About St. John Neuman (St. Cecilia Worship Site, Sheldon) · Strykersville, New York
St. John Neumann Catholic Community is a rural Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Buffalo, formed in 2008 by the merger of four historic Wyoming County parishes: St. Patrick's in Java Center (1835), St. Cecilia's in Sheldon (1848), St. Mary Queen of the Rosary in Strykersville (1885), and St. Nicholas' in North Java (1890). The parish operates two active worship sites — St. Mary's in Strykersville (the parish hub at 3854 Main Street) and St. Cecilia's in Sheldon (991 Centerline Road) — and maintains four historic cemeteries. It is part of the 'Fields of Grace' Family of Parishes (Family #14), led by Father F. Patrick Melfi. The community is named for St. John Neumann, the Redemptorist missionary who himself celebrated Mass in Sheldon in 1837 and founded several of the predecessor parishes.
- Established
- 2008
- Patron
- St. John Neumann (parish patron; also St. Mary Queen of the Rosary and St. Cecilia at the two worship sites)
- Rector
- Rev. F. Patrick Melfi
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
St. John Neumann welcomes newcomers into a small, tightly-knit rural Catholic community with deep Wyoming County roots going back to 1837, when St. John Neumann himself celebrated the first Mass in Sheldon. Parishioners worship across two historic sites — the 1886 stone St. Mary's in Strykersville and the 1892 St. Cecilia's in Sheldon — and maintain four heritage cemeteries. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass, weekly confession, First Friday adoration, and a faith formation program for children, all within the 'Fields of Grace' Family of Parishes. It is a place where multiple generations of the same families continue the legacy of the four original missions that merged in 2008.
Mass times at St. John Neuman (St. Cecilia Worship Site, Sheldon)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 7:30 PM at St. Cecilia's (Sheldon Site)
- Saturday: 4:45 PM – 5:15 PM at St. Mary's (Strykersville Site)
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 7:30 PM at St. Cecilia's (Sheldon Site)
- 1st Friday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM at St. Mary's (Strykersville Site)
Welcome to St. John Neumann Catholic Community
St. John Neumann Catholic Community serves Catholics across rural Wyoming County, New York, from its two worship sites in Strykersville and Sheldon. Formed in 2008 from four historic parishes, the community combines the heritages of St. Patrick (Java Center, 1835), St. Cecilia (Sheldon, 1848), St. Mary Queen of the Rosary (Strykersville, 1885), and St. Nicholas (North Java, 1890). The parish is named for St. John Neumann, the Redemptorist missionary who celebrated the first Mass in Sheldon in 1837. The parish uses Flocknote to communicate news and sign up parishioners for ministries.
- Two worship sites: St. Mary's (Strykersville) and St. Cecilia's (Sheldon)
- Four cemeteries under parish care: St. Mary's, St. Cecilia's, St. Nicholas', and St. Patrick's
- Email signup available through Flocknote on the parish website
History of the Parish and Its Four Founders
The four predecessor missions trace directly to the early Catholic settlement of Wyoming County. German, French, Belgian, and Luxembourgish immigrants formed small farming communities, and a young Redemptorist named John Neumann passed through in 1837, celebrating Mass in the Sheldon home of Peter George. He asked the people to build a church, and a log structure was raised on Bartz Road. By 1848 the Sheldon community was formally constituted as St. Cecilia's — named for the patron of music because the people loved singing. The present stone church was begun in 1889 and dedicated on January 31, 1892. Around the same era, German Catholics in Strykersville organized St. Mary's in 1885 with the help of Rev. Martin Phillips, building the cornerstone on May 23, 1886 and dedicating the church that September.
- St. Patrick, Java Center — 1835
- St. Cecilia, Sheldon — 1848 (founded by St. John Neumann himself)
- St. Mary Queen of the Rosary, Strykersville — 1885
- St. Nicholas, North Java — 1890/91
- Merger into St. John Neumann Parish — 2008
St. Cecilia Worship Site — Sheldon
St. Cecilia's at 991 Centerline Road is one of three active worship sites in the parish and the one most directly tied to St. John Neumann's own ministry. The present stone church was begun in 1889 using stones from the George, Kehl, and Almeter properties, and the first Mass was offered on January 31, 1892. A school and convent were added in 1904; the school closed in 1971, and a shed was renovated into Weber Hall in 1974. In 1998 a new shrine, garden, and statue of St. John Neumann was unveiled and blessed.
- Stained glass windows depict the twelve apostles with Latin inscriptions
- Rectory built 1885; present church cornerstone laid 1889
- Weber Hall added 1974; shrine garden and statue blessed 1998
St. Mary Queen of the Rosary Worship Site — Strykersville
St. Mary's at 3854 Main Street is the parish's administrative hub. German Catholics in the area had originally traveled to Mass at Straub's Corners in Sheldon. In 1885 Bishop Stephen Vincent Ryan sent the Rev. Martin Phillips to organize a new parish; the first Mass was offered November 8, 1885 in the town hall. The cornerstone of the present church was laid on May 23, 1886 and the building was dedicated on September 4, 1886 by Bishop Ryan. St. Mary's School opened in the fall of 1908 and has been under the guidance of the Sisters of St. Francis of Williamsville since then.
- First Mass: November 8, 1885
- Church cornerstone: May 23, 1886
- Dedication: September 4, 1886 by Bishop Stephen Vincent Ryan
- Parish school opened: fall 1908 (Sisters of St. Francis)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish offers a Faith Formation program for children, with a Parent Welcome and Registration event scheduled at the start of the formation year. As part of the Fields of Grace Family of Parishes, faith formation draws on shared resources across Family #14, and sacramental preparation (First Communion, Confirmation) is coordinated at the family level.
- Faith Formation registration event held annually
- Sacramental preparation shared across the Fields of Grace Family #14
Parish Ministries and Organizations
St. John Neumann sustains both modern and traditional parish ministries. The Flocknote-based communication ministry keeps parishioners informed; the Holy Name Society and the Altar and Rosary Society (founded in the 1940s by Father Charles G. Gampp) continue as lay spiritual organizations rooted in the St. Mary's community. Music ministry has long been a hallmark — St. Cecilia's was so named because 'the people loved music.' Volunteers also help maintain four historic cemeteries.
- Flocknote parish communications
- Holy Name Society
- Altar and Rosary Society
- Music / choir ministry
- Cemetery care for four parish cemeteries
Clergy and Staff
St. John Neumann is pastored as part of the 'Fields of Grace' Family of Parishes (Diocese of Buffalo Family #14). Rev. F. Patrick Melfi serves as pastor of the family; Rev. John J. Arogyasami resides at St. John Neumann as senior parochial vicar, with Rev. Peter Napierkowski and Rev. George Devanapalle also assigned to Family #14. The parish office is reachable at (585) 457-3222 and [email protected].
- Rev. F. Patrick Melfi — Pastor
- Rev. John J. Arogyasami — Senior Parochial Vicar (resides at St. John Neumann)
- Rev. Peter Napierkowski — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. George Devanapalle — Parochial Vicar
Cemeteries Maintained by the Parish
St. John Neumann Catholic Community maintains four cemeteries, one from each of its predecessor parishes. They are places of memory for many local Catholic families whose histories are intertwined with the merged communities.
- St. Mary's Cemetery — Strykersville
- St. Cecilia's Cemetery — Sheldon
- St. Nicholas' Cemetery — North Java
- St. Patrick's Cemetery — Java Center
Visiting and Getting Involved
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed at either worship site. The parish uses Flocknote to onboard new members and keep them informed about ministries, Mass times, and special collections. Because the parish sits within the broader Fields of Grace Family of Parishes, members also have access to family-wide programming, events, and formation opportunities.
- Join the parish email list via Flocknote on sjnchurch.org
- Follow the parish Facebook page for news and announcements
- Explore family-wide events at fieldsofgrace.family
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Martin Phillips1885–1886
Organized St. Mary's, Strykersville at Bishop Ryan's request; said the first Mass on November 8, 1885.
- Rev. Frank Trautlein1886 (brief)
Immediate successor at St. Mary's.
- Rev. Adolfus Bergmann1886–
Early pastor of St. Mary's, Strykersville.
- Rev. Jac Bubenheimshort period
Served briefly at St. Mary's.
- Rev. Anthony Adolph1888–1891; second stint later
First substantial tenure at St. Mary's; returned for a second time before L. Bastian.
- Rev. Aloysius Huber1891–
Appointed September 1891.
- Rev. John B. Stemlerafter Huber
Succeeded Huber after a few months.
- Rev. Gerard H. Gysenafter Stemler
Served St. Mary's.
- Rev. L. Bastianuntil 1901
St. Mary's.
- Rev. Jacob Franz1901–
Organized several parish societies; first to advocate a parish school.
- Rev. Anthony Veitby 1908
Opened St. Mary's elementary school in fall 1908 under the Sisters of St. Francis.
- Rev. Francis Dehlinger1912–1920
Pastor of St. Mary's.
- Rev. John Marencovick1920–1941
Organized the Holy Name Society at St. Mary's.
- Rev. Charles G. Gampp1941–1946
Organized St. Mary's Altar and Rosary Society.
- Rev. Joseph J. Vogel1946–1951
Succeeded Father Gampp at St. Mary's.
- Rev. Joseph E. Kocher1951–1957
Died suddenly in office on November 7, 1957.
- Rev. Eugene Wagnerfrom 1957
Served as parish administrator of St. Mary's in the period following.