About St. Brigid · Bergen, New York
St. Brigid Catholic Church sits at 18 Gibson Street in the village of Bergen, Genesee County, New York, and has served local Catholics since 1861. It is a worship site of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and, since 2008, has been administratively partnered with Our Lady of Mercy Parish in nearby LeRoy as 'TWO parishes and ONE Catholic Family.' The church is cared for by priests of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy (the Mercedarians, O. de M.), whose distinctive presence is reflected in the Mercedarian Salve recited before the Saturday Mass at the LeRoy site. Though a small parish of about 119 families, St. Brigid keeps a full schedule of weekend and weekday Masses, First Sunday Eucharistic Adoration, Lenten Stations of the Cross, and a Saturday Vigil with the Rosary prayed in church beforehand.
- Established
- 1861
- Patron
- St. Brigid of Kildare (Ireland)
- Rector
- Rev. Scottston F. Brentwood, O. de M., JCL — Priest In Solidum & Moderator of Genesee/Wyoming Vicariate Family #12 (effective June 5, 2023)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Brigid offers a warm, traditional Catholic worship life in the heart of Bergen — Saturday Vigil Mass with the Rosary prayed in church beforehand, a Tuesday and Thursday weekday Mass, First Sunday Eucharistic Adoration and a Holy Hour for Our Nation, and Lenten Stations of the Cross. Although small (about 119 families), the parish punches above its weight through its partnership with Our Lady of Mercy in LeRoy: shared Mercedarian and diocesan clergy, a robust Faith Formation program and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium, a weekly Adult Faith Formation study, a Knights of Columbus council, and a year-round 'Deacon's Closet' that lends medical equipment free of charge to those in need. It is an ideal parish for anyone seeking an intimate, family-style Catholic community in Genesee County with deep roots (since 1861) and direct apostolic-Mercatian spirituality.
Mass times at St. Brigid
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:00–2:30 PM (per the parish / Diocese of Buffalo directory)
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM (per the parish Mass-Times page)
Adoration times
- First Sundays of the month: Eucharistic Adoration following the 9:00 AM Mass
- First Sundays at 2:30 PM: Rosary and Holy Hour for Our Nation, ending with Eucharistic Benediction and Reposition at approximately 3:30 PM
- Adoration paused during summer (June–August) and resumes in September
About Our Parish — Two Parishes, One Catholic Family
The official website opens its 'About Our Parish' page with a clear identity statement: 'Strictly speaking, we are TWO parishes and ONE Catholic Family.' In July 2008, the Diocese of Buffalo created the parish of Our Lady of Mercy from the merger of St. Peter's and St. Joseph's Catholic Churches in LeRoy together with St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lime Rock. The newly formed Our Lady of Mercy was then administratively partnered with St. Brigid Catholic Church on Gibson Street in Bergen, which itself had recently absorbed St. Michael's Mission in South Byron. After the sale of St. Joseph's Oratory, all Our Lady of Mercy activities moved to the former St. Peter's/Holy Family School campus in LeRoy; St. Brigid kept its own liturgies and ministries in Bergen. The shared administrative offices are at 44 Lake Street, LeRoy, and the two communities describe themselves as 'blessed by our partnership in living our Catholic Faith and striving to bring Christ to our extended community in Genesee County.'
- Our Lady of Mercy Parish established July 2008 from St. Peter's, St. Joseph's (LeRoy) and St. Anthony (Lime Rock)
- St. Brigid administratively partnered with Our Lady of Mercy at the same time
- St. Brigid had recently merged with St. Michael's Mission, South Byron
- Shared parish office: 44 Lake Street, LeRoy, NY 14482
History
St. Brigid was established in 1861 in the village of Bergen and is one of the older Catholic parishes in Genesee County. Sacramental records preserved by the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society date back to 1871. For most of its history St. Brigid was an independent parish; only in the 2000s did it enter the wave of mergers that has reshaped western New York Catholic life, first absorbing St. Michael's Mission in South Byron and then joining Our Lady of Mercy in LeRoy as part of a single administrative family. Since June 5, 2023 it has belonged to Genesee/Wyoming Vicariate Family #12 of the Diocese of Buffalo under the 'Road to Renewal' restructuring.
- Founded 1861
- Sacramental records from 1871 preserved at the NY Genealogical & Biographical Society
- Merged with St. Michael's Mission, South Byron, before 2008
- Joined Our Lady of Mercy Family in July 2008
- Part of Vicariate Family #12 since June 5, 2023
Clergy and Staff
St. Brigid is pastored as part of Genesee/Wyoming Vicariate Family #12 by Mercedarian (O. de M.) and diocesan priests in solidum. The current Moderator is Rev. Scottston F. Brentwood, O. de M., JCL. He is assisted by a Senior Parochial Vicar, two additional Parochial Vicars (one a Mercedarian, one diocesan), and a Religious Brother of the Order of Mercy. Four permanent deacons serve the family of parishes. Pastoral staff also include a Director of Religious Education (Denise Spadaccia, also the youth minister) and a Catechist for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Chelsea Fink).
- Rev. Scottston F. Brentwood, O. de M., JCL — Moderator
- Rev. Matthew J. Zirnheld — Senior Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Eugene Costa, O. de M. — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Patrick T. O'Keefe — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Kenneth Breen, O. de M. — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Todd Bowman; Deacon David C. Ehrhart; Deacon Henry E. Moscicki; Deacon Walter Szczesny
- Br. Raymond J. Colombaro, O. de M.
- Denise Spadaccia — DRE / Youth Minister ([email protected])
- Chelsea Fink — CGS Catechist ([email protected])
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation for the children of St. Brigid and Our Lady of Mercy is coordinated through Denise Spadaccia, the Director of Religious Education and Youth Minister ([email protected], 585-768-6543 ext. 103). Parents are explicitly recognized as 'the primary teachers of your children,' and catechists are present to support them. Preparation classes for First Reconciliation and First Communion are required for both parents and children.
- Director of Religious Education: Denise Spadaccia
- Sacrament Preparation classes for First Reconciliation and First Communion
- Family of Parishes shared faith-formation calendar
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS)
St. Brigid/Our Lady of Mercy runs a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) atrium using the Montessori-based Level 1 atrium model. The program is open to children from all parishes and is led by catechist Chelsea Fink. The CGS page links to the United States Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for further reading and publishes a calendar and wish list for the atrium.
- Catechist: Chelsea Fink — [email protected]
- Level 1 Atrium (Montessori-based)
- Open to children from all parishes
- 2025–2026 CGS calendar published on the website
Adult Faith Formation
Adult Faith Formation meets Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, both in person at the Our Lady of Mercy Parish Center and online via Zoom, so parishioners can join 'from the comfort of your home.' Recent studies have been five-week series with video presentation and discussion, often paired with optional books and workbooks. The parish also promotes Formed.org ('The Catholic Faith on Demand') and Lenten studies like 'Will You Follow Jesus to Calvary?'.
- Wednesday evenings 6:30–8:00 PM (Zoom and in-person)
- Multi-week studies with optional books/workbooks
- Formed.org access promoted to parishioners
- Contact: Denise Spadaccia, [email protected], 585-768-6543
Outreach and Charity — The Deacon's Closet
One of the most distinctive outreach ministries is the Deacon's Closet, which is available year-round. Its purpose is to assist those who cannot afford medically needed equipment for in-home care — wheelchairs, canes, walkers, commodes, and similar items. There is no charge to borrow equipment.
- Lends wheelchairs, canes, walkers, and commodes
- No charge for use
- Contact: 585-813-3588
Knights of Columbus
The parish's 'What's Happening' page notes that the Knights of Columbus council meets on the Third Tuesday of each month at the K of C Hall. The council is part of the broader Catholic men's apostolate supporting the parish and surrounding community.
- Third Tuesday of the month at the K of C Hall
Family of Parishes and Diocese of Buffalo
St. Brigid is part of Genesee/Wyoming Vicariate Family #12 in the Diocese of Buffalo. The other parishes in the same Family are Resurrection (Batavia), Ascension (Batavia), Our Lady of Mercy (LeRoy), and St. Padre Pio (Oakfield). Under the 'Road to Renewal' model, priests are assigned 'in solidum' to the whole family, with a Moderator exercising administrative coordination. Fr. Scottston F. Brentwood, O. de M., JCL is the current Moderator; Fr. Matthew J. Zirnheld is Senior Parochial Vicar; the team includes Mercedarian and diocesan parochial vicars, four permanent deacons, and a Religious Brother.
- Diocese of Buffalo — Genesee/Wyoming Vicariate Family #12
- Family parishes: St. Brigid (Bergen), Resurrection (Batavia), Ascension (Batavia), Our Lady of Mercy (LeRoy), St. Padre Pio (Oakfield)
- 'Road to Renewal' restructuring effective June 5, 2023
- Clergy assigned in solidum under a Moderator
Contact, Office, and Visiting
St. Brigid is physically located at 18 Gibson Street in the village of Bergen, NY 14416. The mailing address and the shared parish administrative office are at 44 Lake Street, LeRoy, NY 14482-1099. The parish office is open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and can be reached at (585) 768-6543 (fax 585-768-7093) or by email at [email protected]. The church is part of the Order of Mercy's New York pastoral mission.
- Church: 18 Gibson Street, Bergen, NY 14416
- Mailing/office: 44 Lake Street, LeRoy, NY 14482-1099
- Phone: (585) 768-6543 — Fax: (585) 768-7093
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Wed 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael R. Rock, O. de M.1999–2012
Pastor of St. Peter's (LeRoy) from 1999 through the establishment of Our Lady of Mercy Parish and its partnership with St. Brigid (Bergen) until 2012. Born May 21, 1959; died October 5, 2021. Memorialized with a tribute video on the parish website.
- Rev. Scottston F. Brentwood, O. de M., JCL2023–present
Priest In Solidum and Moderator of Genesee/Wyoming Vicariate Family #12 (which includes St. Brigid, Bergen) effective June 5, 2023, under the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Road to Renewal' restructuring.