About St. Mary of Assumption. St. Martin de Porres Parish. · Scottsville, New York
St. Martin de Porres Parish is a multi-site Catholic parish in the Diocese of Rochester that unites three historic western New York worship sites — St. Columba (Caledonia), St. Mary of the Assumption (Scottsville), and St. Vincent de Paul (Churchville) — under one faith community. The parish was officially formed on July 1, 2017, when Bishop Salvatore Matano decreed that the three previously clustered churches 'shall by extinctive union be amalgamated one to another and so be constituted as a single parish.' Its principal worship site for the Scottsville community is St. Mary of the Assumption, 99 Main Street, which traces its origins to Irish immigrant settlers of the 1830s and is reportedly the oldest church continually in use in the Diocese of Rochester.
- Established
- 1843
- Patron
- St. Martin de Porres (parish patron); St. Mary of the Assumption (Scottsville worship site patron)
- Rector
- Fr. Carlos Sanchez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
St. Martin de Porres Parish is a warm, multi-generational Catholic community that gathers across three historic western New York worship sites in Caledonia, Scottsville, and Churchville. Parishioners share vibrant liturgical worship, life-long faith formation for all ages, active parish committees (Social Ministry, Liturgy, Finance, Cemetery, and Buildings & Grounds), and an annual parish-wide sale and picnic that bind the cluster together. The parish also partners with neighboring St. Christopher's and other area parishes through the Diocese of Rochester's 5 Saints West Pastoral Planning Group for events like Lenten retreats.
Mass times at St. Mary of Assumption. St. Martin de Porres Parish.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays: 3:15 pm at St. Columba Church, before the 4 pm Mass
- Sundays: 8:15 am at St. Mary's Hartmann Hall, before the 9 am Mass
- Sundays at St. Vincent Church, after the 11 am Mass
- Reconciliation is also available by appointment with Fr. Carlos — please call the office to schedule
History of St. Mary of the Assumption, Scottsville
St. Mary of the Assumption is the Scottsville worship site of St. Martin de Porres Parish, but its roots go back to the 1830s when Irish immigrants settled in Wheatland and southeastern Chili. In the winter of 1841 Father Bernard O'Reilly, pastor of St. Patrick's in Rochester, stopped in Scottsville at the home of Patrick Rafferty, an Irish immigrant who had settled in the village in 1837. A few weeks later Father O'Reilly returned to celebrate the Eucharist, and the local Catholics resolved to have Mass said in their village whenever a priest could visit. On May 10, 1843, Rafferty, Michael Sheridan, and James Early bought the land on which the church and rectory still stand, signing a joint note for $300 and taking an $800 mortgage. A permanent pastor was assigned in 1848 by Bishop John Timon of Buffalo; Bishop Timon laid the cornerstone on August 15, 1853, the first Mass was said in May 1855, and Bishop Timon formally dedicated the completed building on November 4, 1860. The parish marked the 150th anniversary of its church building in August 2010 with a Mass presided over by Bishop Matthew H. Clark.
- 1843 — Land purchased by Patrick Rafferty, Michael Sheridan, and James Early for $800
- 1848 — First permanent pastor assigned to the Scottsville mission
- August 15, 1853 — Cornerstone laid by Bishop John Timon, C.M. (Diocese of Buffalo)
- May 1855 — First Mass in the new, not-yet-completed church
- November 4, 1860 — Bishop Timon formally dedicates the completed building
- August 15–17, 2010 — 150th anniversary of the church building celebrated
Becoming One Parish: St. Martin de Porres (2017)
Officially designated a cluster many years ago (and operating as one since 2011), the three worship sites of St. Columba (Caledonia), St. Mary of the Assumption (Scottsville), and St. Vincent de Paul (Churchville) coordinated a shared schedule of Masses, other services, and special liturgies at Christmas and during the Easter Triduum. On July 1, 2017, Bishop Salvatore Matano issued a decree that the three churches 'shall by extinctive union be amalgamated one to another and so be constituted as a single parish,' to provide for continued ministry to the people of God in the territory of Caledonia, Churchville, and Scottsville. The community celebrated its new parish, St. Martin de Porres, with a special Mass and picnic, and in 2022 marked five years as a parish with a picnic and retreat.
- Cluster designation: 2011
- Extinctive union decreed by Bishop Salvatore Matano: July 1, 2017
- Five-year anniversary picnic and retreat: 2022
- Two of the three worship sites (St. Mary, St. Vincent) are in Monroe County; St. Columba is in Livingston County; each is roughly 10 miles apart
Parish Vision, Mission & Pastoral Leadership
St. Martin de Porres Parish describes itself as 'a faith community gathering at our worship sites … striving to live the sacramental life together through vibrant liturgical worship, loving service, and life-long faith formation for spiritual growth. Through wise use of our gifts, leadership, and shared resources, we are one community of Catholics worshipping our God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we embrace an atmosphere of belonging and discipleship to make visible the life and work of Jesus Christ.' A Parish Pastoral Council serves as a consultation group developing unity among parishioners and assisting the pastor, and the parish maintains committees for Social Ministry, Liturgy, Finance, Cemetery, and Buildings & Grounds. The parish also maintains a collaborative relationship with St. Christopher's Church in North Chili as part of the Diocese of Rochester's 5 Saints West Pastoral Planning Group, holding joint events such as a Lenten retreat among the 5SW parishes.
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Social Ministry Committee
- Liturgy Committee
- Finance Committee
- Cemetery Committee
- Buildings & Grounds Committee
- 5 Saints West partnership with St. Christopher's, North Chili and other area parishes
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, two deacons, three music directors, a maintenance coordinator, two administrative assistants, a Faith Formation Coordinator, a Confirmation Coordinator, and a Regional Finance Director. Each worship site has its own music director and administrative support so that local ministry continues across the three sites.
- Fr. Carlos Sanchez — Pastor
- Deacon Matthew Dudek — Parish Deacon
- Deacon Pat Shanley — Parish Deacon
- Paula Gallo — Music Director, St. Mary of the Assumption
- Maria Neale — Music Director, St. Columba
- Jeanne Dudek — Music Director, St. Vincent de Paul / Head of Liturgy Committee
- Luke Nolan — Faith Formation Coordinator
- Mary O'Meara — Confirmation Coordinator
- Ann Buyea — Administrative Assistant, St. Mary
- Pat McGill — Administrative Assistant, St. Columba
- Steve Hull — Maintenance Coordinator
- Christopher Frontale — Regional Finance Director
Hartmann Hall — A Parish Facility Across the Driveway
Across the driveway from St. Mary of the Assumption church sits Hartmann Hall, a multi-purpose building whose construction Father Hartmann began in the late 1950s 'to accommodate the growing number of children attending released-time catechism classes that were meeting in the church.' Its cornerstone was laid on Thanksgiving Day, 1961, and Auxiliary Bishop Casey blessed the completed building on March 4, 1962. Today the hall is an excellent venue for meetings, receptions, and small-group activities; it includes a well-appointed kitchen, restrooms, and a confessional area, and is available for rent to the public.
- Cornerstone laid: Thanksgiving Day, 1961
- Building blessed: March 4, 1962, by Auxiliary Bishop Casey
- Includes a well-appointed kitchen, restrooms, and confessional area
- Available for rent to the public
Faith Formation, Music & Parish Life
Life-long faith formation is one of the parish's stated pillars. The Faith Formation Coordinator (Luke Nolan) and Confirmation Coordinator (Mary O'Meara) organize catechesis for children, youth, and families preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation. Music ministry is led site-by-site — Paula Gallo at St. Mary of the Assumption, Maria Neale at St. Columba, and Jeanne Dudek at St. Vincent de Paul (who also heads the parish Liturgy Committee). Annual events such as the Parish Annual Sale (a major fundraiser and volunteer tradition), parish picnics, the 5SW Lenten retreat, and the August Assumption feast bring the community together across all three sites.
- Faith Formation (children & youth)
- Confirmation preparation
- Music ministry at each worship site
- Annual Parish Sale
- Parish picnics and Assumption feast celebrations
- 5 Saints West Lenten retreat with neighboring parishes
Worship Sites & How to Find Us
St. Martin de Porres Parish maintains three worship sites in Livingston and Monroe counties, each about ten miles apart. Parishioners and visitors can attend Mass or contact any office at the location most convenient to them.
- St. Mary of the Assumption — 99 Main Street, Scottsville, NY 14546 — Office 585-294-3065 — Office hours Mon–Thu 8:30 am–4 pm; Fri 8:30 am–1 pm
- St. Vincent de Paul — 11 North Main Street, Churchville, NY 14428 — Office 585-294-3085
- St. Columba — 198 North Street, Caledonia, NY 14423 — Office 585-538-2126 — Office hours Mon–Thu 8:30 am–4 pm; Fri 8:30 am–1 pm
- Parish main phone: 585-538-2126
- Fax: 585-625-0045
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stmartinrochester.org/
Online & Livestream Resources
The parish livestreams the Saturday 4:00 pm Vigil Mass from St. Columba on its YouTube channel; recordings are available for viewing on Sunday at 10 am for those unable to attend in person. The parish website also links to listen to homilies, the Diocese of Rochester's Eucharistic Revival information, Safe Environment / Protecting Our Children resources, Victims Assistance, recent letters from Bishop Matano, the annual Parish Financial Report, and the parish calendar.
- YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9cVEYwhGNUjvC5ovAo08Q
- Livestream of the Saturday 4 pm Vigil Mass; replay available Sunday at 10 am
- Homilies available online
- Diocesan links: Eucharistic Revival, Safe Environment, Victims Assistance, Bishop's letters
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Bernard O'Reilly1841–
Pastor of St. Patrick's, Rochester; celebrated first Masses in Scottsville and helped catalyze the founding of the local Catholic community.
- (unnamed first resident pastor)1848
First permanent pastor assigned to the Scottsville mission by Bishop John Timon of Buffalo.