About St. John the Baptist - Holy Trinity · Syracuse, New York
St. John the Baptist / Holy Trinity is a Roman Catholic parish in Syracuse, New York, part of the Diocese of Syracuse. The parish traces its origins to 1819, making it the oldest Roman Catholic church in Onondaga County and the second oldest in the diocese. Today it is the merged congregation of the historic St. John the Baptist parish and Holy Trinity parish, unified in 2009 at the Court Street site. The parish serves its neighborhood with Sunday and weekday Mass, the sacrament of Reconciliation, a faith formation program for children and adults, outreach to those in need, and a music ministry led by an organist. It is located at 406 Court Street on the city's north side, near the original Park Street school building.
- Established
- 1819
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Fr. Brendan Foley
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist / Holy Trinity offers a close-knit community rooted in more than two centuries of Catholic life on Syracuse's north side. Parishioners gather for daily and Sunday Mass, weekday Reconciliation, a full Pre-K through Confirmation faith formation program with family retreats and a Christmas play, RCIA and adult faith formation, and an active outreach effort that partners with the All Faiths Food Pantry and ministers to the homebound. With its historic 1866 brick church, dedicated parish staff, and small-parish warmth, it is a welcoming place for families, individuals, and returning Catholics seeking a place to belong.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist - Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm (St. John the Baptist / Holy Trinity, enter through the center front doors)
About & History of St. John the Baptist / Holy Trinity
St. John the Baptist Church was established in 1819, originally under the Diocese of Albany, making it the oldest Roman Catholic church in Onondaga County and the second oldest in the Diocese of Syracuse. The original congregation met in a small wood-frame church on North Salina Street; a replacement frame church on the same street was built in 1829–30 and dedicated early in 1830. The current brick church at Park and Court Streets was built in 1866 under Rev. James A. Duffy. In 2009, the parishes of St. John the Baptist and Holy Trinity merged at the Court Street site, taking the combined name St. John the Baptist / Holy Trinity Church.
- Founded 1819 — oldest Catholic church in Onondaga County
- Originally under the Diocese of Albany
- Original wood-frame church on North Salina Street (dedicated 1830)
- Present brick church built 1866 by Rev. James A. Duffy for $125,000
- Parish school moved to Park Street in 1924; high school added 1934
- Last high school class graduated 1977; grammar school closed 2001
- Merged with Holy Trinity parish in 2009
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Religious Education program at St. John the Baptist / Holy Trinity is a family-oriented faith formation program teaching Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition in an interactive setting that also incorporates current events and community service. The program includes a yearly Christmas play open to all students, whole-group retreats and workshops tied to the liturgical calendar, community service projects ministering to the homebound and those in need, family dinners, and end-of-year picnics. Classes run from Pre-K through Confirmation, with RCIA and Adult Formation also offered.
- Pre-K through Confirmation classes
- Yearly Christmas play
- Whole-group retreats and workshops
- Community service and homebound ministry
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Adult Formation
- Director: Betty Warren — (315) 478-0916
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is served by a small, dedicated staff of clergy and lay leaders. Fr. Brendan Foley is the current pastor; the parish also benefits from senior priests in residence and a team of lay ministers responsible for faith formation, music, outreach, the parish office, and facilities.
- Pastor – Fr. Brendan Foley
- Senior Priest in Residence – Fr. Lester Smith
- In Residence – Fr. Paschal Anionye
- Director of Religious Education / Faith Formation – Betty Warren
- Confirmation and Youth Minister – Betty Warren
- Parish Council President – David William
- Trustees – Gerald Mott and John Cannizzaro
- Sacristan – Allan Chouinard
- Outreach – Cathy Horton
- Organist / Music Director – James Stanley
- Secretary – Nancy Bergeson
- Office Assistance – Mary Olmsted
- Building & Grounds Supervisor – Bob Warren
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. John the Baptist / Holy Trinity is led by Music Director and Organist James Stanley. The historic 1866 church provides an acoustically rich setting for the parish's sung prayer at weekend and weekday Masses.
- Music Director / Organist – James Stanley
- Sacristan – Allan Chouinard
Outreach, Food Pantry & Care for the Homebound
Outreach is central to parish life at St. John the Baptist / Holy Trinity. The parish partners with the All Faiths Food Pantry to serve those who are hungry in the Syracuse area, and the staff coordinates visits to the sick and homebound, bringing Holy Communion and pastoral care to those unable to attend Mass in person. Parish bulletins have stressed the call to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter those in need as a direct response to the Eucharistic presence of Christ.
- All Faiths Food Pantry (parish partner)
- Outreach coordinator – Cathy Horton
- Hospital and home visits to the sick and homebound
- Family Life Education
- Community service projects through faith formation
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments and welcomes inquiries for Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation. Those seeking to join the Catholic Church are invited to participate in the parish's RCIA program, and adult formation is available for Catholics wishing to deepen their faith. To inquire about any sacrament, contact the parish office at (315) 478-0916.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (Mass and Communion to the homebound)
- Reconciliation (Thursday 4:00–5:00 pm)
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- RCIA for adults seeking initiation
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
St. John the Baptist / Holy Trinity welcomes visitors at its historic 1866 church at 406 Court Street in Syracuse's 13208 ZIP code. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (some bulletins list 4:30 pm) and Friday from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm. The rectory is closed on major civil holidays such as Juneteenth and Independence Day, when noon Mass is also not celebrated.
- Address: 406 Court Street, Syracuse, NY 13208
- Phone: (315) 478-0916
- Fax: (315) 423-8096
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stjohnthebaptist-holytrinity.com
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 am–4:00 pm; Fri 9:00 am–2:30 pm
Bulletin & News
The parish regularly publishes a bulletin with weekly Mass schedules, parish collections, upcoming events, faith reflections, and diocesan news. Past bulletins have covered topics such as the call to serve the poor and homeless, the annual Young Adult Hike with Bishop Lucia at Labrador Hollows, class reunions for St. John the Baptist Academy alumni, and notices about rectory closures for civil holidays. Bulletins are archived on the parish website.
- Weekly Mass schedule and readings
- Parish collections
- Diocesan events (e.g., Young Adult Hike with Bishop Lucia)
- Alumni and school reunion notices
- Holiday and closure notices
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis O'Donohue
First regular pastor; served about six years.
- Fathers Balfe and Drummond
Succeeded O'Donohue.
- Rev. James O'Donnell
Served four or five years.
- Fathers Radigan and Cartier
Had charge of the parish for a time.
- Father Michael Haes
Enlarged the church; served about fifteen years before transfer to St. Mary's.
- Rev. Philip Gillick
- Rev. Joseph Guerdet
- Rev. T. A. Mullany
- Rev. Michael Hackett
- Rev. Maurice Sheehan
- Rev. James A. Duffy
Built the present brick church in 1866 at a cost of $125,000.
- Father Brown
- Rev. William J. Bourke
- Rev. John F. Mullany
Also erected the Church of the Sacred Heart in Cicero and St. Joseph's in Liverpool.
- Father Daniel Caruso
Listed as Pastor in parish bulletin, June 2022.