About St. Joseph [Route20 Catholic Parishes] · Oriskany Falls, New York
St. Joseph's Church in Oriskany Falls, New York is one of four historic parishes that together make up the Route20Catholic (Eastern Pastoral Care Area) community in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse. The parish traces its origins to 1870, when Catholic families in the small village of Oriskany Falls organized a congregation shortly after the Civil War and before the Diocese of Syracuse itself was formed. Today, St. Joseph's shares pastoral and administrative life with St. Bernard's in Waterville, St. Mary in Hamilton, and St. Joan of Arc in Morrisville, offering a weekend Vigil Mass in Oriskany Falls and a PCA-wide schedule of devotions and sacramental opportunities.
- Established
- 1870
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Father John Donovan (current pastor of Route20Catholic / the merged Holy Spirit Parish; previously Father Jason Hage served as pastor when the Eastern Pastoral Care Area was formed in 2020)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
St. Joseph's is a small, family-sized parish where Catholic families in Oriskany Falls have worshipped for over 150 years, and today it is part of a tight-knit cluster of four historic rural parishes that share one pastor and one staff. Worship here means joining a community that has chosen to keep all four of its churches open across the Route 20 corridor — Waterville, Morrisville, Hamilton and Oriskany Falls — so that Catholics across Madison and Oneida counties can find a nearby Mass, sacramental confession, faith formation and fellowship. If you are looking for a faithful, down-to-earth Catholic home in rural Central New York with a long local history and a forward-looking collaborative ministry, St. Joseph's / Route20Catholic welcomes you.
Mass times at St. Joseph [Route20 Catholic Parishes]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- PCA Holy Hour with Confessions at 5:50 pm every 4th Tuesday at St. Joseph's (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Evening Prayer, Reconciliation, Solemn Benediction)
- By appointment — call the Parish Office at (315) 841-4481
Adoration times
- PCA Holy Hour at 5:50 pm every 4th Tuesday at St. Joseph's (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Solemn Benediction)
Parish Identity & Route20Catholic
St. Joseph's in Oriskany Falls is one of four parishes that make up Route20Catholic, the Eastern Pastoral Care Area of the Diocese of Syracuse. The sister churches are St. Bernard's in Waterville, St. Mary in Hamilton, and St. Joan of Arc Mission in Morrisville. Together they share one pastor, one staff and one bulletin, and the parishes have worshipped and ministered as a single collaborative community since 2020.
- St. Joseph's, Oriskany Falls (229 Main Street)
- St. Bernard's, Waterville (190 Stafford Avenue)
- St. Mary's, Hamilton (16 Wylie Street)
- St. Joan of Arc, Morrisville (6 Brookside Drive)
- Parish offices located at St. Bernard's, Waterville
History of St. Joseph's
St. Joseph's was organized around 1870-1871 by Catholic families in the small mill village of Oriskany Falls, just a few years before the Diocese of Syracuse was formally erected. An early historical account of Oneida County records Rev. Russell Todd as the clergyman in charge in 1871, when the present frame church with its tall spire was built (incorporated March 1, 1873). The parish grew slowly but steadily and has served Catholic families in eastern Oneida County for more than 150 years.
- Founded circa 1870, before the Diocese of Syracuse existed
- Rev. Russell Todd recorded as the first clergyman in charge (1871)
- Frame church erected 1871-1873 at a cost of about $4,000
- Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) Mass celebrated July 10, 2021 with Bishop Douglas J. Lucia
- Longtime pastor Father Vincent served 28 years until his death in 2021
Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary)
In July 2021, St. Joseph's marked 150 years of Catholic life in Oriskany Falls with a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Bishop Douglas J. Lucia alongside Father Jason Hage, followed by a parish chicken barbecue. The Catholic Sun noted the milestone as the parish stepped into its new life as part of Route20Catholic.
- Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Joseph's, Saturday, July 10, 2021, 6:00 pm
- Bishop Douglas J. Lucia presiding
- Father Jason Hage concelebrating
- Chicken barbecue following Mass
Pastoral Staff
St. Joseph's has been served by a succession of pastors from its founding in 1870 through the present day. In 2020, Father Jason Hage was appointed the first pastor of the newly formed Route20Catholic pastoral area; he was later succeeded by Father John Donovan, who currently shepherds the four parishes.
- Rev. Russell Todd — clergyman in charge, circa 1871
- Father Vincent — served 28 years until his death in 2021
- Father Jason Hage — first pastor of Route20Catholic (2020)
- Father John Donovan — current pastor of Route20Catholic / Holy Spirit Parish
- Bishop Douglas J. Lucia — Bishop of Syracuse
Knights of Columbus
On the Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19, 2022, the four parishes of Route20Catholic chartered their very first Knights of Columbus Council for the entire PCA at St. Joseph's Church in Oriskany Falls — a fitting location given the parish's patron. The Council serves all four Route20Catholic parishes.
- Founded March 19, 2022 (Solemnity of St. Joseph)
- Hosted at St. Joseph's, Oriskany Falls
- First Route20Catholic-wide Knights of Columbus Council
Sacraments & Faith Formation
Because St. Joseph's shares its sacramental and faith-formation ministry across the Route20Catholic PCA, parishioners have access to a broader range of sacramental preparation and adult faith formation than any single small parish could offer alone. Preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and the Anointing of the Sick is coordinated through the Parish Office in Waterville.
- Baptism preparation
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Marriage preparation and weddings
- Anointing of the Sick
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Ongoing faith formation across the four parishes
Holy Spirit Parish Merger (2026)
On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Bishop Douglas J. Lucia issued a decree formally merging St. Joseph's, St. Bernard's, St. Joan of Arc Mission and St. Mary's into a single canonical parish: Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Parish. The merger is effective July 1, 2026, with St. Mary designated as the principal church and St. Bernard's housing the parish offices. The decree does not close any of the four worship sites, allowing Mass, sacraments and devotions to continue at St. Joseph's alongside the other Route20Catholic churches.
- Decree issued June 16, 2026 by Bishop Lucia
- Effective July 1, 2026
- New parish name: Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Parish
- Principal church: St. Mary, Hamilton
- Parish offices: St. Bernard's, Waterville
- All four worship sites remain open
Contact & Visiting
Visitors and parishioners can reach St. Joseph's through the Route20Catholic Parish Office in Waterville, by phone at (315) 841-4481, or by email at [email protected]. Sunday Mass is livestreamed from St. Mary's on the parish's Facebook page, and online giving is available through the website.
- Address: 229 Main Street, Oriskany Falls, NY 13425
- Mailing address: 190 Stafford Avenue, Waterville, NY 13480
- Phone: (315) 841-4481
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: route20catholic.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/Route20Catholic
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Russell Toddcirca 1871
Clergyman in charge at the founding of St. Joseph's parish
- Father Vincentc. 1993-2021
Faithfully served St. Joseph's for 28 years until his death in 2021; greatly loved by parishioners
- Father Jason Hage2020-
First pastor of the newly formed Route20Catholic Eastern Pastoral Care Area; led the 2021 sesquicentennial
- Father John Donovancurrent
Pastor overseeing the merger of the four parishes into Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Parish effective July 1, 2026