St. Mark (Oratory of St. Patrick, Belfast)

St. Mark Oratory in Rushford

St. Mark was a small Catholic oratory located at 9103 School Street in the hamlet of Rushford, Allegany County, in western New York State. Founded in 1948, it served the rural Catholic community of the Rushford area as a mission chapel — an oratory — of St. Patrick Parish in nearby Belfast. Although it never had its own resident priest, it was a valued worship site within the Diocese of Buffalo's NW Allegany Catholic family of parishes.

History

Established in 1948, St. Mark's was always closely tied to St. Patrick Parish in Belfast (itself founded in 1859). As the rural population of Rushford declined and priest availability tightened, the oratory was formally merged into St. Patrick Parish in 2012 under Bishop Edward Kmiec's Journey in Faith and Grace initiative. It continued as an active worship site until 2024, when the oratory was closed. In 2025, under Bishop Michael W. Fisher's Road to Renewal, St. Patrick in Fillmore and St. Mary in Canaseraga were merged into St. Patrick in Belfast — the surviving parish.

• 1948: St. Mark oratory founded in Rushford
• 1859: Parent parish St. Patrick founded in Belfast
• 2012: St. Mark formally merged into St. Patrick Parish, Belfast
• 2024: St. Mark oratory ceases operations
• 2025: Road to Renewal consolidates remaining tri-parish sites under St. Patrick, Belfast

Diocese of Buffalo

St. Mark's oratory falls under the Diocese of Buffalo, which covers the counties of Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, Chautauqua, Wyoming, Cattaraugus and Allegany in western New York. The diocese was established in 1847; its current ordinary is Bishop Michael W. Fisher, installed January 15, 2021. The Official Catholic Directory lists St. Patrick's Belfast (with oratory at St. Mark, Rushford) under the Southern Tier East deanery.

• Diocese: Buffalo
• Established: 1847
• Bishop: Most Rev. Michael W. Fisher
• Deanery: Southern Tier East

Clergy & Staff

Because St. Mark has been an oratory of St. Patrick Parish in Belfast, it has been served by the priests assigned to that parish rather than by a resident pastor. According to the Official Catholic Directory, Rev. Dennis J.J. Mancuso served as pastor and was followed by Rev. F. Patrick Melfi as Temporary Administrator (2022 snapshot). The tri-parish office coordinator (Wendy Jerge / Lori Richter in earlier directories) and safe environment coordinator (Susan Scott) have provided ongoing administrative support.

• Rev. Dennis J.J. Mancuso — Pastor (through ~2021)
• Rev. F. Patrick Melfi — Temporary Administrator (2022)
• Office Manager — Wendy Jerge ([email protected])
• Tri-Parish Safe Environment Coordinator — Susan Scott

Ministries & Parish Life

Despite its small size, the tri-parish community of NW Allegany Catholic sustains a number of ministries that have supported St. Mark's and now continue at the active sites. The Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and distributes shawls to those in need of comfort. The Catechetical Center at 18 E. Hughes St., Belfast, offers faith formation for children and youth. Music ministry is provided by cantors and musicians at each church, and parish life includes seasonal potlucks, Donut Sundays, and community celebrations such as the Belfast Bicentennial (August 9–11).

• Prayer Shawl Ministry
• Tri-Parish Catechetical Center (faith formation)
• Music Ministry (Mary Risewick, Lynn Ronan)
• Donut Sundays and parish potlucks
• Belfast Bicentennial community events

Outreach & Charity

The tri-parish family engages in outreach to those in need both locally and regionally. Parishioners have made tie-blankets for Genesis House, and the prayer shawl ministry distributes shawls to anyone in need (contact coordinators at each site). The parish bulletin also promotes safe-environment training and diocesan appeals.

• Tie-blanket service project for Genesis House
• Prayer Shawl distribution
• Diocesan and parish-wide appeals

Live Streaming & Online Presence

Weekend Masses and some daily Masses are live-streamed via the NW Allegany Catholic YouTube channel and Facebook page. Thursday 12 Noon Daily Mass is a regular feature, and the Saturday 3:30 PM Rosary is also broadcast. The mobile app 'NW Allegany Catholic Churches' is available for Android and iOS.

• YouTube: NW Allegany Catholic live streams
• Facebook: NW Allegany Catholic (Mass live streams)
• Mobile App: NW Allegany Catholic Churches (Android/iOS)

Visiting & Contact

St. Mark oratory is now closed; visitors wishing to worship with the NW Allegany Catholic community are welcomed at St. Patrick's in Belfast (1 Merton Ave.), St. Patrick's in Fillmore (109 W. Main St.), or Our Lady of the Angels in Cuba (48 South St.). The tri-parish mailing address is PO Box 198, Fillmore, NY 14735; in-person office visits are at 18 East Hughes St., Belfast (side-door entrance).

• Tri-Parish Mailing: PO Box 198, Fillmore, NY 14735
• In-Person Office: 18 East Hughes St., Belfast, NY 14711
• Phone: 585-209-4042 (rectory)
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.stpatsbelfastfillmore.org