About St. Francis De Sales. Our Lady of Peace Parish. · Geneva, New York
Our Lady of Peace Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Geneva, New York (Ontario County), made up of two historic worship sites: St. Francis deSales Church on Exchange Street and St. Stephen's Church on Pulteney Street. It belongs to the Diocese of Rochester and serves a bilingual community, offering Mass in English and a weekly Sunday Spanish Mass at noon. The parish operates the parish-affiliated St. Francis–St. Stephen's School, runs faith formation for children, daily livestreamed Masses on Facebook, and a perpetual adoration tradition rooted in St. Stephen's. Daily Masses are celebrated at the Our Lady of Peace Chapel, and the parish publishes a weekly bulletin covering events at both church sites.
- Established
- 1832
- Patron
- St. Francis deSales
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas P. Mull
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
Our Lady of Peace welcomes new members into a parish family that has served Geneva since 1832 and now operates two beautiful historic churches, a parish school, and a perpetual adoration tradition. Worshippers find bilingual accessibility — an English parish with a weekly Sunday noon Spanish Mass at St. Francis — plus daily Mass at the Our Lady of Peace Chapel, weekday confessions, faith formation, a music ministry, and active social ministry. With recorded and live Masses on Facebook, online giving through OSV Hub, and a weekly bulletin, it is easy for both longtime parishioners and newcomers to stay connected and serve.
Mass times at St. Francis De Sales. Our Lady of Peace Parish.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday, 11:45 a.m. – 12:00 noon at Our Lady of Peace Chapel
- Saturday, 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. at St. Francis Church
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel at St. Stephen's Church (opened 1995 by Msgr. Krieg, 24 hours / 7 days a week — see bulletin for current schedule)
About Our Lady of Peace Parish
Our Lady of Peace is one incorporated Roman Catholic parish serving Geneva, New York, with two worship sites — St. Francis deSales Church at 130 Exchange Street and St. Stephen's Church at 48 Pulteney Street. It belongs to the Diocese of Rochester and operates a daily Mass chapel, a parish school, faith formation programs, social ministry, and St. Mary's and St. Patrick's Cemeteries. The parish's stated mission is to be 'visible signs to each other, and to our community, of Christ's Presence among us,' proclaiming the Gospel, ministering to all, and fostering the spiritual growth of parishioners.
- Two worship sites: St. Francis deSales Church (Exchange Street) and St. Stephen's Church (Pulteney Street)
- Daily Mass Chapel at the Our Lady of Peace site
- Part of the Diocese of Rochester
- Bilingual ministry (English and Spanish)
Parish History
St. Francis deSales Church has roots in the very first Catholic Mass celebrated in Geneva (in a private home). Its cornerstone was laid in 1832 and dedicated in 1834. Under pastors including Rev. James T. McManus (1858–1890), the present Greco-Roman-styled church was built and dedicated by Cardinal McClosky on July 28, 1867. St. Stephen's was carved out as a separate parish in 1904, with its present Gothic-style church dedicated in 1912 at a cost of $108,000. In 1995, Monsignor Gerard Krieg opened the Perpetual Adoration Chapel at St. Stephen's, and St. Stephen's was named a Jubilee Year pilgrimage church. The two parishes first joined staff and programs under the 1998 Parish Pastoral Plan and were legally incorporated as the single canonical parish Our Lady of Peace in 2007.
St. Francis deSales Church (1832)
Originally called "St. Peter's Church of Geneva," the brick church was built with the support of Rt. Rev. Bishop DuBois of New York and dedicated to St. Francis deSales as patron under Rev. Connelly. Several destructive fires — 1940 (grammar school), wartime damage to DeSales High School, and a major 1965 fire in the church — were followed by repairs and redecoration; Palm Sunday 1966 marked its reopening. The original 1832 foundation is still part of the present nave.
St. Stephen's Church (1904–1912)
St. Stephen's was created when St. Francis deSales Parish was divided in 1904; the first Mass was celebrated by Rev. William A. McDonald in the Old Dutch Church on Main and William Streets. Rev. Stephen McPadden became its first pastor. The current Gothic-style church, designed by Gordon and Madden of Rochester with two equal square towers, was dedicated September 1, 1912. Notable interior features include statues of the four Evangelists, twelve pillars carved with the apostles' symbols, and the large "Tree of Jesse" stained-glass window above the main entrance. The Perpetual Adoration Chapel opened here in 1995.
Staff, Clergy, and Parish Office
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Thomas P. Mull and Parochial Vicar Fr. George Bastedo IV, supported by Deacon Robert Cyrana and a staff that includes the school principal, regional finance director, music director, faith formation coordinator, catechetical leader, administrative assistant, bulletin editor, cemetery administrator, and parish council. The office is open Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., reachable at 315-789-0930.
- Fr. Thomas P. Mull — Pastor (ext. 106)
- Fr. George Bastedo IV — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Robert Cyrana
- Suzanne Pohorence — Principal, St. Francis–St. Stephen's School
- Daniel Hofford — Regional Finance Director
- Ronald Trunzo — Director of Music Ministries
- Carlene Yunits — Catechetical Leader
- Donald Cass — Faith Formation Coordinator
- Patti Costello — Administrative Assistant (ext. 601)
- Joanne Church — Bulletin (ext. 108)
- Joan Leonard — Social Ministry Coordinator
- Betty Ann DiFederico — Cemetery Administrator
- Ronald Patrick — Parish Council
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish runs Religious Education programs for children and families preparing for the sacraments of First Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation. Formation is coordinated by the Catechetical Leader and Faith Formation Coordinator across both church sites. Those interested in faith formation for their children can reach the office at 315-781-2624.
- First Eucharist preparation
- Reconciliation / First Penance preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Religious Education (children's faith formation)
St. Francis–St. Stephen's School
Our Lady of Peace parish operates St. Francis–St. Stephen's School, a parish-affiliated primary school in Geneva. The current principal is Suzanne Pohorence (315-789-1828). Updates, events, and enrollment information are coordinated through the school office.
- Principal: Suzanne Pohorence
- Phone: 315-789-1828
- Email: [email protected]
Music and Liturgy
Music ministry at the parish is led by Director of Music Ministries Ronald Trunzo, who coordinates choirs and congregational music for liturgies at both St. Francis deSales and St. Stephen's. The parish's Saturday 4:30 p.m. Mass at St. Francis is livestreamed on YouTube, and daily Masses are livestreamed on Facebook.
- Director of Music Ministries — Ronald Trunzo
- Saturday 4:30 p.m. Mass livestreamed on YouTube
- Daily Mass livestreamed on Facebook
Parish Services and Devotions
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, the parish offers Mass Intentions/Memorials, candle intentions (at either church, the Our Lady of Peace Chapel, or the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel), and a perpetual adoration devotion at St. Stephen's. The weekly bulletin is the central communication channel for announcements, schedules, and ministry updates.
- Mass Intentions / Memorials ($10 suggested offering)
- Candle Intentions ($10)
- Memorials (minimum $5)
- Perpetual Adoration at St. Stephen's
- Weekly bulletin published each weekend
Parish Registration, Stewardship, and Giving
New members are welcomed through a registration card available at the parish office (130 Exchange Street) or mailed on request. Parishioners are encouraged to share their time and talent as part of stewardship. Online giving is available through OSV Hub, with options for one-time, recurring, and second-collection donations.
- Registration cards at the Parish Office or mailed on request
- Online giving via OSV Hub
- Volunteer Office Help welcome for periodic parish mailings
- Parish Council and Stewardship committee service opportunities
Cemeteries
Our Lady of Peace cares for St. Mary's Cemetery and St. Patrick's Cemetery as part of parish ministry. The Cemetery Administrator is Betty Ann DiFederico (315-789-7180).
- St. Mary's Cemetery
- St. Patrick's Cemetery (land purchased 1853)
- Cemetery Administrator: Betty Ann DiFederico — 315-789-7180
Contact, Media, and Getting Connected
The Parish Office at 130 Exchange Street is the hub for all inquiries (315-789-0930; [email protected]). The parish publishes a weekly bulletin, livestreams daily Mass on Facebook, and streams the Saturday 4:30 p.m. Mass on its YouTube channel. The diocesan site (ps.dor.org) also lists the parish in its pastoral services directory.
- Office phone: 315-789-0930
- Office fax: 315-781-1985
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Facebook: facebook.com/OurLadyofPeaceGeneva
- YouTube: search "Our Lady of Peace Geneva, NY"
- Diocesan listing: ps.dor.org/directory/our-lady-of-peace-parish/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. O'Donohue1832–1838
Built up and governed the first Catholic congregation of Geneva in its founding years.
- Rev. Connelly
During his tenure the church was blessed and dedicated to St. Francis deSales as patron by Rev. Dr. Power, Vicar General to Bishop DuBois of New York.
- Rev. Bradleyc. 1847
Appointed by Bishop Timon of Buffalo to head St. Francis deSales Church as the center of a mission; first recorded baptisms and marriages began in September 1848.
- Rev. Michael O'Brienc. 1851
Took up a collection of $123 to build a rectory; received additional donations including $20 from Governor Hunt after a lecture by Bishop Timon.
- Rev. James T. McManus1858–1890
Began construction of the present brick church in 1864; added the steeple and transept in Greco-Roman style. Cardinal McClosky dedicated it on July 28, 1867.
- Rev. William A. McDonaldfrom 1890
Enlarged and beautified the church with new altars, pews, pulpit, confessionals, and stained-glass windows, and imported the Stations of the Cross; also selected the site for the future St. Stephen's Church in 1904.
- Rev. Stephen McPaddenfrom 1904
Formally named first pastor of St. Stephen's when it was incorporated separately from St. Francis deSales that year.
- Rev. Thomas Hickeyc. 1910–1912
Broke ground for the new St. Stephen's Church in May 1910; cornerstone laid July 1911; church dedicated September 1, 1912.
- Monsignor Gerard Krieg1995
Opened the Perpetual Adoration Chapel at St. Stephen's, drawing people from across the region to pray 24/7; under his watch St. Stephen's was named one of five diocesan pilgrimage churches for the Jubilee Year.