About St. James the Apostle. The parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy. · Trumansburg, New York
St. James the Apostle is one of three historic Catholic churches that together form the Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, a multi-site Roman Catholic community stretching about 40 miles between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. The Trumansburg church itself dates back to the mid-1850s, when immigrant Irish Catholic families — first recorded worshipping in the home of Lawrence Birney in 1844 — bought an 1831 Methodist meeting house and dedicated it in 1857 as St. James the Apostle. After more than 140 years as an independent parish, in 2016 Bishop Salvatore Matano of the Diocese of Rochester united St. James with Holy Cross Church in Ovid and St. Francis Solanus in Interlaken into today's merged parish, still served by Capuchin friars from St. Fidelis Friary.
- Established
- 1857
- Patron
- St. James the Apostle (St. James the Greater)
- Rector
- Rev. Bernard M. Maloney, OFM Cap.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester, New York
Why belong here
St. James the Apostle welcomes parishioners into a small, multigenerational Catholic community rooted in the Trumansburg–Finger Lakes area since 1857. Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m. is the heart of parish life, supported by active lay ministries — altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, sacristans, cantors and instrumentalists, church decorators, religious-education instructors, and a fellowship committee — that let every member find a way to serve. The parish continues its long tradition of an annual summer picnic on or near the July 25 feast of St. James, hosts the parish bazaar, and offers family faith formation for children in grades K–6 plus Confirmation preparation and adult study, making it a real home for both longtime families and newcomers.
Mass times at St. James the Apostle. The parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Fridays, 6:30–7:30 p.m. at St. Francis Solanus, Interlaken, with Fr. Bernard
- By appointment with a priest (call the parish office)
History of St. James the Apostle
St. James the Apostle in Trumansburg, New York, traces its roots to the late 1830s and 1840s, when Irish Catholic immigrants working in local stone quarries, on farms, and on the railroad settled in Trumansburg, Farmer Village (now Interlaken) and Ovid. The first recorded Mass in Trumansburg was offered by Father Donahue in 1844 in the home of Lawrence Birney. The community worshipped in private homes for more than a decade, with families walking or riding on horseback to Ithaca or Auburn for Mass when no priest was available. In 1856 Father William Gleason bought the village's 1831 Methodist meeting house and retrofitted it as the Catholic Church of St. James the Apostle; the remodeled church was dedicated by Bishop John Timon in 1857. St. James then served as a mission of Immaculate Conception Parish in Ithaca until 1872, when Bishop Bernard McQuaid erected it as an independent parish. (See the full pastor succession below.)
- 1844 — First Mass in Trumansburg (Father Donahue, at the home of Lawrence Birney)
- 1856 — Old Methodist church (built 1831) purchased and converted
- 1857 — Church of St. James the Apostle dedicated by Bishop John Timon
- 1872 — Erected as an independent parish by Bishop Bernard McQuaid
- 1874 — Catholic cemetery consecrated (12-grave lot, $20)
- 1875 — Bishop McQuaid consecrates St. Francis Solanus in Farmer Village
- 1969 — First annual parish bazaar (continues today)
- Early 1970s — One of the first Parish Councils in the Diocese of Rochester formed
- 1994 — Capuchin friars from St. Fidelis Friary begin serving the parish
- 2016 — Merged with Holy Cross (Ovid) and St. Francis Solanus (Interlaken) into the Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy
The Patron: St. James the Apostle
Trumansburg's early Catholic settlers chose to name their church after St. James the Apostle, often referred to as St. James the Greater. According to Scripture, James was a son of Zebedee and brother of John, the 'beloved disciple' (John 20:2). James and John were present at the Transfiguration, the Last Supper, and the Agony in Gethsemane, and were given the nickname 'sons of thunder' (Mark 3:17). After the crucifixion, tradition holds that James preached the Gospel in Spain; he was put to death by Herod Agrippa in 44 A.D. upon returning to Judea. In addition to being patron of the Trumansburg parish, St. James is the patron saint of Spain and of pilgrims. His feast day is celebrated on July 25, and Trumansburg parishioners continue a tradition of a parish picnic on or near that day.
- Feast day: July 25
- Patron of: Trumansburg parish, Spain, and pilgrims
- Apostle, son of Zebedee, brother of St. John
- First of the apostles to be martyred (44 A.D., under Herod Agrippa)
Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy (2016 merger)
On July 1, 2016 Bishop Salvatore Matano decreed that the parishes of Holy Cross Church in Ovid, St. Francis Solanus in Interlaken, and St. James the Apostle in Trumansburg were to be united into one multi-site parish under the patronage of Mary, Mother of Mercy. The resulting parish territory stretches roughly 40 miles between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. Fr. Bernard M. Maloney, OFM Cap. — already pastor of St. James — was named pastor of the merged parish, which continues to celebrate Mass at all three historic church buildings.
- Established July 1, 2016 by Bishop Salvatore Matano
- Three worship sites: St. James the Apostle (Trumansburg), Holy Cross (Ovid), St. Francis Solanus (Interlaken)
- Pastor: Rev. Bernard M. Maloney, OFM Cap.
- Parish Center / mailing address: 3660 Orchard St., P.O. Box 403, Interlaken, NY 14847
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy runs a Family Faith Formation program for families with children in grades K–6 that includes preparation for First Holy Communion and First Reconciliation. Students in eighth grade and above who have not yet received Confirmation, as well as adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, or First Holy Communion (and anyone wishing to learn more about the faith), attend Saturday classes from 5:00–6:15 p.m. in the St. Francis Solanus Annex. On the second Saturday of each month, children are invited to participate in Children's Liturgy of the Word during the 4:00 p.m. Mass, when they are dismissed after the opening prayer to hear and reflect on the readings in age-appropriate formats.
- Family Faith Formation (grades K–6) — includes First Communion and First Reconciliation prep
- Confirmation Preparation (8th grade and up) — Saturdays 5:00–6:15 p.m., St. Francis Solanus Annex (no class on the second Saturday of the month)
- Adult study / RCIA-style classes for Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — second Saturday of each month during the 4:00 p.m. Mass
- Volunteer catechists and helpers always needed
Liturgical Ministries
The parish draws on a wide range of lay liturgical ministries, all coordinated by the pastor. Under the principle of 'different gifts according to the grace given to each' (Romans 12), parishioners serve as altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, sacristans, musicians, and church decorators. Eucharistic ministers also bring Holy Communion to homebound parishioners. Music ministers do not perform but lead the congregation in song; cantors and instrumentalists rehearse regularly to enhance the liturgy.
- Altar Servers (children after First Communion, and adults)
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God
- Eucharistic Ministers — distribute Communion at Mass and to the homebound
- Ushers / Greeters — welcome, seat, take up the collection, assist with offertory
- Sacristans — set up vestments, chalice, cruets, candles, etc.
- Music Ministry — cantors and instrumentalists
- Church Decorators — seasonal worship-space décor
Parish Council and Parishioner Life
St. James was one of the first parishes in the Diocese of Rochester to form a Parish Council, established in the early 1970s in the wake of Vatican II with the help of Sr. Callister of the Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart. The Parish Council continues to serve as an advisory body to the pastor, giving parishioners 'a positive role in the formation of policies and decisions' through their lay representatives. Parishioner life is also shaped by a women's guild, the annual parish bazaar (begun in 1969), and a long tradition of a summer picnic on or near the July 25 feast of St. James.
- Parish Council — advisory body to the pastor
- Women's Guild (long-standing service and fellowship organization)
- Annual parish bazaar (since 1969)
- Annual parish picnic on/near July 25 (feast of St. James)
St. James the Apostle Cemetery
The parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, a religious corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York, owns and operates both the St. James the Apostle and Holy Cross cemeteries in accordance with New York State law and the discipline of the Diocese of Rochester. The St. James the Apostle cemetery, originally established in 1874 when Bishop McQuaid consecrated three acres of land purchased by Father Gilbert Nuonno, is located at 95 Hector Street, Trumansburg, NY.
- St. James the Apostle Cemetery — 95 Hector Street, Trumansburg, NY
- Holy Cross Cemetery — 2048 Gilbert Road, Ovid, NY
- Cemetery Manager: Pamela Jones — 315-283-8042 / 315-539-2944 ext. 303
- Owned and operated by the Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy
Getting Involved — Parish Staff and Contact
Parishioners are encouraged to contact the parish office to join a ministry, register a family, or arrange for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, or Marriage. The parish depends on the support and generosity of its members to fulfill its mission of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, and offers online giving through WeShare. Capuchin friars from St. Fidelis Friary continue to staff the parish.
- Pastor: Rev. Bernard M. Maloney, OFM Cap.
- In residence at St. Fidelis Friary: Rev. Brendan Buckley, OFM Cap.
- Parish Secretary: Susan Guydosh ([email protected])
- Business Manager: Eileen Heptig ([email protected])
- Cemetery Manager: Pamela Jones (315-283-8042)
- Phone: 607-294-0064
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: marymotherofmercy.com
- Facebook: @marymotherofmercyparish
- Online giving: WeShare
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James O'Connor (served Ovid and Farmer Village)1870–1872
Predecessor priest serving the territory before St. James became a parish.
- Rev. Gilbert Nuonno, O.S.F.1872–1877
First pastor of St. James the Apostle; purchased the cemetery land and began fundraising for St. Francis Solanus in Farmer Village.
- Rev. Angelo Lugero1877–1881
Priest of the Diocese of Rochester; transferred to Victor, NY.
- Rev. Michael T. Madden1881–1909
Long-serving pastor of Trumansburg and Interlaken combined for 28 years.
- Rev. T. J. Harrington1909–1920
Served Trumansburg and Interlaken.
- Rev. E. Joseph Esser1920–1935
Served Trumansburg and Interlaken.
- Rev. G. Stuart Hogan1935–1945
Served Trumansburg and Interlaken.
- Rev. Leonard A. Kelly1945–1954
Served Trumansburg and Interlaken.
- Rev. Francis A. Marks1954–1960
Served Trumansburg and Interlaken.
- Rev. Bernard C. Hanna1960–1965
- Rev. Lawrence W. Sansom1966–1970
Implemented Vatican II reforms; helped form one of the first Parish Councils in the Diocese of Rochester.
- Rev. Albert V. Ryan1970–1980
Extended religious education into a catechetical school; appointed regional coordinator for Tioga and Tompkins Counties by Bishop Hogan.
- Rev. Robert Kanka1980–1994
Last diocesan pastor before Capuchins took over.
- Fr. John O'Hare, OFM Cap.1994–1996
First Capuchin pastor of St. James; died in office in 1996.
- Fr. Eugene O'Hara, OFM Cap.1996–2006
Retired to the friary in 2006; continues to serve Mass at St. James when the pastor is out of town.
- Fr. John Tokaz, OFM Cap.2006–August 2014
Capuchin pastor from St. Fidelis Friary.
- Fr. Bernard M. Maloney, OFM Cap.August 2014–2016 (at St. James); 2016–present (Pastor of merged Mary, Mother of Mercy parish)
Also serves as superior of St. Fidelis Friary and manages St. James parish and cemetery.