About St. John-Transfiguration Parish @ Transfiguration of Our Lord · Rome, New York
Transfiguration of Our Lord was a Roman Catholic parish located on Ridge Street in south Rome, New York, founded in 1909 by Catholics of Italian descent in the Diocese of Syracuse. The parish's church at 111 Ridge Street was historically linked with neighboring St. John the Baptist parish beginning in 2011 and shared pastoral leadership, staff, and programs under Fr. Paul F. Angelicchio. After more than a century of ministry, the Diocese of Syracuse decreed on April 24, 2025 that Transfiguration would be united extinctively with St. John the Baptist, and the Transfiguration church was reduced to profane but not sordid use effective May 6, 2025.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- Transfiguration of Our Lord
- Rector
- Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
Transfiguration of Our Lord offered Sunday and weekday Mass, the Sacrament of Confession on Saturdays, faith formation for children and youth, Confirmation preparation, a parish choir under Director of Music Anthony Stavola, and the warm welcome of a tight-knit Italian-American Catholic community. Worshippers were drawn to its Ridge Street church for a shared liturgy and devotional life in close fellowship with neighboring St. John the Baptist, served under the long pastoral care of Fr. Paul F. Angelicchio. Note: as of May 6, 2025, the parish has been canonically merged into St. John the Baptist (210 E. Dominick St., Rome) — new parishioners should now register and worship there.
Mass times at St. John-Transfiguration Parish @ Transfiguration of Our Lord
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (at St. John the Baptist, 210 E. Dominick St.)
Parish History
Transfiguration of Our Lord traces its roots to 1909, when Italian-descent Catholics in south Rome organized the parish under the leadership of its first pastor, Rev. Vincenzo Giorgio. The community's first worship site was at 311 East Dominick Street in the Ferlo Block — a building that today houses Al's Cycle Parts. Within two years, the fledgling parish had purchased land on Ridge Street, where the present Transfiguration church was built and dedicated the same year, 1909. For more than a century the parish served south Rome with Mass, sacraments, and an Italian-American devotional heritage that remained central to its identity.
- Founded 1909 by Italian-descent Catholics in Rome, NY
- First pastor: Rev. Vincenzo Giorgio
- Original worship site: 311 E. Dominick St. (Ferlo Block)
- Current church at 111 Ridge Street dedicated 1909
2011 Linkage with St. John the Baptist
Citing changing city demographics and limited resources, the Diocese of Syracuse formally linked Transfiguration with the neighboring St. John the Baptist parish in 2011 for the sake of proper pastoral care. The two parishes operated as one parochial entity with shared clergy, finance and pastoral councils, faith formation, bulletins, and other programs, while keeping two worship sites. On July 1, 2011, Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio — a Rome Catholic School Class of 1969 graduate who had offered his first Mass at St. John's on May 8, 1977 — was installed as pastor of both communities. From 2021 onward, St. John the Baptist (210 E. Dominick St.) functioned as the principal church of the linked entity.
- Linked with St. John the Baptist in 2011
- Shared clergy, finance and pastoral councils, faith formation, bulletin
- Fr. Paul F. Angelicchio installed as pastor on July 1, 2011
- St. John the Baptist designated principal church from 2021
2025 Merger into St. John the Baptist
After a multi-year process of review — including consultation with trustees, finance and pastoral councils, and a town hall meeting of parishioners — the Diocese of Syracuse moved to formally unite Transfiguration with St. John the Baptist. On April 24, 2025 (Thursday of the Octave of Easter), Bishop Douglas J. Lucia issued a decree of extinctive union–amalgamation and reduced the Transfiguration church at 111 Ridge Street to profane but not sordid use under canon 1222 §2. The merger and relegation became effective on May 6, 2025, the Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter. All sacramental registers were transferred to St. John the Baptist, and the parish's territorial members became members of St. John the Baptist; the Presbyteral Council had unanimously supported the modification and relegation at its October 9, 2024 meeting.
- Decree issued by Bishop Douglas J. Lucia on April 24, 2025
- Effective date: May 6, 2025 (Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter)
- Presbyteral Council unanimous support on October 9, 2024
- Sacramental registers transferred to St. John the Baptist
- Transfiguration church reduced to profane but not sordid use under canon 1222 §2
Pastoral Staff & Parish Leadership
Transfiguration was served as part of a multi-parish collaborative under the long pastorate of Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio, who oversaw Transfiguration, St. John the Baptist, St. Leo, and St. Ann's parishes. The staff and volunteers listed on the parish website included a deacon, parish administrator, faith formation director, youth and Confirmation coordinator, director of music/organist, and facilities personnel, supported by joint Parish and Finance Councils.
- Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio — Pastor
- Deacon Michael Gudaitis
- Barbara Vota — Administrator
- Lori De Souza — Administrative Assistant
- Bonnie Zdziebko — Secretary
- Ann Marie Hunzinger — Director of Faith Formation
- Robin Calandra — Coordinator, Youth Ministry & Confirmation
- Anthony Stavola — Director of Music / Organist
- Thomas Carinci — Parish Facilities Manager
- Karen Fatiuk — Maintenance
- Chris Klara — Maintenance
- Joint Parish Council and Finance Council with St. John's, Transfiguration, St. Leo & St. Ann's
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at the parish was led by Anthony Stavola, who served as both Director of Music and Organist. The parish choir supported Sunday and holy day liturgies and was an integral part of the Italian-American devotional traditions cherished by the community.
- Anthony Stavola — Director of Music and Organist
- Parish choir supporting Sunday and holy day liturgies
Faith Formation, Youth & Confirmation
Faith formation for children and youth was coordinated across Transfiguration and its linked parishes by a small, dedicated formation team. The Director of Faith Formation oversaw parish-school-of-religion-style catechesis, while the Coordinator of Youth Ministry and Confirmation prepared candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation through classes, retreats, and service opportunities.
- Ann Marie Hunzinger — Director of Faith Formation
- Robin Calandra — Coordinator, Youth Ministry & Confirmation
- Faith formation classes for children
- Confirmation preparation program
Worship Site, Address & Contact
Transfiguration of Our Lord Church stood at 111 Ridge Street in south Rome, New York 13440. Parish business — including registrations, sacramental scheduling, and offertory — was handled through the parish office at St. John the Baptist, 210 East Dominick Street, Rome, NY 13440.
- Worship site: 111 Ridge Street, Rome, NY 13440
- Parish office: 210 E. Dominick St., Rome, NY 13440
- Phone: (315) 337-0990
- Fax: (315) 336-3841
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stjohnbaptist.info
Diocese of Syracuse
Transfiguration of Our Lord belonged to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse. The diocesan bishop at the time of the 2025 merger was the Most Reverend Douglas J. Lucia, with the Vice Chancellor Rev. Christopher R. Seibt attesting the decree. The merger had been recommended unanimously by the Presbyteral Council on October 9, 2024 and signed by Bishop Lucia on April 24, 2025.
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse
- Bishop: Most Reverend Douglas J. Lucia
- Vice Chancellor: Rev. Christopher R. Seibt
- Presbyteral Council unanimous support, October 9, 2024
- Decree issued April 24, 2025; effective May 6, 2025
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Vincenzo Giorgio1909–
First pastor of the Italian-descent community that organized Transfiguration parish in 1909 in the Ferlo Block at 311 E. Dominick St.
- Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio2011–2025
Installed July 1, 2011 as pastor for both Transfiguration and St. John the Baptist (linked); Rome Catholic School Class of 1969; offered first Mass at St. John's May 8, 1977; shepherded the 2025 extinctive union.