About St. Joseph - St. Paul Parish @ St. Joseph · Lee Center, New York
St. Joseph - St. Paul Parish @ St. Joseph is the Catholic community at St. Joseph's Church in Lee Center, New York, canonically linked with St. Paul's Church in Rome, NY, and served by a single pastor from independent parish offices. The Lee Center church sits at 5748 Stokes-Lee Center Road and was established in 1923 to serve the rural farming community west of Rome. Both worship sites remain active under the Diocese of Syracuse, with daily Mass, weekend liturgies, faith formation, music programs, and parish councils for each location.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Robert L. Kelly
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
St. Joseph's Lee Center is a small, close-knit rural Catholic community with deep roots in Oneida County since 1923, offering weekday and weekend Mass, Saturday confession, and a full faith formation program for children and families. Parishioners benefit from an active parish council and trustees, dedicated music directors and organists, and a sacramental life shared with the linked St. Paul community in Rome. It's the kind of parish where families know each other and the same pastor, Deacon, and faith formation director serve across both worship sites.
Mass times at St. Joseph - St. Paul Parish @ St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:45 PM (at St. Joseph's, before the 6 PM Mass)
About St. Joseph - St. Paul Parish
St. Joseph - St. Paul Parish is the canonical name for the linked Catholic communities of St. Joseph's Church in Lee Center, NY, and St. Paul's Church in Rome, NY. The two worship sites are served by one pastor but maintain independent parish offices, councils, trustees, and staff. Together they form one of several pastoral linkages and now-merged communities serving the Rome area of Oneida County in the Diocese of Syracuse.
- St. Joseph's Church — 5748 Stokes-Lee Center Rd., Lee Center, NY 13363
- St. Paul's Church — 1807 Bedford St., Rome, NY 13440
- Pastor: Rev. Robert L. Kelly
- Deacon: Deacon Ed Doyle, Jr.
History of St. Joseph's, Lee Center
St. Joseph's was established in 1923 to serve the Catholic farming families of the hamlet of Lee Center in western Oneida County. It has remained a small but faithful rural parish for over a century, and in recent years has been linked with St. Paul's in Rome. Effective July 1, 2025, both were folded into the new diocesan 'Sacred Heart' parish alongside St. John the Baptist and St. Peter's in Rome, a step taken by Bishop Douglas J. Lucia to keep as many church buildings and weekend Masses open as possible during a diocesan shortage of priests.
- Founded: 1923
- Diocese: Syracuse
- Original mission: serve Catholic farming families of Lee Center
- 2025: consolidated into Sacred Heart Parish
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for both St. Joseph's and St. Paul's is coordinated by Director of Faith Formation Jennifer Menneci. Families register through the parish office and have access to Formed.org by searching 'St Paul Church Rome' and selecting 'St Paul 1807 Bedford St NY.'
- Director: Jennifer Menneci
- Phone (Lee Center): (315) 533-6655
- Phone (Rome): (315) 334-9570
- Email: [email protected]
- Online platform: Formed.org
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Baptisms and weddings are arranged through the parish offices; marriage preparation requires meeting with Fr. Kelly at least six months before the anticipated wedding date.
- Baptism — call the Parish Office to make arrangements
- Marriage — schedule at least 6 months in advance with Fr. Kelly
- Reconciliation — Saturday 5:45 PM at St. Joseph's; Saturday 3:45 PM at St. Paul's
- Anointing of the Sick — available on request
Parish Staff & Leadership
Although the two worship sites share a pastor and faith formation director, each maintains its own council, trustees, business administrator, music team, and maintenance crew. St. Joseph's Lee Center contact and staff include:
- Pastor: Rev. Robert L. Kelly
- Deacon: Deacon Ed Doyle, Jr. — (315) 336-6647
- Parish Council President: Elis Pomales
- Trustees: Patricia Box, Dyana O'Neill
- Secretary / Business Administrator: Ellie O'Shei
- Music Director: Scott Rutledge
- Organists: Jennifer Evans, Aaron Browka
- Faith Formation: Jennifer Menneci
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Joseph's Lee Center is led by Music Director Scott Rutledge, supported by organists Jennifer Evans and Aaron Browka. St. Paul's Rome has its own Music Director Mark Radlowski and Organist Jean Burgdorf. The parishes offer traditional liturgical music at weekend and daily Masses.
- St. Joseph's Music Director: Scott Rutledge
- St. Joseph's Organists: Jennifer Evans, Aaron Browka
- St. Paul's Music Director: Mark Radlowski
- St. Paul's Organist: Jean Burgdorf
Office & Visiting
The St. Joseph's rectory/office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM, or by appointment. The St. Paul's Rome rectory is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Email and phone messages are returned by the parish staff.
- St. Joseph's Rectory: (315) 533-6655
- St. Joseph's Email: [email protected]
- St. Joseph's Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–1:30 PM
- St. Paul's Rectory: (315) 336-3082
- St. Paul's Email: [email protected]
Pastoral Context — Diocese of Syracuse & the 2025 Merger
In 2025, the Diocese of Syracuse, led by Bishop Douglas J. Lucia, consolidated the Catholic parishes of Rome and Lee Center into a single parish called 'Sacred Heart,' effective July 1, 2025. St. Joseph's Lee Center, St. Paul's Rome, St. John the Baptist (East Dominick St.), and St. Peter's (North James St.) all remained open as worship sites with weekend Masses. The Rev. Sean P. O'Brien was named pastor of the new Sacred Heart Parish, with the promise of two priests always serving Rome. Fewer priests, shrinking congregations, and financial pressures were cited as the driving factors.
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse
- Bishop (at merger): Douglas J. Lucia
- New parish name: Sacred Heart
- Effective date: July 1, 2025
- Prior consolidation: Fr. Robert L. Kelly served as linked pastor of St. Paul's Rome and St. Joseph's Lee Center