About St. Francis of Assisi · Binghamton, New York
St. Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic parish in the city of Binghamton, New York, seated on Chenango Street in the city's North Side and belonging to the Diocese of Syracuse. The parish describes itself as a Eucharistic faith community committed to living and sharing the Gospel life, serving the surrounding neighborhoods with daily Mass in its Parish Center Chapel, weekend liturgy in the historic church, and an active faith formation program. Under the long pastorate of Fr. Timothy J. Taugher, the parish has also been known for its social-justice witness through the Binghamton Labor-Religion Coalition and the Friends of Franz Jägerstätter.
- Established
- 1929
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy J. Taugher
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi offers a warm, walkable Catholic community on Binghamton's North Side, with daily and weekend Mass in a quiet Parish Center Chapel and church, regular Confession twice a month, and a structured Faith Formation program for children preparing for First Eucharist and Confirmation. The parish pairs its liturgical life with a strong social-justice identity — Fr. Taugher's decades of activism with the Binghamton Labor-Religion Coalition and the Friends of Franz Jägerstätter make it a natural home for Catholics who want to live the Gospel beyond the parish walls.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM (2nd & 4th Saturday of every month)
- By appointment
About St. Francis of Assisi Parish
St. Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic (Latin Rite) parish in the Diocese of Syracuse, located on Chenango Street on the North Side of Binghamton, New York. Its self-description on the parish website is 'a Eucharistic faith community committed to living and sharing the Gospel life.' The parish serves its neighborhood with weekend and daily Mass, a twice-monthly Sacrament of Reconciliation, an active Faith Formation program for children, and a notable peace-and-justice apostolate led by its long-tenured pastor.
- Parish motto: 'A Eucharistic faith community committed to living and sharing the Gospel life.'
- Located at 1049 Chenango Street, Binghamton, NY 13901 (church) / 1031 Chenango Street (Parish Center).
- Part of the Diocese of Syracuse.
History
According to GCatholic, St. Francis of Assisi was established in 1929 as a parish on Binghamton's North Side. Decades later, the parish was shaped by diocesan consolidation in the Diocese of Syracuse; Fr. Timothy J. Taugher led the community through the resulting merger, and the congregation has grown since. The parish now operates across the original church at 1049 Chenango Street and the adjacent Parish Center at 1031 Chenango Street, which houses offices, the chapel, and the Faith Formation program.
- Founded: 1929 (per GCatholic).
- Led the community through a diocesan-era merger under Fr. Taugher.
- Two buildings today: church (1049 Chenango St.) and Parish Center (1031 Chenango St.).
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a comprehensive Faith Formation program directed by Maria Kirk out of the Parish Center, with a published yearly calendar (2025-26) that guides families through sacramental preparation and ongoing formation. Children's Liturgy of the Word runs alongside, but does not replace, Faith Formation classes — children are dismissed from Mass after the Introductory Rites to hear Scripture in age-appropriate language and return for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
- Director of Faith Formation: Maria Kirk (607-722-4177)
- First Eucharist preparation for children and parents
- Confirmation preparation: Confirmation Documents/Forms/Assignments, Year-Long Service Activity, Personal Beliefs Project
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (Sunday program)
- Seasonal aids: 'Best Advent Ever' and Lenten prayers/aids
Confirmation Preparation
The Confirmation program at St. Francis frames the sacrament as the confirmandi's personal 'Yes' to the gift of faith received at Baptism. Candidates are invited to grow in three dimensions of faith — personal (relationship with God), communal (life in the parish), and institutional (Catholic teaching and moral life) — while completing required documents, a year-long service activity, and a Personal Beliefs Project.
- Three dimensions of faith: Personal, Communal, Institutional
- Year-Long Service Activity required
- Personal Beliefs Project required
- Resource: 'Confirming Faith' by Sr. Kieran Sawyer
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Francis of Assisi is led by Edmund Savo, who serves as Choir Director and Organist. The parish combines a traditional Sunday Mass in the church with weekday Mass in the chapel of the Parish Center, supporting both the principal weekend assembly and the smaller daily liturgical life of the parish.
- Choir Director/Organist: Edmund Savo
Pastoral Staff & Administration
The pastoral team is led by Fr. Timothy J. Taugher with support from Deacon Stephen Blabac and a small staff of administrative, formation, music, and maintenance personnel who keep the parish's two buildings and programs running week to week.
- Pastor: Rev. Timothy J. Taugher
- Deacon: Deacon Stephen Blabac
- Parish Administrative Assistant: Delores Farwell
- Director of Faith Formation: Maria Kirk
- Parish Business Administrator: Joseph Carpenter
- Parish Media Manager: Sue Ekstrom
- Choir Director/Organist: Edmund Savo
- Maintenance/Groundskeeping: Fred Hazlett
- Housekeeper: Tina Silvestri
Fr. Timothy J. Taugher — Pastor
Fr. Taugher brings decades of priestly ministry to St. Francis, including service as a full-time chaplain at United Health Services facilities and as Diocesan Director of Social Action for the Diocese of Syracuse. He has shepherded the parish through a successful diocesan-era merger and seen the congregation grow. A social activist since the 1960s — when a film on poverty during a Holy Week retreat at Catholic Central High School (now Seton Catholic Central High School) shaped his vocation — he balances parish duties with work on workers' rights, poverty, and nonviolence.
- Former full-time chaplain at United Health Services
- Former Diocesan Director of Social Action, Diocese of Syracuse
- Member, Binghamton Labor-Religion Coalition
- Member, Friends of Franz Jägerstätter
- Alumnus of Catholic Central High School (now Seton Catholic Central High School)
Social Action & Outreach
St. Francis of Assisi has a distinctive peace-and-justice identity that flows directly from its pastor's decades of activism. The parish actively participates in two regional coalitions: the Binghamton Labor-Religion Coalition and the upstate group Friends of Franz Jägerstätter, named for the Austrian farmer executed for refusing to serve in Hitler's army. This social apostolate runs alongside the parish's sacramental and formation ministries.
- Binghamton Labor-Religion Coalition — parish participates
- Friends of Franz Jägerstätter — parish participates
- Focus areas: workers' rights, poverty, nonviolence
Visit, Contact & Directions
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish by phone, fax, or email, and can drop in to the Parish Center during weekday business hours. Driving directions from I-86 route travelers north on NY-7, then along Hillcrest Service Road to Chenango Street; parking is available at the Parish Center and in a separate annexed lot half a block north of the church.
- Phone (Parish Center): (607) 722-4388
- Faith Formation Office: (607) 722-4177
- Fax: (607) 722-1336
- Email: [email protected]
- Driving directions via I-86 → Exit 3 → NY-7 north → Hillcrest Service Rd → Chenango St.
- Parish Center parking on the left at Franklin Ave; church parking half a block further north.