About St. John. Peace of Christ Parish. · Rochester, New York
Peace of Christ Parish is a multi-site Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Rochester, New York, formed in 2007 by uniting three historic congregations: St. Ambrose Church (Rochester), St. James Church (Irondequoit), and St. John the Evangelist Church (Rochester). The parish serves the northeast section of Rochester and the Irondequoit border, blending urban and suburban communities. Worship is offered across all three worship sites with daily and weekend Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, perpetual Eucharistic adoration, a parish elementary school (St. Ambrose Academy), vibrant faith formation programs, and broad social outreach. Its stated mission is to 'create Christian Community where God is found; in the beauty and joy of our worship, in the breadth of our outreach, and in our love for one another.'
- Established
- 2007
- Patron
- The Peace of Christ (parish name); constituent churches dedicated to St. Ambrose, St. James, and St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Peter B. Mottola
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
Peace of Christ Parish offers the rare gift of three historic worship sites in one Catholic community, letting parishioners experience different worship traditions while sharing one faith and one mission. Daily and weekend Masses are offered across St. Ambrose, St. James, and St. John the Evangelist, with a robust Reconciliation schedule, perpetual Eucharistic adoration in the former St. James Convent Chapel, and even a Traditional Latin Mass on Fridays. Strong formation runs from the parish's PK3-Grade 5 school (St. Ambrose Academy) through grade-school Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and the joint City East Youth Ministry, while ministries such as the Knights of Columbus, Ladies Auxiliary, Social Ministry Team, Food Link Pop-Up Pantry, clothing collections, and parish-wide outreach put the Gospel into practice in northeast Rochester and Irondequoit.
Mass times at St. John. Peace of Christ Parish.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM (St. James Church)
- Sunday 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM (St. John the Evangelist Church)
- Sunday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (St. Ambrose Church)
- By appointment — call Parish Office (585) 288-5000
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration, 24/7, at the former St. James Convent Chapel, 123 Whittington Road, Rochester, NY 14609 (code access for committed adorers)
- First Fridays 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Ambrose Church
About Peace of Christ Parish
Peace of Christ Parish is a multi-site Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Rochester, formed in 2007 by uniting three historic congregations on the northeast side of Rochester and the Irondequoit border: St. Ambrose Church, St. James Church, and St. John the Evangelist Church. The parish describes itself as a welcoming Catholic community called to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people, blending urban and suburban character. Its stated mission — 'The Peace of Christ calls us to create Christian Community where God is found; in the beauty and joy of our worship, in the breadth of our outreach, and in our love for one another' — is grounded in Colossians 3:15-16.
- Three worship sites: St. Ambrose, St. James, St. John the Evangelist
- Parish Office at 25 Empire Blvd., Rochester, NY 14609
- Part of the Diocese of Rochester (Monroe Central Deanery)
Our History
The parish was canonically erected in 2007 from three formerly independent parishes, each with deep local roots. St. Ambrose Church was founded November 12, 1921 — the 31st parish in the Diocese of Rochester — by Father Walter B. McCarthy under Bishop Thomas F. Hickey; within a month, parishioners built a wood-frame church at Culver Road and Empire Boulevard for $3,945, and St. Ambrose School opened under the Sisters of St. Joseph in September 1922. The present St. Ambrose Church was dedicated by Bishop James E. Kearney on October 2, 1960 after a 1957 fund drive, while the original frame church — by then used for classrooms — was destroyed by fire on April 29, 1962 and rebuilt. St. James Church broke ground in July 1949 at 130 Brett Road in Irondequoit and was renovated in 1974. St. John the Evangelist Church, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014, occupies its current Humboldt Street building completed in the late 1920s and still uses the pipe organ installed in 1953. By the early 2000s the staff had shifted from a primarily ordained model to a mixed ordained/lay team that included a pastoral associate, faith formation director, music director, youth minister, business manager, and office manager. The parish schools merged into St. John Neumann School in 2005 and were renamed St. Ambrose Academy effective July 1, 2018.
- 1921 — St. Ambrose Parish founded by Fr. Walter B. McCarthy
- 1922 — St. Ambrose School opens under the Sisters of St. Joseph
- 1949 — Ground broken for St. James Church, school, and parish hall
- 1960 — Present-day St. Ambrose Church dedicated by Bishop James E. Kearney (Oct. 2)
- 1962 — Original wood-frame church destroyed by fire (April 29); rebuilt
- 2005 — St. John Neumann School formed from merger of St. Ambrose and St. John the Evangelist schools
- 2007 — Peace of Christ Parish canonically erected from the three churches
- 2014 — St. John the Evangelist Church celebrates 100th anniversary
- 2018 — St. John Neumann School renamed St. Ambrose Academy (July 1)
- 2022-23 — St. Ambrose Academy celebrates its centennial
Our Churches
The parish family is structured around three distinct worship sites, each with its own history, tradition, and style of worship. Together they offer the parish community the daily Mass coverage of a much larger church while preserving the intimacy of three neighborhood communities.
- St. Ambrose Church — 25 Empire Blvd., Rochester, NY 14609 (parish founded 1921)
- St. James Church — 130 Brett Rd., Rochester, NY 14609 (ground broken 1949)
- St. John the Evangelist Church — 533 Humboldt St., Rochester, NY 14610 (current building completed late 1920s; pipe organ installed 1953)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by its pastor, parochial vicar, and deacon, supported by a staff that includes a Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation, a school principal, parish and school office staff, a funeral coordinator, and a parish-wide ministry team.
- Rev. Peter B. Mottola — Pastor
- Rev. Timothy T. Brown — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Robert Corsaro
- Katie Amann — Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation
- Andrea Milgate — Principal, St. Ambrose Academy
- William Rein — Funeral Coordinator (585-288-5000 ext. 123)
St. Ambrose Academy (Parish School)
St. Ambrose Academy (SAA) is a Catholic Elementary School of the Diocese of Rochester providing PK3 through Grade 5 education, operating as a ministry of Peace of Christ Parish. Founded in 1922 as St. Ambrose School, it merged with St. John the Evangelist School in 2005 to form St. John Neumann School, and was renamed St. Ambrose Academy effective July 1, 2018. The school celebrated its centennial in 2022-23 and serves approximately 127 students — about two-thirds of whom are city residents, roughly the same proportion that identifies as Black or Hispanic, and more than 60% of whom come from families below the poverty line. Principal Andrea Milgate leads the school alongside Fr. Peter Mottola (Pastor) and Fr. Timothy Brown (Parochial Vicar).
- 31 Empire Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14609
- 585-288-0580 (p) • 585-288-2612 (f)
- [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Suzanna Youngs Memorial Scholarship funded by Knights of Columbus Ascension Council #15638 and Ladies Auxiliary
- Centennial celebrated 2022-23; fundraising for 100th year anniversary
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at Peace of Christ Parish is designed to serve families with children of all ages. Grades 2-9 classes meet twice a month after the 9:45 AM Mass at St. Ambrose Academy, while the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) provides a Montessori-based atrium experience for ages 3-6. Older youth participate in the joint City East Youth Ministry program with neighboring parishes. Adult faith formation includes book discussions and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA). For questions, contact Katie Amann, Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation.
- Child & Youth Faith Formation (grades 2-9, twice monthly after 9:45 AM Mass)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) for ages 3-6
- City East Youth Ministry (joint with neighboring parishes)
- OCIA / Adult Faith Formation
- First Penance & First Communion preparation
- Vacation Bible School (summer)
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music and liturgical service are essential to parish worship. Volunteers serve as sacristans, altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, and greeters, and the Hand Bell Choir rehearses weekly and plays roughly once a month at the Sunday 5:00 PM Mass at St. Ambrose. No prior musical training is required for hand bells.
- Adult Choir
- Hand Bell Choir — Sundays at 5:00 PM Mass at St. Ambrose
- Sacristan, Altar Server, Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Usher, Greeter
Parish Life, Outreach & Social Ministry
Outreach and parish life span the practical and the pastoral. The Social Ministry Team promotes awareness of Catholic Social Teaching — justice, peace, the Consistent Life Ethic, and compassion — while operational ministries put faith into action. Food Link Pop-Up Pantry distributions take place as drive-through events in the St. Ambrose parking lot, clothing donations flow through the yellow St. Pauly shed at St. Ambrose with proceeds benefiting local charities, and a Transportation Ministry provides rides for banking and pharmacy needs (requests due one week in advance). The Knights of Columbus Ascension Council #15638 and Ladies Auxiliary conduct service projects and social events for the parish, school, and community. Bereavement support is coordinated through the Funeral Ministry.
- Food Link Pop-Up Pantry — drive-through at St. Ambrose parking lot
- St. Pauly Clothing Collection — shed at St. Ambrose
- Transportation Ministry — banking and pharmacy rides (one week notice)
- Knights of Columbus Ascension Council #15638 & Ladies Auxiliary
- Social Ministry Team — Catholic Social Teaching, justice, peace, life issues
- Pastoral Care visits to homebound and hospitalized
- Bereavement / Funeral Ministry (coordinator William Rein, ext. 123)
- Parish Garage Sale
Parish Leadership & Stewardship
Lay leadership is central to the parish's governance. Pastoral Council members meet five times per year to discern and recommend initiatives, serving a minimum three-year term. The Finance Committee — composed of parishioners with finance, accounting, law, and business backgrounds — oversees receipts, expenditures, budget, and fiscal communication. The St. Ambrose Academy School Board meets bimonthly to support the parish elementary school.
- Pastoral Council (5 meetings/year, 3-year terms)
- Finance Committee
- St. Ambrose Academy School Board (bimonthly)
Funeral Planning
When a loved one dies, Peace of Christ Parish assists families in scheduling and planning funerals at any of its three churches. Funeral coordinator William Rein can be reached at 585-288-5000 ext. 123.
- Contact: William Rein, 585-288-5000 ext. 123
- Funerals can be held at St. Ambrose, St. James, or St. John the Evangelist
Holy Week & Easter Schedule
The published Holy Week and Easter schedule gathers all three worship sites for the Triduum. Stations and the Solemn Liturgy on Good Friday are at St. James, while the Easter Vigil takes place at St. Ambrose and Easter Sunday morning Masses rotate through all three churches.
- Holy Thursday 7:00 PM Mass of the Lord's Supper at St. John; Solemn Adoration until 11:00 PM Compline
- Good Friday Way of the Cross 9:30 AM (procession from St. John to St. Ambrose); Stations 12:00 PM at St. James; Solemn Liturgy 3:00 PM at St. James
- Easter Vigil 8:00 PM at St. Ambrose (no 4:30 PM at St. James)
- Easter Sunday: 8:00 AM St. James; 9:00 AM St. John; 9:45 AM St. Ambrose; 11:00 AM St. John (no 5:00 PM at St. Ambrose)
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person at the main office on Empire Boulevard. Parish Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM. St. James Masses are livestreamed on YouTube on Saturdays, providing an online option for those unable to attend in person.
- Parish Office: 25 Empire Blvd., Rochester, NY 14609
- Phone: (585) 288-5000
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- St. James Masses livestreamed on YouTube (Saturday)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Walter B. McCarthy1921–deceased in office
First pastor of St. Ambrose Church, appointed by Bishop Thomas F. Hickey; oversaw construction of the original wood-frame church and founded St. Ambrose School under the Sisters of St. Joseph.
- Rev. Fr. Mason
Pastor of St. Ambrose who led the 1957 fund drive and saw the present-day St. Ambrose Church dedicated by Bishop James E. Kearney on October 2, 1960.
- Rev. Fr. Marvinto c. 2001
Pastor referenced in parish history; under his pastorate the staff transitioned from multiple priests to a mixed ordained/lay ministry team with pastoral associates, faith formation director, music director, youth minister, business manager and office manager.