St. Francis de Sales

History of St. Francis de Sales Parish

St. Francis de Sales traces its roots to the 1830s, when Catholic families in Herkimer traveled fifteen miles to St. John's Church in Utica. In 1847 Herkimer became an out-mission of St. Mary's in Little Falls, and priests such as Father Bartholomew McLaughlin celebrated Mass in private homes and later the Court House on North Main Street. The parish itself was formally established on June 6, 1875, when Father William Howard and thirty Catholic families — with the approval of Bishop McNierney of Albany — purchased a former Methodist church at North Washington and Green Streets for $2,000.

• 1875 — First St. Francis de Sales Church dedicated (former Methodist church, North Washington & Green Streets)
• 1884 — Rev. James H. Halpin appointed pastor from St. John's, Albany
• 1897 — Current site purchased at the corner of North Bellinger Street and Bellinger Avenue
• 1900 — Bishop Burke lays corner-stone of new brick church (June 10)
• 1901 — Present church solemnly dedicated October 31 (cost: $30,000; congregation: 1,500+)
• 1929 — Rev. Daniel J. McCarthy installed as pastor (June 22); three bells placed in tower
• 1931 — Bells rededicated under Bishop Edmund F. Gibbons
• 1930s — Spectacular red-oak ceiling installed in the sanctuary
• 1970 — Major Vatican II renovation by D'Ambrosio Ecclesiastical Art Studio (NYC)
• 1975 — Centennial celebrated; automatic bell-ringer installed
• 2025 — 150th anniversary year of parish-wide events

The Red-Oak Sanctuary Ceiling

The single most celebrated architectural feature of St. Francis de Sales is its sanctuary ceiling of red oak, installed during the 1930s under Father Daniel J. McCarthy. Designed by New York architect Henry G. Emery and constructed by McLaughlin-Stevens Inc. of Mohawk, the work used more than 32,000 feet of solid red oak and 26,000 feet of oak veneer, all manufactured at a temporary mill set up on the church property. Father McCarthy, renowned for his mastery of English, told the congregation at the dedication, "Oak was chosen because of its durability and symbolic significance of strength. The Christian is not a reed shaken by the wind, but should be like the oak that stands full square to all the winds that blow." Local historical accounts describe it as one of the finest pieces of architectural oak workmanship on the American continent.

Parish School & Early Childhood Learning Center

St. Francis de Sales ran a parochial school serving children from the village and surrounding region for much of the twentieth century. The school opened in February 1921 with grades 1–4, each year adding another grade until it served grades 1–8. By the end of the twentieth century the school had added kindergarten and pre-kindergarten classes and become a regional Catholic school. In 2006 the seventh and eighth grades were dropped, and in 2018 the parish announced that grades 1–6 would no longer be offered, with the school transitioning into an Early Childhood Learning Center that continues to serve preschool and kindergarten children at the Herkimer site.

• 1919–1921 — Parochial school built; convent built for the Sisters of St. Joseph
• February 1921 — School opens with grades 1–4, growing to K–8
• 2006 — Grades 7 and 8 discontinued
• 2018 — Parish announces transition to Early Childhood Learning Center (preschool and kindergarten)

Family of the Holy Cross Pastoral Network

St. Francis de Sales no longer operates as a stand-alone parish but as part of the Family of the Holy Cross Pastoral Network alongside three neighboring parishes: Sts. Anthony & Joseph in Herkimer, Blessed Sacrament in Mohawk, and St. John the Baptist in Newport. The four-parish cluster was given its name in 2021 when then-10-year-old Gryffin Salamone of Blessed Sacrament suggested that the four points of the cross represent the four parishes; the name was chosen unanimously by the trustees. The network shares priests, sacramental scheduling, and parish-life staff; a Deacon serves as Parish Life Director for the Herkimer parishes, and a Sister of St. Joseph (Sr. Mary Jo Tallman, C.S.J.) serves as Parish Life Director for Blessed Sacrament, Mohawk.

• St. Francis de Sales, Herkimer (219 N. Bellinger St.)
• Sts. Anthony & Joseph, Herkimer
• Blessed Sacrament, Mohawk
• St. John the Baptist, Newport
• Network name chosen 2021; suggested by Gryffin Salamone, then age 10

Clergy & Pastoral Leadership

St. Francis de Sales has been led within the Family of the Holy Cross Pastoral Network by a small clergy team. As of the Diocese of Albany's June 2025 announcement of priestly assignments, Rev. Justin Thomas became Administrator of St. Francis de Sales, Sts. Anthony & Joseph (Herkimer), St. John the Baptist (Newport), and Blessed Sacrament (Mohawk) effective July 1, 2025, succeeding Rev. Thomas (Tom) Babiuch. A permanent deacon, Deacon James Bower, serves as Parish Life Director supporting the Herkimer parishes. Throughout its 150-year history the parish has been shepherded by a succession of pastors whose names — Howard, Halpin, McCarthy, Harrigan, Dasey, Nabozny, Babiuch, and now Thomas — appear on the parish's centennial-era history.

• Rev. Justin Thomas — Administrator (effective July 1, 2025)
• Rev. Thomas (Tom) Babiuch — Pastor (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2025); reassigned as Chaplain, St. Peter's Hospital
• Deacon James Bower — Parish Life Director (Herkimer parishes)

Sacraments, Devotions & Outreach

The parish coordinates the seven sacraments through the network's parish office. Weekly Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesday daily Mass provide the rhythm of liturgical life, with a monthly Children's Mass on the first Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. and Eucharistic Adoration following on most Wednesdays. St. Francis de Sales is also the closest Catholic parish to Herkimer County Community College, and the parish has historically welcomed students, faculty, and staff into its sacramental and community life through Newman-style outreach. Calvary Cemetery, established in the late nineteenth century adjoining Oak Hill Cemetery in the western part of the village, remains an active parish cemetery.

• Sunday and daily Mass
• First-Wednesday Children's Mass
• Confession — Saturday 3:00–3:45 p.m. at Sts. Anthony & Joseph, or by appointment
• Eucharistic Adoration — Wednesday 9:00–10:00 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales
• Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick — coordinated through the network parish office
• Calvary Cemetery (adjoining Oak Hill Cemetery, western Herkimer)

Visiting & Contact

The parish church stands at 219 North Bellinger Street at the corner of Bellinger Avenue in the village of Herkimer, New York. The network's parish office is at 228 South Main Street, Herkimer, NY 13350, telephone (315) 866-6373 (parish office) or (315) 866-4282 (church). Inquiries and emails are handled through [email protected], and the network's website is familyoftheholycross.org. A 1970 renovation added a new rear exit directly to the parking lot for ease of access.

• Church address: 219 N. Bellinger St., Herkimer, NY 13350
• Parish office: 228 S. Main St., Herkimer, NY 13350
• Phone: (315) 866-4282 (church) / (315) 866-6373 (office)
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.familyoftheholycross.org/