About St. Joseph · Penfield, New York
St. Joseph's Parish in Penfield, New York is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Rochester that today shares a unified staff and ministry with its sister parish, Church of the Holy Spirit, under the banner Holy Spirit–St. Joseph's (HS-SJC). Situated on Gebhardt Road in eastern Monroe County, the parish traces its roots to 1860, when it began as a small German-Catholic mission of what was then St. Joseph's Parish in Rochester. From those twelve founding families it has grown into a large, multi-generational community of roughly 2,600 families served by a school, an active liturgy schedule, and a network of parish ministries.
- Established
- 1860
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Very Rev. James A. Schwartz (Pastor and Dean of the Monroe East Deanery)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
St. Joseph's combines the warmth of a 'little church on the hill' (as longtime parishioners still call it) with the resources of one of the larger parishes in the Diocese of Rochester — about 2,600 families, a PreK–6 Catholic school on campus, daily and seven-weekend Masses, a Blessed Sacrament chapel that is always open for private prayer, and a full sacramental and outreach program. Worship is supported by a livestream schedule, a Liturgy of the Word for Children at the Sunday 9:30 AM Mass, regular Adoration, and Saturday Confession. The parish also partners with Holy Spirit as Holy Spirit–St. Joseph's (HS-SJC), sharing staff and ministries while keeping each community's identity, so newcomers and longtime members alike can find a place to serve, worship, and grow in faith together.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM–4:15 PM at St. Joseph's (some sources list until 4:20 PM)
- Saturday 2:30 PM–3:45 PM at Holy Spirit in the Parish Hall
- And by appointment
Adoration times
- Adoration is offered (see parish schedule); the Blessed Sacrament chapel is open for private prayer throughout the day
Our Story: From Mission on the Hill to a 2,600-Family Parish
St. Joseph's began in 1860 as a German-Catholic mission of the former St. Joseph Parish in Rochester, when twelve founding families wanted a place to worship closer to home than the city. They first gathered in an existing building, then in 1872 built the original 'church on the hill' on Penfield Road that parishioners still mention by name. In 1914 Bishop/Superior authorities elevated the mission to a full parish and appointed Father William V. Gruenauer as its first resident pastor; he served until his death in 1948.
- 1860: Parish founded as a mission of St. Joseph's, Rochester (12 German-Catholic families)
- 1872: Original 'church on the hill' built on Penfield Road
- 1914: Elevated to a parish; Father William V. Gruenauer appointed first resident pastor (served until 1948)
- 1955: First of several capital campaigns launched to replace the original church
- 1957: Temporary church built while the new one was planned
- 1960: Parish school opens (the only Catholic school in the Diocese of Rochester named after St. Joseph)
- 1960s: Rectory, convent, school addition, and current permanent church built
- 1980s: Major renovations under Father James Moynihan — organ, sound system, baptismal font, carpeting, multipurpose room, gym, and parish resource center
- June 2005: Father James A. Schwartz becomes pastor
- 2010 (around): 150th anniversary celebrated with building project and a renewed focus on gratitude, discipleship, and hospitality
- Today: Sister-parish partnership formed with Church of the Holy Spirit as Holy Spirit–St. Joseph's (HS-SJC)
Clergy & Staff
St. Joseph's is led by Very Rev. James A. Schwartz, who serves both as pastor and as Dean of the Monroe East Deanery of the Diocese of Rochester. The parish is assisted by a parochial vicar, retired and senior priests in residence, two deacons, and lay staff who are shared with its sister parish, the Church of the Holy Spirit.
- Very Rev. James A. Schwartz — Pastor and Dean, Monroe East Deanery
- Rev. Mike Merritt — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Bob Kreckel — Retired, in Residence
- Rev. Joe McCaffrey — Senior, in Residence
- Deacon Duncan Harris
- Deacon Roger DeBell
- Marc Magagnoli — Operations and Technology Specialist
Livestream Mass & Online Ministries
Beginning in November 2024, Holy Spirit–St. Joseph's livestreams all daily Masses Monday through Saturday at 9:00 AM, and two weekend Masses — the Saturday 4:30 PM and Sunday 9:30 AM celebrations. Both livestreams are recorded so that the homebound and travelling parishioners can watch them at any time. The parish also offers online giving through a digital 'Online Collection Basket.'
- Livestreamed daily Masses: Mon–Sat 9:00 AM
- Livestreamed weekend Masses: Sat 4:30 PM and Sun 9:30 AM
- Online giving via the parish website
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Joseph's offers lifelong faith formation from early childhood through adulthood. Children and youth grow through parish school and religious-education programs, while adults can continue their journey through RCIA, spirituality-enrichment opportunities, and sacramental preparation for Confirmation (including a Confirmation saint-name project that helps candidates reflect on their baptismal mission and choose a patron).
- St. Joseph School (PreK-3 through Grade 6, on campus)
- Religious Education / Sunday programs for parish children
- Confirmation preparation (saint-name selection resources and report templates)
- RCIA and adult faith formation
- Spirituality enrichment opportunities for adults
St. Joseph School
St. Joseph School is the parish's PreK-3 through Grade 6 elementary school, opened in 1960 and still the only Catholic school in the Diocese of Rochester named after St. Joseph. The school markets itself as 'A Place With Heart,' combining faith formation, academic excellence, and a strong sense of community. PreK-3 and PreK-4 programs offer a teacher-led environment with play, music, and art, and the majority of PreK students continue into the K–6 program. A wrap-around program is available for working families.
- Opened in 1960 on the St. Joseph's parish campus
- PreK-3, PreK-4 and K–6 elementary programs
- Wrap-around program for working parents
- Faith Committee and signature 'Wall of Faith' project run by the graduating 6th-grade class
- Message From Fr. Jim Schwartz: 'Perhaps the most important ministry of St. Joseph's Church is our school and the formation of our students in the likeness of God.'
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Information and registration resources are available on the parish website under the Sacraments menu, with sacramental preparation tied to the Faith Formation programs and to the parish school.
- Baptism — preparation and celebration
- First Eucharist (First Communion) — tied to Faith Formation
- Confirmation — full preparation including saint-name selection
- Matrimony / Marriage — preparation and celebration
- Reconciliation / Confession — Saturday 3:30 PM–4:15 PM and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick and Pastoral Care
- Holy Orders — vocational support via the Diocese of Rochester
Parish Life, Outreach & Community
Beyond worship, St. Joseph's is known as an active, multigenerational community with many ways to serve — both inside the parish and out in the wider Penfield and Rochester area. The parish works closely with the Knights of Columbus and is also active with Habitat for Humanity, and it shares governance and ministry with its sister parish through a Joint Parish Council.
- Habitat for Humanity — parish involvement
- Knights of Columbus — faith and service fraternity on campus
- Pastoral Care and Social Justice Outreach
- Joint Parish Council (shared with Holy Spirit)
- Parish Life and 'Join the Parish' registration
- Stewardship, bulletin, and weekly volunteer opportunities
Sister Parish: Holy Spirit–St. Joseph's (HS-SJC)
St. Joseph's now shares staff, pastoral leadership and many ministries with the Church of the Holy Spirit under the unified name Holy Spirit–St. Joseph's (HS-SJC). The official site explains that 'our two parishes have one staff that serves the needs of Holy Spirit and St. Joseph's' while each parish keeps its own identity, giftedness, and worship life. Mass schedules across both churches are listed together so parishioners can choose the celebration that fits their week.
- HS-SJC = Holy Spirit + St. Joseph's, one staff, two parishes
- Pastoral vision: 'becoming a more listening and missionary Church through the Synod'
- Shared weekend schedule: Sat 4:00 PM (Holy Spirit), 4:30 PM (St. Joseph); Sun 8:00, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:00 AM, and 5:00 PM across both churches
- Joint Parish Council, shared faith formation, and shared livestream
Visit & Contact
St. Joseph's campus sits on Gebhardt Road in Penfield and offers on-site parking for Mass and parish events. Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office by phone or email during the week, and the parish website combines resources for both Holy Spirit and St. Joseph's.
- Address: 43 Gebhardt Road, Penfield, NY 14526
- Phone: (585) 586-8089
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.holyspirit-saintjoseph.org (also sjcpenfield.com)
- Parking available on the parish campus
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William V. Gruenauer1914–1948
First resident pastor of St. Joseph's after the mission was elevated to a parish in 1914; served until his death in 1948.
- Father James Moynihan1980s
Led the major 1980s renovation program (organ, sound, baptismal font, carpeting, multipurpose room, gym, parish resource center); later Bishop of Syracuse 1995–2009.
- Father James A. Schwartz2005–present
Became pastor in June 2005; spearheaded a master planning process for parish growth and shepherded the parish through its 150th anniversary and the Holy Spirit–St. Joseph's sister-parish model.