About St. John of Rochester · Fairport, New York
St. John of Rochester is a Roman Catholic parish in Fairport, New York, in Monroe County, belonging to the Diocese of Rochester. Established in 1962 and named after the 16th-century English Bishop and Martyr St. John Fisher (who signed his pastoral letters as 'John of Rochester'), the parish serves the community from its 8 Wickford Way campus, where the current church was dedicated in October 1983. It is led by Pastor Rev. Peter C. Clifford (in office since 2007), with Parochial Vicar Rev. Nayak Basant, H.G.N., Deacon Jim Pegoni, and a full lay staff running faith formation, music, finance and pastoral care. Worship is offered in English with a robust daily and Sunday schedule, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, Saturday confessions, and outreach programs such as Stephen Ministry and Saint's Place (refugee resettlement).
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- St. John of Rochester (John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr of Rochester, England)
- Rector
- Rev. Peter C. Clifford
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester (New York)
Why belong here
St. John of Rochester offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in one welcoming Fairport campus: three Sunday Masses plus a Saturday Vigil, daily Mass six mornings a week, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration that is live-streamed 24/7, and Saturday confessions from 4:00–4:45 PM. Parishioners of every age are served by a Faith Formation program (K through youth ministry, plus First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation prep), an OCIA process for adults seeking to become Catholic, a Stephen Ministry for confidential one-on-one care in difficult times, and the on-campus Saint's Place ministry that resettles refugee families — practical, hands-on ways to put faith into action alongside neighbors.
Mass times at St. John of Rochester
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM (in the Adoration Chapel; please wait in the rear of the Church until it is your turn)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Monday through Friday 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Adoration is live-streamed 24/7)
Parish Story & Patron
St. John of Rochester was established in June 1962 by Bishop James E. Kearney, who had traveled to Rome in 1935 for the canonization of St. John Fisher, the 16th-century Bishop of Rochester, England, who was martyred under Henry VIII. Kearney secured from Pope John XXIII the naming of John Fisher as Patron of the Rochester Diocese in 1961, and the following year he founded this parish on 11½ acres of former Savard farmland, naming it after the way Fisher always signed his pastoral letters — 'John of Rochester' — so it would not be confused with the neighboring St. John Fisher College. Over six decades the parish has grown from that original School-Church building into a full campus of church, Parish Center, Ministry Building and Saint's Place.
- Founded June 1962 by Bishop James E. Kearney
- Patron: St. John Fisher (John of Rochester), Bishop and Martyr — canonized 1935
- Feast day: June 22
Campus & Buildings
The original School-Church building (groundbreaking October 1962) still stands in an altered and enlarged form as the Parish Center, expanded in 1988–1989 with a basketball court, a kitchen and four meeting rooms. The present church was designed after a Long Range Planning study in late 1980, broken ground October 31, 1982, and dedicated October 31, 1983. The Ministry Building — completed in March 1995 and dedicated April 1, 1995 — houses parish and staff offices, a multi-purpose Gathering Room with fireplace, conference rooms and storage, and hosts ministries such as Project Hunger, Prayer Shawl, Perinton Food Shelf, Stephen Ministry, Funeral Luncheons and Bible Study. A 2013 interior church renovation and Narthex expansion added a new kitchen, restrooms, a music room and a video control area.
- Original School-Church building (1962) → now Parish Center
- Current church dedicated October 31, 1983
- Ministry Building dedicated April 1, 1995
- 2013 interior renovation and Narthex expansion
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Team
The parish is pastored by Rev. Peter C. Clifford (in office since 2007) with Parochial Vicar Rev. Nayak Basant, H.G.N., Rev. Alexander Bradshaw in residence, and Deacon Jim Pegoni (and his wife Theresa). The lay team includes Pastoral Associate Rob Layer, Director of Faith Formation & Youth Ministry Anne Marie Egan, Administrative Assistant Rose Clark, Youth Ministry Assistant Colleen Young, Director of Worship & Music Valerie Gaudin, Organist Jennifer Shin, Finance Director Laurie Martin, Multi-Parish Facilities Director John Ciavarro, Property Manager Pat Bianchi and Office Manager Kate Wahl.
- Pastor: Rev. Peter C. Clifford
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Nayak Basant, H.G.N.
- In Residence: Rev. Alexander Bradshaw
- Deacon: Jim Pegoni (and Theresa)
- Pastoral Associate: Rob Layer
- Director of Faith Formation & Youth Ministry: Anne Marie Egan
- Director of Worship & Music: Valerie Gaudin; Organist: Jennifer Shin
- Office Manager: Kate Wahl; Finance Director: Laurie Martin
Worship Schedule & Sacraments
Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday at 5:00 PM and Sunday at 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 AM, all in English. Daily Mass is offered Monday through Thursday at 6:30 AM and 8:30 AM, and Friday and Saturday at 8:30 AM. The Sacrament of Penance is heard Saturdays beginning at 4:00 PM in the Adoration Chapel (parishioners wait in the rear of the church until called).
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 7:30, 9:00, 11:00 AM
- Mon–Thu: 6:30 AM and 8:30 AM
- Fri & Sat: 8:30 AM
- Confessions: Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM, Adoration Chapel
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
The parish's 'Young Church' welcomes children and teens from kindergarten through high school, with Family Faith Formation for K–5, Middle School Faith Formation for 6th–7th graders, a High School Youth Group, Vacation Bible School, Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass, and year-round activities for youth. Sacramental preparation is offered for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (2nd grade and above) and Confirmation (8th and 9th grade). Director of Faith Formation & Youth Ministry Anne Marie Egan leads the program with Administrative Assistant Rose Clark and Youth Ministry Assistant Colleen Young; the office can be reached at 585-248-8850.
- Family Faith Formation (K–5)
- Middle School Faith Formation (6th–7th)
- High School Youth Group
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist prep (2nd grade+)
- Confirmation prep (8th & 9th grade)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word at 9:00 AM Sunday Mass
Becoming Catholic — OCIA
Unbaptized adults seeking the Initiation Sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist and Confirmation, and baptized adults seeking Confirmation, journey through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), with Adult Baptism, First Eucharist and Confirmation typically celebrated at the Easter Vigil. Children ages 7–17 prepare through the parallel Order of Christian Initiation of Children (OCIC), in conjunction with the parish Religious Education program. The OCIA Team — parishioner mentors who attend sessions, share faith stories and sometimes serve as sponsors — is coordinated by Pastoral Associate Rob Layer.
- OCIA for adults (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation)
- OCIC for children ages 7–17
- OCIA Team welcomes volunteers and sponsors
- Contact: Rob Layer, [email protected] or 585-248-5993 x12
Parish Leadership & Councils
Guided by the Parish Covenant, the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) is the central leadership body accountable for all committees and groups, focused on four goals: Stewardship (give first to God our time, talent and treasure), Witness (share the Gospel through service), Worship (full, conscious, active participation in Mass and the sacraments) and Word (grow in knowledge of Scripture and the saints). Each Catholic parish in the Diocese of Rochester is a separate corporation governed by a Board of Trustees; the Trustees meet with the pastor and finance director annually. The Parish Pastoral Council meets the second Tuesday of each month (except July and August), 7:00–9:00 PM in the Gathering Room, and visitors are welcome.
- Parish Council Chair: Brian Siesto
- Finance Council Chair: Mike Andrews
- Lay Trustees: Mike Mason, Marilyn Muench, and others
- Pastoral Council meets 2nd Tuesday, 7:00–9:00 PM in the Gathering Room
- Four PPC goals: Stewardship, Witness, Worship, Word
Outreach, Care & Community
St. John of Rochester runs a robust care-and-outreach network. Stephen Ministry offers confidential, one-on-one support in difficult times from trained parishioners (call 585-248-5993 x16). Saint's Place, a ministry that resettles refugee families in the greater Rochester area, is now completely located on the SJR campus; donations are accepted Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–2:00 PM at the Parish Center. Project Hunger, the Perinton Food Shelf and the Prayer Shawl Ministry all operate from the Ministry Building. Home and Hospital Visits are coordinated by Pastoral Associate Rob Layer, and the Prayer Chain (led by Marie Kushner) prays for intentions received by email.
- Stephen Ministry — confidential lay care (call 585-248-5993 x16)
- Saint's Place — refugee resettlement, drop-offs Mon–Thu 8 AM–2 PM
- Project Hunger and Perinton Food Shelf
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Prayer Chain (Marie Kushner)
- Home & Hospital Visits (Rob Layer)
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Worship is supported by a Music Ministry led by Director of Worship & Music Valerie Gaudin and Organist Jennifer Shin. The 2013 renovation added a dedicated music room and a video control area to support the parish's live-streamed Masses and 24/7 Adoration broadcast.
- Director of Worship & Music: Valerie Gaudin
- Organist: Jennifer Shin
- Live-streamed Masses and 24/7 Adoration broadcast
Planning a Wedding, Funeral or Sacrament
Sacramental planning (marriage, baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, etc.) is coordinated directly by Fr. Peter Clifford — contact him at [email protected] or 585-248-5993 x15; see stjohnfairport.org/sacraments for details. Funeral planning is also handled by Fr. Peter (stjohnfairport.org/funerals). New parishioners can register online at stjohnfairport.org/registration-1 or by contacting Rob Layer at 585-248-5993 x12.
- Sacramental Planning: Fr. Peter Clifford, 585-248-5993 x15
- Funeral Planning: Fr. Peter Clifford
- Parish Registration: Rob Layer, 585-248-5993 x12 or online
- Office Summer Hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (lunch 12:00–12:30); Fri 8:30 AM–Noon
Getting Involved
The parish actively invites parishioners into service: catechists and helpers for K–6 classes and monthly Family Faith Formation sessions, mentors for teen Youth Ministry, sponsors and team members for OCIA, Stephen Ministers for confidential care, liturgical ministers for Mass and Adoration, and volunteers for Saint's Place. Inquiries begin with the parish office at [email protected] or 585-248-5993.
- Catechists and Family Faith Formation helpers
- Youth Ministry volunteers
- OCIA Team members and sponsors
- Stephen Ministers
- Saint's Place volunteers (Michele Quinn, 585-385-6860)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John W. LeVeque1962–1968
Founding pastor, established the parish in June 1962 and broke ground on the original School-Church building in October 1962.
- Rev. Vincent P. Collins1968–1980
- Rev. Bernard F. Dollen1980–1990
- Rev. Robert C. MacNamara1990–1992
- Rev. James E. Boyle1992–2007
- Rev. Peter C. Clifford2007–present
Current pastor; oversaw the 2013 interior church and Narthex renovation.