About St. Marianne Cope Parish at Guardian Angels Church · Rochester, New York
St. Marianne Cope Parish at Guardian Angels Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Rochester, located at 2061 East Henrietta Road in Rochester, New York (14623). The parish was formed in April 2012 from the merger of three historic worship sites — St. Joseph's Church (Rush, 1864), the Church of the Good Shepherd (Henrietta, 1911), and Guardian Angels Church (Henrietta, 1960) — and is named for St. Marianne Cope, a Sister of Mercy who cared for patients with Hansen's disease in Hawaii and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. After the closure and sale of the Good Shepherd campus in 2019 and the decommissioning of St. Joseph's in 2024, all parish Masses are now celebrated at Guardian Angels Church, which was renovated and rededicated by Bishop Salvatore Matano in December 2022.
- Established
- 2012
- Patron
- St. Marianne Cope (Blessed Marianne Cope, OSM, canonized October 21, 2012)
- Rector
- Deacon Peter Dohr (Pastoral Administrator; appointed by Bishop Salvatore Matano in June 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
St. Marianne Cope is a welcoming, Christ-centered Roman Catholic community strengthened by the Eucharist and rooted in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Worship is supported by one of the more developed music programs in the area — six choirs, a youth ensemble (RHYM), cantors and instrumentalists led by Director of Liturgical Music Sandra Godwin. The parish runs a robust network of outreach ministries (RHAFT food collection, Angel Care for mothers and babies, Prayer Shawl, Thanksgiving Baskets, Christmas Giving Tree, People In Need) and pastoral-care ministries that bring Communion to residents at Brentland Woods and Woodcrest Nursing Home, visit the homebound and hospitalized, and walk adults through the RCIA process. All worship sites are handicap accessible and equipped with a hearing loop, and the parish makes a special effort to be family friendly.
Mass times at St. Marianne Cope Parish at Guardian Angels Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:00pm (or by appointment)
Welcome & Mission
The Parish of St. Marianne Cope describes itself as a community of believers in Jesus Christ, called to fulfill the message of the Gospel to love God, neighbor, and self. The parish lives its Catholic faith in imitation of the mission of Jesus, through prayer, teaching, service and healing, and seeks to provide opportunities for people to experience, know, love and serve God rooted in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A short tagline used on the parish site reads: 'We are a welcoming, Christ-centered Roman Catholic community, strengthened by the Eucharist, nurturing the faith through love and service.'
- Mission rooted in prayer, teaching, service and healing
- Welcoming, family-friendly community
- All sites handicap accessible with hearing loop
Parish History
St. Marianne Cope Roman Catholic Parish was formed in April 2012 from the Rush Henrietta Catholic Community (created June 2011), which united St. Joseph's Church in Rush (founded 1864), the Church of the Good Shepherd in Henrietta (founded 1911) and Guardian Angels Church in Henrietta (founded 1960). The Good Shepherd campus was sold to the Rush-Henrietta Central School District in 2019, and Bishop Matano decommissioned St. Joseph's in January 2024 due to structural issues. Guardian Angels — the youngest of the three sites — was renovated and rededicated by Bishop Matano on December 18, 2022 and is now the sole worship site for the parish.
- Parish formed: April 2012
- St. Joseph's (Rush): founded 1864; cornerstone laid by Bishop McQuaid July 17, 1881; full parochial status 1968 under Bishop Fulton Sheen; decommissioned 2024
- Good Shepherd (Henrietta): cornerstone laid by Bishop Hickey Oct. 1, 1911; dedicated Feb. 12, 1912; school completed 1958; last Mass Oct. 19–20, 2019
- Guardian Angels (Henrietta): founded 1960; sanctuary rededicated by Bishop Matano Dec. 18, 2022
St. Marianne Cope — the Parish Patroness
The parish takes its name from Blessed Marianne Cope, OSM (1838–1918), a Sister of Mercy who ministered to patients with Hansen's disease at the Kalaupapa settlement on the island of Molokai, Hawaii. She was canonized on October 21, 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI, and her feast day — celebrated by the parish — is January 23, her birthday.
- Canonized October 21, 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI
- Feast day: January 23
- Member of the Sisters of Mercy (OSM)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastoral Administrator Deacon Peter Dohr, who was appointed by Bishop Salvatore Matano in June 2025 following the retirement of Sr. Sheila Stevenson, OSM. Fr. Mike Mayer serves as Parochial Vicar. The staff also includes Deacon Bob Lyons, Deacon Mike Zuber (Deacon Emeritus with Senior Status), Pastoral Minister Cris Wensel, Director of Liturgical Music Sandra Godwin, Administrative Assistant Amanda Rayburn, Regional Business Manager Dawn Nudo, Regional Finance Director Marisa Steve, Director of Maintenance Marc DeSalvo, and Custodian Lynne Stocum.
- Deacon Peter Dohr — Pastoral Administrator (from June 2025)
- Rev. Michael 'Mike' Mayer — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Bob Lyons
- Deacon Mike Zuber — Deacon Emeritus
- Sr. Sheila Stevenson, OSM — retired Pastoral Administrator (8 years)
- Cris Wensel — Pastoral Minister (x1120)
- Sandra Godwin — Director of Liturgical Music (x1107)
- Amanda Rayburn — Administrative Assistant / CASE Coordinator (x1102)
- Gina Jennion — Children's Faith Formation
- Dawn Nudo — Regional Business Manager (x1306)
- Marisa Steve — Regional Finance Director (x1119)
- Marc DeSalvo — Director of Maintenance
- Lynne Stocum — Custodian
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the full range of Catholic sacraments, with dedicated contacts on staff. Baptism classes are held on a bi-monthly basis; children's sacramental preparation covers First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation; the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) welcomes those never baptized, baptized in another faith, or completing initiation; and marriage preparation is coordinated through Fr. Mike Mayer.
- Baptism Preparation — contact Amanda Rayburn
- Children's Sacramental Preparation (First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation) — contact Gina Jennion
- RCIA — contact Amanda Rayburn
- Marriage — contact Fr. Mike Mayer (x1117)
- Anointing of the Sick & pastoral visits — contact Cris Wensel
Music Ministry
St. Marianne Cope has a rich and unique musical heritage. Through the work of many volunteer ministers, the music program leads the community in song at liturgies throughout the year in the form of six choirs, several cantors and instrumentalists, all directed by Director of Liturgical Music Sandra Godwin.
- Choir — rehearses Wednesday nights at 6:30 at Guardian Angels Church
- Ensemble — rehearses Thursday nights at 7:00 at Guardian Angels Church
- Festival Choir — Christmas Eve and Holy Triduum (open to all parishioners)
- Resurrection Choir — funerals and memorial services
- RHYM (Rush Henrietta Youth Music) — grade 6 through young adult; Choir rehearses Tuesday evenings, Ensemble rehearses Sunday evenings
- Cantors — singing leadership at weekend Masses and prayer services
- Accompanists / Instrumentalists — providing instrumental leadership for weekend Masses and prayer services
Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care ministries keep the faith community connected with parishioners who cannot attend Mass. Volunteers visit, bring the Eucharist, and pray with those who are homebound, hospitalized or resident in local care facilities. Training is provided for new volunteers.
- Homebound Visitation — contact Cris Wensel
- Hospital Visitation — contact Cris Wensel
- Visitation Ministry
- Communion Service @ Brentland Woods (Sunday after 9:45 Mass) — contact Paul Coles
- Communion Service @ Woodcrest Nursing Home (twice a month) — contact Carol Ann Stahl
Outreach Ministries
As part of its Parish Mission to serve the community, St. Marianne Cope runs a network of outreach ministries that assist those in need both within and beyond the parish boundaries, coordinated through staff liaison Cris Wensel.
- RHAFT — Rush Henrietta Food Terminal Ministry (collects non-perishables for St. Peter's Soup Kitchen and RHAFT)
- Angel Care Ministry — diapers, blankets, Pack-n-Plays for mothers choosing life — contact Noreen Mancini
- People In Need — emergency assistance to parishioners and others in crisis — contact Sr. Sheila Stevenson
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — knit/crocheted shawls for the ill, bereaved, and new mothers — contact Barb Dera
- Thanksgiving Baskets — packed and given to families in need
- Christmas Giving Tree — gift tags purchased and distributed to local families and organizations — contact Cathy Daub
Administrative Ministries & Governance
A Pastoral Council and Finance Council advise the Pastoral Administrator on the direction and policies of the parish. Buildings and Grounds, Office Volunteers, Collection Counters, and Parish Trustees (Cathy Frank and Jerry Hoffkins) all help with day-to-day operations.
- Pastoral Council — prayerful, discerning advisory body to the Pastoral Administrator
- Finance Council — meets quarterly to review budget and spending — staff liaison Deacon Peter Dohr
- Buildings and Grounds Committee — contact Don Neill
- Office Volunteers — contact Amanda Rayburn
- Collection Counters — contact Amanda Rayburn
- Parish Trustees: Cathy Frank and Jerry Hoffkins
Safe Environment
St. Marianne Cope participates in the Diocese of Rochester's Creating a Safe Environment program. The parish's CASE Coordinator is Amanda Rayburn, who can be reached at [email protected] or through the parish office. Online training is available through the Diocese of Rochester website.
- CASE Coordinator: Amanda Rayburn
- Training via the Diocese of Rochester website
Visit, Register & Contact
New parishioners can register through the parish website. The office is located at Guardian Angels Church, 2061 E. Henrietta Rd., Rochester, NY 14623, and is open Monday–Thursday from 9:00am–5:00pm. Phone: 585-334-3518. Fax: 585-334-6015. Email: [email protected].
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00am–5:00pm
- Phone: 585-334-3518
- Fax: 585-334-6015
- Email: [email protected]
- Parishioner registration available online via the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Sr. Sheila Stevenson, OSM (Sisters of Mercy)approx. 2017–2025
Pastoral Administrator for 8 years; celebrated 60 years as a Sister of Mercy in 2025; retired June 24, 2025
- Deacon Peter DohrJune 2025–present
Appointed Pastoral Administrator by Bishop Salvatore Matano, beginning June 16, 2025; previously a deacon for 15 years serving Honeoye Falls, Lima and Avon; former Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes