About St. Casimir · Elmira, New York
St. Casimir Church is a historic Polish-heritage Roman Catholic church located at 1000 Davis Street in Elmira, New York, in the heart of the city's former 'Polonia' district. Founded in 1890 by Polish immigrants and their descendants who had moved up from the coal-mining towns of northern Pennsylvania to work in Elmira's safer factories, it remains a treasured architectural landmark with a Romanesque Revival red-brick exterior and a Neo-Gothic interior built around an altar shipped from Wisconsin. Today the church is one of six worship sites of the Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (formerly the cluster of Christ the Redeemer, Blessed Sacrament, and St. Mary Southside), pastored from the Davis Street campus by Fr. Scott Kubinski under the Diocese of Rochester. The Davis Street campus also houses the parish's Faith Formation Center, parish offices, and the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, one of only two such chapels in New York's Southern Tier.
- Established
- 1890
- Patron
- St. Casimir
- Rector
- Rev. Scott Kubinski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
St. Casimir is a living piece of Elmira's Polish-American heritage and a peaceful place of prayer in the heart of the old Polonia neighborhood. The Davis Street campus hosts Sunday faith formation classes for Pre-K through 8th grade, Confirmation and OCIA/OCIC sacramental preparation, adult Scripture study, a men's league, the Legion of Mary, and the Altar Rosary Society. One of only two perpetual adoration chapels in the Southern Tier is right next door at 1012 Davis Street, open 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily, and the parish offers livestreamed Masses, a children's liturgy at the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass at St. Mary's, and the Elmira Area Nocturnal Adoration Society's monthly overnight hours before the Blessed Sacrament.
Mass times at St. Casimir
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:45–4:00 PM at St. Mary's
- Saturday 4:00–5:00 PM at St. Patrick's (per bulletin calendar)
- Thursday 4:30 PM at St. Mary's (note day — per bulletin calendar)
- Confessions by appointment through the Parish Office (607-733-3484)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, 1012 Davis St., 8:00 AM–8:00 PM daily
- Holy Hour 11:00 AM–12:00 PM at St. Mary's (weekly, per bulletin)
- Holy Hour 5:30 PM at St. Mary's (weekly, per bulletin)
- Elmira Area Nocturnal Adoration Society — monthly overnight hour before the Blessed Sacrament (held the last Saturday at St. Patrick's)
Parish Identity & Heritage
St. Casimir Church is the historic Polish-heritage parish of Elmira, NY, now one of six worship sites of the Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in the Diocese of Rochester. It sits at the corner of Davis and Roe Streets, in the heart of the city's old Polonia district, and has served Polish-American Catholic families continuously since its 1890 dedication.
- Founded 1890 by Polish immigrants from Pennsylvania mining towns
- Diocese of Rochester
- Patron: St. Casimir
- Built 1911–1912 in Romanesque Revival / Neo-Gothic style
History of St. Casimir Parish
Polish families began settling in Elmira during the 1870s, drawn from the coal-mining towns of Antrim, Arnot, Blossburg, and Morris Run in Pennsylvania by the promise of safer factory work. They initially worshipped at the German parish of St. John the Baptist. In 1889 the Polish community petitioned Bishop Ryan of the Diocese of Buffalo — Chemung County then being part of that diocese — for permission to found their own parish under the patronage of St. Casimir. Dean Jan Pitass of St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr in Buffalo came to organize the new parish, bringing Rev. Bartholomew Swinko as the first rector.
- 1889 — petition to Bishop Ryan
- September 1, 1890 — first church/school dedicated by Monsignor Gleason
- 1896 — Rev. Ignatius Klejna brings stability
- 1911–1912 — present red-brick church built under Rev. Stanislaus Rodzaj
- 1921 — convent for teaching Sisters of St. Joseph
- April 1930 — new school dedicated, 325 pupils enrolled
- Spring 1980 — Copernicus monument placed on campus
- 1990s — centennial renovation by Father Eugene R. Weis
- 1990s — Divine Mercy Chapel created for perpetual adoration
- 1990s — rectory razed for parking lot expansion
- 1994 — merged with St. Charles Borromeo
- 2006 — Our Lady of Lourdes added
- 2010 — Rev. Scott Kubinski named rector of St. Casimir cluster
- 2017 — Elmira cluster formed across Christ the Redeemer, Blessed Sacrament, and St. Mary Southside
- Later reorganized as the Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
The Church Building & Architecture
The present church, built 1911–1912 at Davis and Roe Streets, combines a Romanesque Revival red-brick exterior with a Neo-Gothic interior. Its centerpiece is a carved wooden altar shipped from Wisconsin, housing three statues — St. Casimir, St. Hedwig, and St. Stanislaus Kostka. Plain glass was replaced with stained glass in the 1950s, and ceiling murals were added in later renovations. A centennial restoration under Father Eugene R. Weis preserved the Neo-Gothic splendor of the interior.
- Romanesque Revival red-brick exterior (1911–1912)
- Neo-Gothic interior
- Carved wooden altar from Wisconsin
- Stained glass installed in the 1950s
- Ceiling murals added in later renovations
- Centennial renovation under Father Weis (c. 1990)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is centered at the Faith Formation Center, 1010 Davis Street — the building immediately adjacent to St. Casimir Church. Sunday School classes for Pre-K through Grade 8 meet every Sunday at 9:00 AM. Sacramental preparation covers First Penance and First Eucharist (Grade 2), Confirmation (Grades 8–9, with FIAT retreats and a sponsor course), and the Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC). Adult tracks include OCIA (RCIA), Adult Confirmation, and Sacramental Preparation for Adults.
- Sunday School Pre-K–8, Sundays 9:00 AM, 1010 Davis St.
- Confirmation Prep (Grades 8–9) with FIAT retreats and Sponsor Course
- First Penance & First Eucharist (Grade 2)
- OCIC — Order of Christian Initiation for Children
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Adult Confirmation
- Adult Sacramental Preparation
- Scripture Study (contact [email protected])
Parish Ministries & Groups
The parish supports a wide range of lay-led ministries rooted in its Polish-Catholic heritage and contemporary parish life. The Men's League (18+) meets to grow in faith and currently runs the 'That Man is You' program. The Legion of Mary visits the homebound and those in health-care facilities and meets weekly to recite the rosary. The Altar Rosary Society meets periodically for the rosary, a short business meeting, and altar/sacristy care, and conducts activities throughout the year. The parish also welcomes funeral luncheons in the Faith Formation Center basement.
- Men's League (18+) with 'That Man is You'
- Legion of Mary — homebound visits & weekly rosary
- Altar Rosary Society — altar/sacristy care
- Elmira Area Nocturnal Adoration Society
- Funeral luncheon hosting
Clergy, Staff & Offices
The parish is pastored by Fr. Scott Kubinski, with Fr. Rick Farrell serving as Parochial Vicar and Fr. Walter Wainwright as Senior Priest Assisting. Three deacons — Joseph Erway (Pastoral Associate), Alberto Pacete, and Paul — minister alongside Deacon George Welch. Parish staff include Anne Bremer (Office Manager, CASE & Volunteer Coordinator), Matt Murray (Director of Faith Formation), Kristen Wisniewski (Faith Formation and Operations/Finance Administrative Assistant), and Mary Montanarella (Music).
- Rev. Scott Kubinski — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Rick Farrell — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Rev. Walter Wainwright — Senior Priest, Assisting
- Deacon Joseph Erway — Pastoral Associate
- Deacon Alberto Pacete
- Deacon Paul
- Deacon George Welch
- Anne Bremer — Office Manager, CASE & Volunteer Coordinator
- Matt Murray — Director of Faith Formation
- Kristen Wisniewski — Faith Formation & Operations/Finance Admin
- Mary Montanarella — Music
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptism and Matrimony are arranged through the Parish Office. First Penance and First Eucharist are prepared in Grade 2, Confirmation in Grades 8–9 with an adult track as well. Anointing of the Sick is offered at scheduled Masses with Anointing (such as the 2:00 PM liturgy listed at St. Mary's). The OCIA/RCIA process welcomes adults into full communion with the Church.
- Baptism — through Parish Office
- First Penance & First Eucharist (Grade 2)
- Confirmation (Grades 8–9 and Adult track)
- Matrimony — by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — scheduled Mass with Anointing
- OCIA / OCIC for new Catholics
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can reach the Parish Office at 1010 Davis Street, Elmira, NY 14901, by phone at (607) 733-3484, or by emailing individual staff members listed above. The parish livestreams weekend and daily Masses on its Facebook page and at elmiracatholic.org/stream. Volunteer opportunities flow through the Office Manager / Volunteer Coordinator Anne Bremer, and the parish bulletin (published weekly and posted online) lists current events, Mass intentions, and ongoing ministries.
- Parish Office: 1010 Davis St., Elmira, NY 14901
- Phone: (607) 733-3484
- Livestream: Facebook/ElmiraCatholic or elmiracatholic.org/stream
- Weekly bulletin available online
- Volunteer coordination: Anne Bremer, ext. 105
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Bartholomew Swinko1890–1891
First rector of St. Casimir's; came from St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr in Buffalo with Dean Jan Pitass.
- Rev. Ignatius Klejna1896–
Brought stability after a series of short-term priests; led the parish to its maximum school/church capacity.
- Rev. Stanislaus Rodzaj1911–
Broke ground and laid the cornerstone for the present red-brick Romanesque Revival church, dedicated September 1912.
- Rev. Joseph A. Balcerak1915–1933
Built the convent for the teaching sisters (1921) and the new school dedicated April 1930 with 325 first-year pupils.
- Rev. Adamskiretired after 17 years of service
Held occasional Polish Masses during his tenure.
- Rev. Eugene R. Weisaround 1990
Oversaw the centennial renovation preserving the Neo-Gothic interior; created the Divine Mercy Chapel for perpetual adoration in the church basement.
- Rev. Christopher E. Linslerafter 1994
Charged with administering St. Casimir's and St. Charles Borromeo together; oversaw expansion of the parking lot by razing the unused rectory.
- Rev. Eugene Dobosz2002–
Polish-born priest; revived occasional Polish Masses at St. Casimir's.
- Rev. Jeremiah Moynihan2006–
Named administrator when Our Lady of Lourdes was added to the St. Casimir/St. Charles Borromeo grouping.
- Rev. Scott Kubinski2010–
Named rector of the St. Casimir cluster; became pastor of the entire Elmira cluster in 2017 and now pastors the Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.