About St. Mary · Copenhagen, New York
St. Mary's Church is a small Catholic parish in the rural village of Copenhagen, New York, serving approximately 174 families in the northern foothills of Jefferson County. Originally established in 1869 to take over the missions of Harrisburg and Pinckney, the present church edifice on High Street was built in 1901–1902 and consecrated by Bishop Henry Gabriels of Ogdensburg on October 21, 1902. Since August 1999, when its last resident pastor retired, St. Mary's has been administered as a mission of St. James Church in Carthage under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg. The parish shares clergy, faith formation, and pastoral staff with St. James, while retaining its own historic church, cemetery, and active community life.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish informally known as St. Mary's from its earliest days; a shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands on the south side of the church)
- Rector
- Rev. Jaya Kumar Francis
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers the close-knit feel of a small rural parish — about 174 families — where the same familiar faces gather every Sunday at 8:00 AM Mass in the historic 1902 church on High Street. Worshippers benefit from a full cluster of ministries shared with sister parish St. James in Carthage, including religious education for grades 1–6, Confirmation preparation, a youth group, the Altar & Rosary Society, OCIA, liturgical ministries, a rosary-makers circle, a prayer line, and a coffee-and-donuts hour after Mass. With Confession offered before Sunday Mass and active stewardship of the parish cemetery, St. Mary's is a place where generations of Copenhagen-area Catholics continue to pray, serve, and grow together.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM at St. James, Carthage
- Sunday 7:30 AM at St. Mary's, Copenhagen
Parish History
St. Mary's was formed in 1869 to assume the missions of Harrisburg and Pinckney and remained under the Diocese of Albany until 1872, when the new Diocese of Ogdensburg was erected. Rev. Thomas McNally was the first resident pastor, though no church building yet existed. After St. Patrick's in Harrisburg burned in 1889, the decision was made to build a new church in Copenhagen, and the certificate of incorporation for St. Bridget's Church of Copenhagen was filed in 1890.
- 1869 — parish formed for Harrisburg and Pinckney missions
- 1872 — transferred to new Diocese of Ogdensburg
- 1890 — incorporation of St. Bridget's Church of Copenhagen
- 1901 — Theresa Winder deeds High Street land; cornerstone laid
- 1902 — church opened May 15; consecrated by Bishop Henry Gabriels, Oct. 21
- 1926 — Ward property and Howe right-of-way acquired
- 1927 — new rectory built
- 1931 — church enlarged under Rev. Thomas E. Owen (floors, basement, heating)
- 1937 — Thanksgiving-night fire; $15,000 in damage; Masses moved to Scherer Funeral Parlor
- 1938 — rebuilt; re-dedicated by Bishop Monaghan on Oct. 16
- 1942 — formal name change to St. Mary's filed
- 1965 — Rev. James P. Igo arrives; landscaping and Marian shrine added
- August 1999 — Rev. Charles E. Chase retires; St. Mary's becomes a mission of St. James, Carthage
Clergy and Parish Staff
St. Mary's is served by the clergy of the Carthage–Copenhagen Catholic cluster. Pastor Father Todd E. Thibault oversees both parishes, assisted by two permanent deacons. Parish operations are supported by a secretary, bookkeeper, trustees, and Pastoral and Finance Councils.
- Pastor — Rev. Todd E. Thibault
- Pastoral Associate — Deacon Garry H. Stevens
- Pastoral Associate — Deacon Richard J. Staab
- Parish Secretary — Joanne Norrgard
- Bookkeeper — Cindy Arquiett
- Trustees — Janet Aubin, Brian Thompson
- Pastoral Council — Father Thibault, Lori Snyder, Ruth Brady, Brian Thompson, Nicole Mangan, Janet Aubin
- Finance Council — Father Thibault, Lori Snyder, Shirley (—), Donald Green, Marcia Mundy, Brian Thompson, Janet Aubin
Parish Directory of Services
The published parish directory lists ministry contacts and phone numbers for everything from cemetery care to OCIA, with most lay ministry leaders drawn from the St. Mary's community.
- Religious Education — Kennedy Lawler / Michelle Castor
- Youth Group — Tom & Michelle Wojcikowski (778-5065)
- Altar & Rosary Society — Mary Jane Fleming (688-4464)
- Liturgical Ministries — Donald (Biff) Green (688-2685)
- OCIA — Joe Brosk (493-3224)
- Rosary Makers — Marion Eisel (688-2830), Sarah Drews (688-2846)
- Prayer Line — Mary Jane Fleming (688-2846)
- Coffee & Donut Hour — Kate & Brian Fenlon (688-2834)
- Church Cleaners — Debbie Green (688-2685)
- St. Mary's Cemetery — Kate & Brian Fenlon (688-2834)
- Pre-Cana — Andrianna Crawford (778-1883)
- Organist — Michael Perfetto
Faith Formation and Youth
Religious education for grades 1–6 meets at the St. Mary's Church Hall on Mondays from 3:00 to 4:15 PM; the Copenhagen school bus delivers the children and families pick them up at 4:15 PM. Confirmation preparation is held on Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in the St. James Community Room. A separate Youth Group is led by Tom and Michelle Wojcikowski, and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults & Children) is coordinated by Joe Brosk through the parish office.
- Religious Education (Grades 1–6): Monday 3:00–4:15 PM at St. Mary's Church Hall
- Confirmation Class: Sunday 6:00–7:30 PM at St. James Community Room
- Youth Group — Tom & Michelle Wojcikowski (778-5065)
- OCIA (adults & children) — Joe Brosk (493-3224)
Sacraments
St. Mary's prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church. First Reconciliation and First Communion flow from the parish Religious Education program; Confirmation is prepared in the Sunday-evening class at St. James. The parish maintains an OCIA process for adults and children entering the Church, and Pre-Cana preparation is offered for engaged couples.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- First Reconciliation / First Communion — through Religious Education
- Confirmation — Sunday evening class at St. James Community Room
- Marriage — Pre-Cana preparation (Andrianna Crawford, 778-1883)
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the rectory
- OCIA — Joe Brosk, 493-3224
Devotions and Parish Life
Beyond Sunday Mass, St. Mary's sustains a small but rich devotional life, with the shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary anchoring outdoor prayer on the church's south side. The Rosary Makers craft rosaries for missions and the homebound; the Prayer Line keeps the sick and suffering in daily intercession; and the Coffee & Donut Hour after Mass keeps the community connected.
- Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary (south side of church)
- Rosary Makers — Marion Eisel, Sarah Drews
- Prayer Line — Mary Jane Fleming
- Coffee & Donut Hour — Kate & Brian Fenlon
St. Mary's Cemetery and Facilities
St. Mary's maintains its own parish cemetery, with care coordinated by Kate and Brian Fenlon. The church and grounds — including the rectory (built 1927), the parish garage (on land purchased in 1926), and the Marian shrine — are tended by the parish's many lay stewards.
- St. Mary's Cemetery — Kate & Brian Fenlon (688-2834)
- Rectory (built 1927, north side of church)
- Parish garage (south lot purchased 1926)
- Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Cedar trees and flower beds planted by Father Igo (1965)
Cluster Relationship with St. James, Carthage
Since Rev. Charles E. Chase retired in August 1999, St. Mary's has been administered as a mission of St. James Church in Carthage. The two parishes share one pastor, joint deacons, a single parish office (327 West Street, Carthage), and combined faith-formation staff. St. James, founded in 1821, is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in New York State and was served by the Augustinian Order (O.S.A.) from 1874 to 1997.
- St. Mary's shares one pastor with St. James, Carthage
- Combined parish office: 327 West Street, Carthage, NY 13619
- Office phone: 315-493-3224
- Mass and Confession offered at both church sites each weekend
- St. James history dates to 1818 land gift from James D. LeRay de Chaumont
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas McNallycirca 1872 (first resident pastor of Copenhagen)
In place when the first bishop of Ogdensburg arrived; no church building yet existed.
- Rev. Bartholomew J. McLaughlincirca 1901–1902
Directed construction of the High Street church; opened May 15, 1902; consecrated Oct. 21, 1902.
- Rev. Thomas E. Owenthrough 1937–38
Enlarged the church in 1931 (new floors, basement, heating). Discovered the Thanksgiving 1937 fire; oversaw rebuilding and the Oct. 16, 1938 re-dedication by Bishop Monaghan.
- Rev. James P. Igoarrived 1965
Led extensive landscaping, erected the shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary, planted cedars and flowers.
- Rev. Charles E. Chaseretired August 1999
Last resident pastor of St. Mary's; his retirement ended the era of resident clergy.
- Rev. Todd E. ThibaultJune 2021 – May 2026
Pastor of the Carthage–Copenhagen cluster; listed as pastor on the parish directory and Diocese of Ogdensburg parish page.
- Rev. Jaya Kumar Francis, MSCMay 2026 – Present
Listed on the St. James history page as pastor beginning May 2026, succeeding Father Thibault.