About St. Daniel · Syracuse, New York
St. Daniel Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Lyncourt neighborhood of Syracuse, New York, belonging to the Diocese of Syracuse. Originally established in 1932 as a mission of St. John the Baptist Church, it became the 129th parish of the diocese in 1939 and today serves a community of more than 1,200 members with daily and weekend Mass, perpetual adoration in the convent chapel, Catholic education through St. Daniel-St. Matthew Academy, and a wide range of parish ministries. The parish is named in honor of Bishop Daniel J. Curley, the third Bishop of Syracuse, whose last official act before his death in 1932 was approving financing for the new parish in Lyncourt.
- Established
- 1932
- Patron
- St. Daniel (parish named in honor of Bishop Daniel J. Curley, third Bishop of Syracuse, d. 1932)
- Rector
- Rev. John Kurgan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
St. Daniel's is a close-knit parish family in Lyncourt that has weathered ninety-plus years of Syracuse history while staying remarkably personal — Msgr. Yennock's early practice of meeting families in their homes set a tone that the parish still embraces. Daily and weekend Masses are complemented by Perpetual Adoration in the convent chapel, Anointing of the Sick on the first Saturday of each month, and a wide network of lay groups (Legion of Mary, Daughters of Bethany, Men's Prayer Group, Lions Den Young Adult Ministry, RENEW, and Altar Servers). Catholic education is a continuing priority through St. Daniel-St. Matthew Academy, and the parish is regionally known for its annual blessing of the bikers.
Mass times at St. Daniel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM
- Before Mass on Sunday
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the convent chapel (ongoing since Msgr. Yennock's tenure)
History of St. Daniel Parish
St. Daniel's traces its origin to a Depression-era decision by Bishop Daniel J. Curley in February 1932, who approved roughly $30,000 in charity-fund financing for a new parish in Lyncourt. The first Mass was celebrated February 19, 1933, and on July 20, 1939 Bishop Walter A. Foery formally erected it as the 129th parish of the Diocese of Syracuse under its first pastor, the Rev. Denis F. Lyons. Three pastors have shaped the parish over its ninety-plus years — Fr. Lyons (1939–1969), Fr. James F. Gillen (1969–1981), and Msgr. Eugene M. Yennock (from 1981) — and a fourth, Rev. John Kurgan (Vicar General of the Diocese), now appears as pastor on the current staff page.
- 1932 — Bishop Curley approves financing
- Feb 19, 1933 — first Mass in the cinder-block mission church
- July 20, 1939 — parish formally established; Fr. Lyons first pastor
- Nov 22, 1953 — parish school dedicated by Bishop Foery
- May 14, 1954 — convent completed; five Sisters of St. Francis take up residence
- 1959 — gymnasium added to the school
- March 1, 1966 — groundbreaking for the present church
- April 26, 1967 — Bishop Foery dedicates the new $500,000, 740-seat church
- 1969 — Fr. Lyons dies; Fr. Gillen becomes second pastor
- 1981 — Msgr. Yennock installed as third pastor; Perpetual Adoration begins
- 2007 — St. Daniel School and St. Matthew School merge to form St. Daniel-St. Matthew Academy
- 2001 — St. Daniel website www.stdaniel.com established
Parish Staff
The current parish team is led by Rev. John Kurgan (Pastor) with Rev. Amedeo Guida serving as Sacramental Provider. Deacon Joseph Celentano, Sr. assists with parish life and sacramental preparation, while Wayne Skinner directs the School of Religion / Family Faith Formation and Matthew Nappa directs Liturgical Music. Patrice Mistretta serves as Administrative Assistant and Kathy Knittel as the staff contact for sacraments.
- Rev. John Kurgan — Pastor (also Vicar General, Diocese of Syracuse)
- Rev. Amedeo Guida — Sacramental Provider
- Deacon Joseph Celentano, Sr.
- Matthew Nappa — Director of Liturgical Music
- Wayne Skinner — Director, School of Religion / Family Faith Formation
- Ms. Patrice Mistretta — Administrative Assistant
- Kathy Knittel — Sacraments contact, 315.454.3639
Parish Ministries & Lay Groups
St. Daniel's has long drawn laypeople into the life of the parish through groups that span prayer, fellowship, service, and formation. The Mary and Martha Society (founded in the early 1940s) and the Altar Society (founded 1949) anchor the parish's social and liturgical support, while the Legion of Mary (established December 12, 1981) carries out works of mercy including visiting the sick and elderly. The Prayer Group, Bible Study, RENEW (since Lent 1985), and more recent outreach to young adults, women, and men round out a vibrant community.
- Legion of Mary — established Dec 12, 1981; visits the sick and serves as Eucharistic Ministers
- Mary and Martha Society — founded early 1940s under Fr. Lyons
- Altar Society — founded 1949; upkeep of altar and sanctuary
- Prayer Group — started October 1981 under Sr. Josephine Regan
- Bible Study Group
- RENEW — began Lent 1985; evangelization within and beyond the parish
- Daughters of Bethany — single Catholic women's group, ages 21+
- Lions Den Young Adult Ministry — ages 18-35, first Friday at Transfiguration, 6-8 PM
- Men's Prayer Group — ages 21+
- Altar Servers
Sacraments
Information on preparing for and celebrating the sacraments is published on the parish website. Baptisms are coordinated through Deacon Celentano, while couples preparing for marriage are asked to call the rectory. First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Penance are part of the parish's ongoing formation work, and Anointing of the Sick is offered communally at the first-Saturday Mass each month.
- Baptism — contact Deacon Celentano, 315.882.2539
- Holy Matrimony — call the rectory, 315.454.4946
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Penance / Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00 PM and before Sunday Mass
- Anointing of the Sick — first Saturday of each month at 8:30 AM Mass
Catholic Education
Catholic schooling has been part of St. Daniel's identity since November 22, 1953, when Bishop Foery dedicated the original parish school. Built with capacity for 450 students, the school opened in 1954 under five Sisters of St. Francis, grew through the addition of a 1959 gymnasium, and at its peak served K–8. In response to national and diocesan enrollment trends the school consolidated to K–6, and on July 1, 2007 it merged with St. Matthew's school to form St. Daniel-St. Matthew Academy, with Deacon Joseph Celentano serving as principal. A Pre-K program was added during Msgr. Yennock's tenure when the convent was renovated, and Diane Celentano became Parish Minister for Religious Education while continuing to supervise Pre-K.
- Nov 22, 1953 — parish school dedicated
- 1954 — Sisters of St. Francis move into the new convent; 212 students in K–6
- 1959 — gymnasium added
- 2007 — St. Daniel-St. Matthew Academy formed
- School of Religion / Family Faith Formation — directed by Wayne Skinner
Building & Architecture
The present St. Daniel Church was deliberately designed to preserve the parish's earlier life. Architects Pederson, Hueber, Hares and Glavin, working with J.A. Vault Inc., integrated the original stained glass windows from the 1933 mission church into the 1967 design and placed a modernistic marble altar on the original altar site. The $500,000 building seats 740 and was dedicated by Bishop Foery on April 26, 1967. Additional stained glass windows were later installed in the church vestibules during Msgr. Yennock's pastorate.
- Architects: Pederson, Hueber, Hares and Glavin with J.A. Vault Inc.
- Original stained glass windows preserved and incorporated
- Modernistic marble altar on original altar site
- Capacity: 740
- Cost: $500,000
- Dedicated: April 26, 1967 by Bishop Walter A. Foery
Diocese of Syracuse
St. Daniel's is part of the Diocese of Syracuse, and within the diocese it is listed as a single (non-linked) parish in Vicariate 3 (Syracuse Eastern Onondaga County), with St. Daniel included in Pastoral Care Area 1 alongside Holy Cross and St. Anthony of Padua. The current pastor, Rev. John Kurgan, also serves as Vicar General of the diocese.
- Diocese of Syracuse
- Vicariate 3: Syracuse Eastern Onondaga County
- Pastoral Care Area 1
- Listed as a single parish
Visit & Contact
St. Daniel's welcomes newcomers, visitors, and long-time parishioners to attend any of its Masses. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and can be reached by phone at (315) 454-4946.
- Address: 3004 Court Street, Syracuse, NY 13208
- Phone: (315) 454-4946
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
- Website: http://www.stdaniel.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Denis F. Lyons1939-1969
First pastor; native of Limerick, Ireland; ordained May 29, 1926 at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Albany. Oversaw construction of the parish school (dedicated 1953), convent (1954), and present church. Died May 19, 1969.
- Rev. James F. Gillen1969-1981
Native of Oswego, NY; attended St. Michael's College (Toronto) and St. Bernard Seminary (Rochester); ordained March 17, 1945. Donated the organ to the church.
- Rev. Msgr. Eugene M. Yennock1981-present (at time of parish history page)
Third pastor; native of Syracuse; ordained June 3, 1950. Inaugurated Perpetual Adoration, convent renovation for Pre-K, new vestibule stained glass, and Fr. Lyons Hall; known for the annual blessing of the bikers.
- Rev. John Kurgancurrent
Current pastor per the parish staff page; also serves as Vicar General of the Diocese of Syracuse.