About St. Elizabeth Ann Seton · Hamlin, New York
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a Roman Catholic parish located at 3747 Brick Schoolhouse Road in Hamlin, New York, founded on February 10, 1982 to serve the Catholic communities of Hamlin, Brockport, Hilton and Kendall. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Rochester and has been clustered since mid-2023 with the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Brockport, sharing staff, ministry and sacramental programs under one pastor, Father Joseph Marcoux. The current worship space was constructed in 1987 and blessed by Bishop Matthew H. Clark in 1989, with the parish noted over the years for its community-built sanctuary wall and the careful way it has acquired liturgical furnishings and relics from closing churches across the diocese.
- Established
- 1982
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph (Joe) Marcoux
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a tight-knit Catholic community rooted in the rural lakeside towns of northwest Monroe County, where the sanctuary wall itself is a testament to what its members can build together. As a clustered parish with Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Brockport, it now offers a wider range of programs — shared faith formation for children and adults, a youth group for 8th grade through high school seniors, Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, a Migrant Ministry, and combined Vacation Bible School — while keeping the personal feel of a smaller church where every family is known. The parish welcomes all to Sunday Mass, and its sacramental prep, prayer groups, and outreach ministries (Rosary Society, Prayer Shawl, Outreach, Human Concerns) make it easy for newcomers and longtime Catholics alike to find a place to serve and to belong.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00–4:45 PM at Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Brockport (clustered parish)
- By appointment — call the parish office at 585-637-4500 or Father Joe directly at 585-747-3649
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 AM (following the 9:00 AM Daily Mass) — Eucharistic Adoration at SEAS
Parish History
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was established on February 10, 1982 by the Diocese of Rochester to serve the growing Catholic communities of Hamlin, Brockport, Hilton and Kendall, with Father William Amann as its founding pastor. Before the church was constructed, the faithful celebrated Mass in a barn and in an old train depot. In September 1987 the groundbreaking 'Rock Party' saw more than 20 parishioners haul over 200 tons of stones and rocks to the site during a rainstorm; those stones were built into the sanctuary wall, which remains a beloved symbol of the parish. Bishop Matthew H. Clark blessed the church on October 14, 1989 and it was dedicated on August 9, 1992.
40th Anniversary: Rescued Liturgical Artifacts
Around the parish's 40th anniversary in 2022, parochial administrator Father John Gagnier oversaw a remarkable program of acquiring liturgical furnishings from nearby Rochester-area Catholic churches that had closed, lending greater dignity to a building that was originally completed with limited funds. The acquisitions include a large crucifix suspended above the altar (from Holy Ghost Church in Gates, closed 2020), framed Stations of the Cross (originally from Immaculate Heart of Mary in Painted Post, founded 1952 and closed 2019), statues of Mary and Joseph from the former St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, a tabernacle recovered from the Diocese of Rochester's Pastoral Center in Gates, and a first-class relic of St. Mateo Correa Magallanes sealed inside the altar of the daily Mass chapel.
- Crucifix: from Holy Ghost, Gates (closed 2020); blessed by Bishop Salvatore R. Matano on Sept. 13, 2020
- Stations of the Cross: from Immaculate Heart of Mary, Painted Post (founded 1952; closed 2019); installed October 2021
- Statues of Mary & Joseph: from the former St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester (in place since Christmas 2020)
- Tabernacle: recovered from the Diocese of Rochester's Pastoral Center, fall 2021; later refinished and dedicated with a sanctuary lamp
- First-class relic of St. Mateo Correa Magallanes (d. 1927, canonized 2000) — altar blessed Feb. 6, 2022
Cluster with Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (2023)
In mid-2023, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton clustered with Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Brockport (founded 1848), forming a single pastoral community under Father Joseph Marcoux, the first pastor to serve both parishes simultaneously. The cluster joined a combined parish bulletin, joint directors of music and lifelong faith formation, blended liturgy and parish councils, and shared outreach such as the Migrant Ministry. Father Marcoux estimates Nativity has roughly 1,100 registered families, with about half that number at Seton. Combined cluster events now include joint Masses of Remembrance, joint Vacation Bible School, a cluster picnic, and other shared social and service initiatives.
- Combined parish bulletin
- Joint directors of music ministry and lifelong faith formation
- Combined liturgy and pastoral councils
- Migrant Ministry for Monroe and Livingston counties (coordinator: Jorge Salgado)
- Joint Vacation Bible School (August)
- Cluster picnic (held Sept. 9, 2023)
Faith Formation (Children, Youth & Adults)
The clustered parishes describe faith formation as 'a life-long journey developing a relationship with Jesus,' centered on the Eucharist. Children's Faith Formation classes are offered during the school year for grades K–7. Confirmation preparation for teens begins every September, and there is a year-round Youth Group for students in 8th grade through high school seniors. Adult faith formation is also available through Bible study, book club, retreats and outings.
- Children's Faith Formation (K–7) — Megan Altenritter (Nativity) / Sandy Schicker (SEAS)
- Confirmation classes for teens — begin every September
- Youth Group (8th grade–senior) — coordinator: Jessica Horn
- Vacation Bible School (combined cluster, August)
- Adult Faith Formation — Bill Beiter (SEAS); Deacon Paul Virgilio (Nativity)
- Bible Study / Book Club / Retreats-Outings
Sacraments
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton shares sacramental preparation with its cluster partner, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Confessions are heard on Saturday afternoons at Nativity in Brockport and by appointment with Father Joe Marcoux. Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation all require preparation classes and registration, with age-appropriate and adult tracks available through both parish offices.
- Baptism: instruction and Baptism Information Form; contact parish office
- First Communion: child prep (ages 7+) via Sandy Schicker; adult prep via Bill Beiter
- Confirmation: teens begin in September (Megan Altenritter / Sandy Schicker); adults via Deacon Paul Virgilio or Bill Beiter
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:00–4:45 PM at Nativity; by appointment 585-747-3649
Outreach, Prayer & Parish Life
The cluster supports a broad ministry of prayer, fellowship and service, including a Prayer Chain, Prayer Group, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Rosary Society and a Widows/Widowers Group. Social outreach is led by the Human Concerns Committee, the Outreach Group, and a Migrant Ministry serving Monroe and Livingston counties. Hospitality and parish life are coordinated through the Parish Life Committee and FUNdraising events.
- Prayer Chain, Prayer Group, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Rosary Society
- Widows/Widowers Group
- Human Concerns Committee & Outreach Group
- Migrant Ministry (Monroe and Livingston counties)
- Martha Ministry; Parish Life Committee
- FUNdraising Committee
Get Involved
Parishioners are invited to share their time and talent. Volunteer roles include liturgical ministries (Extraordinary / Homebound Communion Ministers, Eucharistic Adoration Team, Children's Liturgy of the Word), faith formation (Catechist, Classroom Aide, VBS Helper, Youth Group Helper), and Hispanic Ministry. All volunteers working with minors are required to complete diocesan Creating a Safe Environment (C.A.S.E.) training, a background check, and a signed Code of Conduct.
- Liturgical: Extraordinary/Homebound Communion Ministers, Adoration Team, Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Faith Formation: Catechist, Classroom Aide, VBS Helper, Youth Group Helper
- Hispanic Ministry
- Safe Environment: C.A.S.E. training + background check + Code of Conduct required
Visiting & Contact
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is located at 3747 Brick Schoolhouse Road in Hamlin, NY 14464 (Mailing P.O. Box 149), a short drive from Hamlin Beach State Park and about six miles north of Brockport. The parish shares office hours with Nativity: Tuesdays and Wednesdays (8:00 AM–4:30 PM) are staffed at the SEAS site, with additional hours at Nativity Mondays 8:00 AM–4:30 PM and Saturdays 4:30–6:00 PM; the cluster office is closed on Thursdays. All are welcome at Sunday Mass.
- Address: 3747 Brick Schoolhouse Road, P.O. Box 149, Hamlin, NY 14464
- Phone: 585-964-8627
- Office hours (at SEAS): Tue & Wed, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
- Office hours (at Nativity, Brockport): Mon 8:00 AM–4:30 PM; Sat 4:30–6:00 PM; closed Thursday
- Parking: SEAS has its own parking lot with handicapped spaces near the entrance; all facilities on the parking-lot level
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Amann1982 (founding pastor)
Appointed as the parish's founding pastor on February 10, 1982. Later resided at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse in Pittsford.
- Rev. John Gagnier
Served as parochial administrator around the parish's 40th anniversary in 2022; led an effort to acquire liturgical artifacts from closing diocesan churches.
- Rev. Joseph Marcoux2023–present
First pastor to serve both St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary as clustered parishes.