About St. Lawrence · Rochester, New York
St. Lawrence Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Rochester located at 1000 North Greece Road in the Town of Greece, just outside the city of Rochester, New York. The parish was established in 1959 under its founding pastor, Father Edward A. Shamon, and was dedicated to St. Lawrence, the early Christian deacon and martyr. Today St. Lawrence is pastored by Very Rev. Lee P. Chase, V.F., S.T.L., who also serves as Dean of the Monroe West Deanery of the Diocese of Rochester, with three permanent deacons assisting in pastoral ministry. The parish campus includes the church (seating roughly 1,150), Deacon Hall, and St. Lawrence Catholic Elementary School (Preschool through Grade 5), and it is one of seven parishes of the ROC Catholics Northwest collaborative.
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
- Rector
- The Very Rev. Lee P. Chase, V.F., S.T.L.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
St. Lawrence is a mid-century-founded parish with a strong Catholic school, an active youth ministry, CYO athletics, three choirs serving different weekend Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a Rosary Group, and a parish-based Human Development Committee serving those in need. As a member of the seven-parish ROC Catholics Northwest collaborative with neighboring Holy Cross, Our Mother of Sorrows, St. Charles Borromeo, St. John the Evangelist, St. Leo the Great, and St. Mark's, it offers both the intimacy of a single parish and the resources of a regional Catholic community in Greece.
Mass times at St. Lawrence
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM (in the Church)
Adoration times
- Monday 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM (Church)
Parish History
St. Lawrence Parish traces its origins to 1959, when Father Edward A. Shamon was appointed founding pastor on June 25 and celebrated the first Mass on August 30 in the Greece Town Hall. After briefly using the basement of the Ridgecrest Shopping Center — called 'the Catacombs' by parishioners — the parish broke ground in October 1959 on a Colonial-Gregorian style church largely designed by Father Shamon and built by a 200-man volunteer force, with the first Mass in the new structure on the Feast of Christ the King, October 30, 1960. Father John Murphy succeeded him in 1962 and oversaw the completion of the parish hall and the founding of the parish school. Father Frank Falletta's 30-year pastorship (1984–2014) brought the present 'new church' (December 1989) and a later addition, Deacon Hall (January 2006), named for St. Lawrence the deacon. Since 2014–2015, Father Lee P. Chase has served as Pastor and Dean of the Monroe West Deanery.
- 1959 – Father Edward A. Shamon appointed founding pastor (June 25); first Mass in Greece Town Hall (August 30).
- 1959 – Construction of original Colonial-Gregorian church begins in October.
- 1960 – First Mass in new church on the Feast of Christ the King, October 30.
- 1962 – Father John Murphy named second pastor; parish hall completed and parish school established.
- 1984 – Father Frank Falletta becomes third pastor.
- 1988 – Parish Center addition completed (January).
- 1989 – Present 'new church' completed (December).
- 2006 – Deacon Hall completed (January), named for St. Lawrence the deacon.
- 2014 – Father Falletta retires after 30 years; Father Lee Chase named Pastoral Administrator.
- 2015 – Father Lee Chase named Pastor; also serves as Dean, Monroe West Deanery.
Pastoral & Parish Staff
Pastoral care is led by Very Rev. Lee P. Chase, V.F., S.T.L., Pastor and Dean of the Monroe West Deanery, assisted by three permanent deacons: Deacon David Squilla (Pastoral Associate), Deacon Manny Asis (Senior Parish Deacon), and Deacon Bill Rabjohn (Parish Deacon). Day-to-day operations are managed by Office Manager / Business Manager Wendy Speciale (ext. 201), Maintenance staff Jim Grotke and Melvin Diaz (ext. 201), and Regional Finance Director Christopher Frontale (per the contact page) / Marisa Stieve (per the bulletin).
- Father Lee P. Chase — Pastor, ext. 207
- Deacon David Squilla — Pastoral Associate / Deacon, ext. 212
- Deacon Manny Asis — Senior Parish Deacon
- Deacon Bill Rabjohn — Parish Deacon
- Wendy Speciale — Office / Business Manager, ext. 201
- Christopher Frontale / Marisa Stieve — Regional Finance Director
- Jim Grotke & Melvin Diaz — Maintenance
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Faith formation for children and youth is led by Regional Faith Formation Director Maura Spencer (585-225-7320) and Regional Youth Ministry / CYO Coordinator Donna Gray (585-225-1485). Family Formation Registration is open annually for the coming year, and dedicated tracks exist for First Penance, First Communion, and Confirmation. The parish also publishes a weekly 'Family Zone' with at-home faith resources, supports the diocesan Eucharistic Revival, and runs a Vacation Bible School each summer. Adult inquirers can register for OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) through the parish website.
- Children's Faith Formation
- Family Formation Registration (2025–2026)
- First Penance preparation
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) registration
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- Family Zone weekly resources
- Eucharistic Revival resources
St. Lawrence Catholic School
St. Lawrence Catholic Elementary School shares the parish campus at 1000 North Greece Road. The school serves Preschool through Grade 5 with a Catholic mission to 'nurture faith, hope, and love in each child's heart, soul, and mind,' supported by parents and teachers as 'co-creators in revealing the face of Christ.' The school's annual theme is 'All Are Welcome.' The school is led by Principal Crystal Criticos and has its own office at (585) 225-3870. Preschool and K–5 are listed separately on the parish homepage.
- Preschool (including Pre-K 3)
- Kindergarten through Grade 5
- Principal: Crystal Criticos — (585) 225-3870
- School email: [email protected]
- Annual theme: 'All Are Welcome'
- Located on the parish campus at 1000 N. Greece Road, Rochester, NY 14626
Ministries & Outreach
Parish life is supported by a robust set of ministries. The Youth Ministry serves adolescents in grades 6–12 with monthly youth meetings, community service, social events, retreats, Bible study, leadership training, and mission trips, plus diocesan retreats and national conferences. The Human Development Committee coordinates parish social ministry and outreach to those in need. The Music Ministry fields three choirs serving the Saturday Vigil and both Sunday Masses. The Rosary Group gathers regularly for Marian prayer. CYO Sports offers spring kickball, fall soccer (grades 3–6), and winter basketball (grades 3–12) as part of the diocesan Catholic Schools Department's athletics program.
- Youth Ministry (grades 6–12)
- Human Development Committee (social ministry / outreach)
- Music Ministry — three choirs (4 PM, Song Prayers 10 AM, Faithful Voices 10 AM)
- Rosary Group
- CYO Sports — spring kickball, fall soccer (gr. 3–6), winter basketball (gr. 3–12)
- Liturgical Ministers — Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Choir, Altar Servers
- Knights of Columbus, Bereavement Groups, Adult Faith Formation — through ROC Catholics Northwest
Music & Liturgical Life
Three choir directors shape the parish's sung liturgy: M. Virginia Pierce directs the choir for the 4:00 PM Saturday Vigil Mass; Susan Judkins directs Song Prayers, the contemporary ensemble for the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass; and Steve Amico directs Faithful Voices, the second 10:00 AM choir. Rehearsals appear on the weekly bulletin calendar (e.g., Song Prayers on Wednesday evenings and Faithful Voices on Tuesday evenings). The parish also calls for liturgical ministers — Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, choir members, and Altar Servers — who typically serve about once a month at the Saturday Vigil and both Sunday Masses.
- M. Virginia Pierce — Choir Director, 4:00 PM Mass (227-7236)
- Susan Judkins — Choir Director, Song Prayers, 10:00 AM Mass (797-3719)
- Steve Amico — Choir Director, Faithful Voices, 10:00 AM Mass (225-7338)
- Liturgical Ministers needed at all weekend Masses
ROC Catholics Northwest Collaborative
St. Lawrence is one of seven parishes of the ROC Catholics Northwest collaborative, which also includes Holy Cross, Our Mother of Sorrows, St. Charles Borromeo, St. John the Evangelist, St. Leo the Great (Hilton), and St. Mark's. The collaborative maintains a shared website at roccatholicsnorthwest.org that consolidates information on Mass times, faith formation (children, youth, and adult), CYO athletics, social ministry, Knights of Columbus, bereavement groups, vacation Bible school, Eucharistic adoration, and pastoral-planning resources for the region covering Greece, Hilton, and Charlotte in the Rochester, NY area.
- Holy Cross
- Our Mother of Sorrows
- St. Charles Borromeo
- St. John the Evangelist
- St. Lawrence
- St. Leo the Great (Hilton)
- St. Mark's
- Shared site: roccatholicsnorthwest.org
Sacraments at St. Lawrence
The parish website lists preparation and reception for all seven sacraments: Baptism, Penance (Reconciliation, heard Saturdays 3:00–3:30 PM), Eucharist (including First Communion preparation), Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick. Sacramental preparation for First Penance, First Communion, and Confirmation is coordinated through the Faith Formation office. Funeral planning resources and prayer-request submissions are also accessible from the parish website.
- Baptism
- Penance (Reconciliation) — Saturdays 3:00–3:30 PM
- Eucharist (First Communion)
- Confirmation
- Matrimony
- Holy Orders
- Anointing of the Sick
Contact, Office & Communications
The parish rectory is at 1000 North Greece Road, Rochester, NY 14626, with phone (585) 723-1350 and fax (585) 723-1361. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The parish email is [email protected] and the official Facebook page is at fb.me/STLGreece. Online giving is available through the parish website for Church, School, and Faith Formation, and the parish participates in the diocesan Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA).
- Address: 1000 North Greece Road, Rochester, NY 14626
- Phone: (585) 723-1350 | Fax: (585) 723-1361
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: www.fb.me/STLGreece
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM–12 PM and 1 PM–4 PM
- Online Giving — Church, School, Faith Formation
- Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA)
- Safe Environment / CASE training for all volunteers
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward A. Shamon1959–1962
Founding pastor; appointed June 25, 1959; oversaw construction of the original Colonial-Gregorian church (1960), largely designed by himself and built by a 200-man volunteer force.
- Rev. John Murphy1962–1984
Named Pastor in 1962; completed the parish hall and established the parish school.
- Rev. Frank Falletta1984–2014
30-year pastor; launched the 1985 $1.5 million Church and Parish Center Building Program; completed Parish Center (Jan 1988) and the present "new church" (Dec 1989); expanded seating by 350 to today's 1,150 capacity; retired April 2014.
- Rev. Lee P. Chase2014–present
Appointed Parochial Vicar then Pastoral Administrator in 2014 after Father Falletta's retirement; named Pastor in 2015; also serves as Dean of the Monroe West Deanery of the Diocese of Rochester.