About St. Joseph-St. Paul Parish @ St. Paul · Rome, New York
St. Joseph–St. Paul Parish @ St. Paul is a Roman Catholic parish in the city of Rome, Oneida County, New York, belonging to the Diocese of Syracuse. The parish was canonically formed as a 'linked' parish pairing St. Paul's Church at 1807 Bedford Street in Rome with St. Joseph's Church on Stokes-Lee Center Road in Lee Center, sharing one pastor while keeping independent parish offices. In recent years the parish was absorbed into the broader citywide Sacred Heart Parish (formed from St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph's, St. Paul's and St. Peter's) under the Diocese of Syracuse's consolidation strategy responding to priest shortages and shrinking congregations. St. Paul's itself was founded in 1954 and remains an active worship site serving the Bedford Street neighborhood.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- St. Paul (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Robert L. Kelly (as pastor of the St. Joseph–St. Paul linked parish); subsequently Rev. Sean P. O'Brien, VF as pastor of the merged Sacred Heart Parish
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
St. Paul's offers a central, modern worship facility at 1807 Bedford Street with ample parking and ADA accessibility, set in the geographic heart of Rome's Primary Census Area. Weekend Mass is celebrated in a quiet, traditional Roman-Latin rite with Scripture-based homilies, weekly Confession before the Saturday Vigil, and active faith formation for children and adults. The parish also reaches out through community ministries such as Bible Study, lay-led prayer groups, and partnership with the Carmelite community (Fr. John Quinn celebrates Mass with the Carmelites on the third Saturday of each month in the parish center).
Mass times at St. Joseph-St. Paul Parish @ St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
About St. Paul's Catholic Church, Rome NY
St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church sits at 1807 Bedford Street in Rome, New York, on the corner of Bedford and Cypress Streets. Founded in 1954, it is the newest of the city's Catholic parishes and belongs to the Diocese of Syracuse. The parish is the home church for worshippers in the Bedford Street neighborhood and now serves as an active worship site within the consolidated Sacred Heart Parish.
History of St. Paul's
St. Paul's was established in 1954 to serve the growing Catholic population on Rome's west side. In 2014 the Diocese of Syracuse formally linked it with St. Joseph's in Lee Center (founded 1923) to form the Parish of St. Joseph–St. Paul under one pastor. Two priests were assigned to oversee all of Rome's Catholic churches, and on July 1, 2025 the parish was merged with St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph's, and St. Peter's to form Sacred Heart Parish. St. Paul's Bedford Street church continues to operate as an active worship site within Sacred Heart.
- Founded 1954
- Linked with St. Joseph's (Lee Center) in 2014
- Merged into Sacred Heart Parish on July 1, 2025
The Parish Link with St. Joseph's, Lee Center
In 2014 a 'Link Committee' of parishioners from St. Paul's and St. Joseph's worked with then-pastor Fr. Robert L. Kelly to align the two parishes' Mass schedules, share a pastor, and preserve each church's identity. The result was a single canonical parish with two worship sites and two independent parish offices.
- St. Paul's Mass: Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil, Sunday 11:00 AM
- St. Joseph's Mass: Saturday 6:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM
- Pastoral team overseen by Rev. Robert L. Kelly
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish has been led by Rev. Robert L. Kelly as pastor and by a lay team responsible for faith formation, parish administration, communications, and facilities. Following the 2025 merger into Sacred Heart Parish, the staff has expanded to include a parochial vicar, additional deacons, and a pastoral associate supporting all four worship sites.
- Rev. Robert L. Kelly — Pastor
- Rev. Sean P. O'Brien, VF — Pastor (Sacred Heart)
- Rev. Immanuel Agbulu — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Thomas Durant — In Residence
- Deacon Ed Doyle, Jr
- Deacon Michael Gudaitis
- Deacon John MacGaffick
- Deacon Nicholas Rosher
- Laura Mack — Pastoral Associate
- Kathy Sledziona — Director of Faith Formation
- Sherri Coia — Secretary
- Patricia Pagano — Business Administrator
- Craig Brown — Parish Council President
- Karl Hahn — Webmaster
- David Wheat — Maintenance and Grounds
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, with Reconciliation available every Saturday before the Vigil Mass and Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick arranged through the parish office.
- Sacrament of Penance: Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM
- Baptism: by appointment through the parish office
- Marriage: arranged with the pastor
- Anointing of the Sick: on request
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish operates a Faith Formation program directed by Kathy Sledziona, with classes for school-age children and sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation. Adult faith formation includes the parish Bible Study on 'The Mass' and RCIA for those entering the Church.
- Faith Formation Office: (315) 334-9570
- Email: [email protected]
- Bible Study — 'The Mass' (Tuesday 9:45 AM)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (Sept.–May, Saturday Vigil 4:30 PM per older schedule)
Community Life and Devotions
Beyond the regular Mass schedule, St. Paul's hosts a number of devotional and community gatherings. Fr. John Quinn celebrates Mass with the Carmelite community on the third Saturday of each month in the parish center, and the parish hosts Bible Study, Rosary groups, and seasonal devotions throughout the year.
- Carmelite Lay Community — third Saturday Mass
- Bible Study
- Parish Council and lay leadership
- Parish Center / Church Hall events (315-339-2770)
Sacred Heart Parish (2025 Merger)
Effective July 1, 2025, the Diocese of Syracuse consolidated Rome's four Catholic parishes — St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph's (Lee Center), St. Paul's, and St. Peter's — into a single parish named Sacred Heart. Rev. Sean P. O'Brien, VF was named pastor, with Rev. Immanuel Agbulu as parochial vicar. All four church buildings remain open for worship, and St. Paul's continues to host the Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil Mass.
- St. John the Baptist — 210 E. Dominick St.
- St. Joseph's — 5748 Stokes-Lee Center Rd., Lee Center
- St. Paul's — 1807 Bedford St.
- St. Peter's — 200 N. James St.
- Sacred Heart Office — located at St. Paul's, hours Mon–Thurs 9 AM–2 PM, Fri 9 AM–12 PM
Visiting St. Paul's
St. Paul's is located at the corner of Bedford and Cypress Streets in Rome, New York. The parish is noted for its modern infrastructure, ample parking, and ADA accessibility — features that diocesan leaders and parishioners have cited as key reasons for choosing it as the administrative home of the new Sacred Heart Parish.
- Address: 1807 Bedford St., Rome, NY 13440
- Phone: (315) 336-3082
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Center / Hall: (315) 339-2770
- St. Joseph's Rectory: Mon & Wed 8:30 AM–1:30 PM, (315) 533-6655
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Robert L. Kellyat least 2014 through consolidation
Shepherded the parish through the 2014 canonical link with St. Joseph's of Lee Center and the early stages of citywide consolidation.
- Rev. Sean P. O'Brien, VFfrom 2025 (Sacred Heart merger)
Pastor of the consolidated Sacred Heart Parish encompassing St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph's, St. Paul's and St. Peter's.