multi-site Roman Catholic community in the heart of the Finger Lakes, anchored by two historic worship sites — St. Bridget's in Bloomfield and St. Mary's in Canandaigua — and St. Mary's School. The parish website opens with the invitation, 'Welcome home! Whether you are new to the area, are just joining the Catholic Church, or are a long-time parishioner, welcome home! All are welcome!' Visitor-friendly PDFs offer self-guided tours of both churches when they are open and not in use.
- St. Bridget's Church, 15 Church St., Bloomfield, NY 14469
- St. Mary's Church, 95 N. Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424
- St. Mary's School, 16 Gibson St., Canandaigua, NY 14424
- Parish Administration Center, 95 N. Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424
- Phone: 585-394-1220
History
The parish is the 2012 product of two deeply rooted Catholic communities. St. Bridget's was founded by Irish immigrants in 1850; its present brick church was built 1874–1875 to the designs of the Neenan Brothers and dedicated by Bishop Bernard McQuaid. St. Mary's in Canandaigua was founded in 1844 with 15 Catholic families; its school has run continuously since 1849, and the current church was completed in 1905. Decades of cooperation between the parishes culminated on June 21, 2012, when Bishop Matthew H. Clark decreed their merger into St. Benedict Parish.
- 1850 — St. Bridget Parish organized in East Bloomfield by Irish immigrants
- 1852 — First St. Bridget's Church built
- 1874–1875 — Present St. Bridget's brick church built under Father William Hughes (architect: Neenan Brothers); dedicated June 13, 1875 by Bishop Bernard McQuaid
- 1844 — St. Mary's Parish founded in Canandaigua (15 Catholic families)
- 1845 — First St. Mary's Church built
- 1849 — St. Mary School founded
- 1905 — Current St. Mary's Church completed
- 1956 — St. Joseph established in West Bloomfield as a mission of St. Bridget
- 1990/1991 — St. Bridget and St. Joseph merged into St. Bridget/St. Joseph Parish
- Aug. 28, 1992 — St. Bridget's Roman Catholic Church Complex added to the National Register of Historic Places
- 2007 — St. Mary's and St. Bridget/St. Joseph formally clustered under Father Thomas Mull
- June 21, 2012 — Bishop Matthew H. Clark decrees the merger forming St. Benedict Parish
Worship Sites
The parish keeps two churches open — one in Bloomfield and one in Canandaigua — so parishioners can worship at whichever site is most convenient. The Diocesan pastoral directory and the parish website both list both addresses as part of the single parish.
- St. Bridget's Church — 15 Church Street, Bloomfield, NY 14469 (NRHP-listed Victorian brick complex; designed by Neenan Brothers)
- St. Mary's Church — 95 N. Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424 (1905 church)
- Self-guided tour PDFs for both churches are linked from the 'About Us' page on stbenedictonline.org
Clergy & Staff
The parish is pastored by Father Michael Costik, with Father Simon Atta Denchira serving as Parochial Vicar, according to the Diocese of Rochester's Pastoral Services Directory. Jennifer Abdalla serves as Director of Parish Ministries and Sarah Herendeen as Director of Faith Formation ([email protected], ext. 109). Mike Gallagher leads the Catholic Men's Group; Andrea DiCarlo facilitates the Women's Prayer Ministry; Mary Ellen Gysel and John Guilford lead the Prayer Shawl Ministry; and Becky Underwood coordinates the Blessing Room.
- Rev. Michael Costik — Pastor
- Rev. Simon Atta Denchira — Parochial Vicar
- Jennifer Abdalla — Director of Parish Ministries (585-394-1220 x141)
- Sarah Herendeen — Director of Faith Formation (585-394-1220 x109)
Faith Formation & Youth
Faith Formation at St. Benedict Parish serves children from Pre-K through Grade 12, with separate programs for elementary, junior high, and teens. The 2025–2026 welcome video and weekly Gospel reflection videos help families continue formation at home and remain connected to the parish community. A summer Vacation Bible School is offered annually. St. Mary's School (preschool–Grade 6) provides day-to-day Catholic education on Gibson Street in Canandaigua.
- Faith Formation (Pre-K – Grade 5)
- Jr. High Youth Group (Grades 6 & 7)
- Teen Youth Group (Grades 8 – 12)
- Vacation Bible School (annual)
- Weekly Gospel Reflection Videos for all parishioners
- St. Mary's School — preschool through Grade 6, celebrating 175+ years of Catholic education
- Director of Faith Formation: Sarah Herendeen, 585-394-1220 x109, [email protected]
Parish Ministries
The parish website promotes dozens of ministries across the spiritual, charitable, and communal life of St. Benedict. Highlights include the Blessing Room food pantry at St. Bridget's Hall, Stephen Ministry for one-on-one care, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, Catholic Men's Group, Walking with Purpose, Ministry of Motherhood, Women's Prayer Ministry, and a Young Adult ministry. Liturgical roles (Lectors, EMs, Altar Servers, Sacristans, Ushers, Choir) round out the worship team.
- Blessing Room Food Pantry (St. Bridget's Church Hall, Bloomfield)
- Catholic Men's Group — third Wednesdays, 7 pm, Dougherty Hall + Zoom
- Stephen Ministry (15 trained lay caregivers)
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 2–4 pm, Dougherty Hall
- Walking with Purpose — most Thursdays, 6 pm
- Ministry of Motherhood — monthly home gatherings
- Women's Prayer Ministry — every third Monday, 6:30 pm, Halloran Chapel
- Young Adult Ministry — quarterly socials and coffee hours after the 9 am Sunday Mass at St. Mary's
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Knights of Columbus
- Liturgical ministries (Lectors, EMs, Altar Servers, Sacristans, Choir, Ushers)
Outreach & Charity
The parish has a long tradition of feeding its neighbors. The Blessing Room food pantry at St. Bridget's Hall has been in operation since the 1970s and serves all who live in the Bloomfield School District, distributing meat, refrigerated items, canned goods, and fresh produce (much of it donated by local farmers). Each year, Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets — with toys, jackets, and holiday food — are distributed to hundreds of families. The parish also hosts the Foodlink Mobile Pantry in its parking lot six times a year (May–October) and in August co-hosts the Lion's Club 'Unity in the Community' back-to-school program offering supplies, free eye exams, and haircuts. St. Benedict Parish is a founding member of Canandaigua Churches in Action (CCIA), which gathers thirteen area churches around shared spiritual and physical-need ministries.
- Blessing Room: Wed & Sat 10 am–noon; Fri 4–6 pm, St. Bridget's Church Hall, 15 Church Street
- Foodlink Mobile Pantry at St. Bridget's (May–October, six times/year)
- Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets (300+ families served)
- August 'Unity in the Community' back-to-school event with the Lion's Club
- Canandaigua Churches in Action (CCIA) — founding member; office at 120 N. Main St., Canandaigua
- Migrant Ministry
- Knights of Columbus volunteering (transports food to the Blessing Room, supports St. Mary's School fundraisers)
Sacraments & Sacramental Prep
Sacramental preparation is coordinated through the Faith Formation office. In addition to ongoing sacramental prep, the parish periodically schedules an Anointing Mass (a healing Mass for physical, emotional, or spiritual need). Confession is offered weekly in both churches. Couples preparing for marriage and families preparing for Baptism are invited to contact the parish office through stbenedictonline.org.
- Baptism preparation
- First Communion / First Reconciliation
- Confirmation
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick (Anointing Masses scheduled periodically)
- Confession: Wednesdays 5:30–6:30 pm at St. Bridget's; Saturdays 3:45–4:45 pm at St. Mary's
Communications & Parish Life
The parish maintains an extensive print and digital presence. The bulletin has been published weekly since at least 2016 and is archived in full on the parish website. Parishioners stay informed through the bulletin and Flocknotes email updates. Online registration is offered through stbenedictonline.org for those wishing to formally join the parish.
- Online parish registration via stbenedictonline.org
- Weekly bulletin (archived PDFs from 2016 through the present)
- Flocknotes email updates referenced in ministry descriptions
- Self-guided tour PDFs for St. Bridget's and St. Mary's churches
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at both worship sites. Self-guided tour PDFs are available on the website to help guests learn about the historic features of each church. Office hours at the Parish Administration Center run Monday through Friday with a midday lunch break.
- Parish Administration Center — 95 N. Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424
- Phone: 585-394-1220 · Fax: 585-396-3230
- Office Hours: Mon 9 am–12 pm & 1–4 pm; Tue–Thu 9:30 am–12 pm & 1–4:30 pm; Fri 9 am–12:30 pm & 1–2 pm
- St. Mary's School — 16 Gibson St., Canandaigua — 585-394-4300
- St. Bridget's Church — 15 Church St., Bloomfield, NY 14469
- Diocese of Rochester Safe Environment link available in the parish footer
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William Hughes1874–1875 (building of present St. Bridget's church)
Directed construction of the present St. Bridget's Church in East Bloomfield; the building was dedicated June 13, 1875 by Bishop Bernard McQuaid.
- Rev. Thomas MullPastored St. Mary's from 2000; oversaw the merger forming St. Benedict Parish in 2012
Began cooperating with Sister Diane Dennie, SSJ, pastoral administrator at St. Bridget/St. Joseph, in 2000; formally clustered the two parishes in 2007; led them into the new St. Benedict Parish with Bishop Matthew H. Clark's decree of June 21, 2012.
- Rev. Michael CostikCurrent pastor
Listed as Pastor of St. Benedict Parish on the Diocese of Rochester Pastoral Services Directory.