St. Mary of the Assumption [St. Francis, St. Mary & St. Matthew Tri-Parish]

History of St. Mary of the Assumption

St. Mary's roots reach back to the 1820s German and Alsatian Catholic settlement of Manlius Station (Minoa). The first settlers — Felix Fieselmayer (1825), followed by Mathias Suther and Jacob Unmuessig (1827, Baden) and Ignatius Helfer (1828, Alsace) — gathered for Mass in the log cabin of Ignatius Helfer at the corner of Helfer and Main Street, on the lot next to today's church, and in private homes and the old log schoolhouse. By 1832 more than 30 Catholic families lived in the area and were visited by missionary priests (the first, Rev. Father Werich) only once or twice a year. In 1838 Adam Uth (Oot) and Michael Remlinger deeded three-quarters of an acre of land to eight parish trustees. A simple hemlock-frame church was built on that site — today the St. Mary's Cemetery — and the first resident pastor, Father Columbanus, was appointed in 1852.

Building the Parish: Fires, Franciscans, and Incorporation

The first church burned on May 27, 1881, and a fight between lay trustees and clergy over property control stalled rebuilding for over a year. A compromise allowed the cornerstone of the new church to be laid September 10, 1882, with the building completed May 3, 1883. In November 1883, at Bishop McNierney's request, the Conventual Franciscan Fathers (O.F.M. Conv.) took charge of the mission and made Minoa a satellite of Assumption Church in Syracuse. The parish was formally incorporated on December 15, 1897 and thereafter known as St. Mary's Church of Minoa, NY. By the 1901 Census the parish counted 112 families and 498 parishioners.

• May 27, 1881 — first church destroyed by fire
• September 10, 1882 — cornerstone of the new church laid
• May 3, 1883 — new church completed
• November 1883 — Conventual Franciscans (O.F.M. Conv.) take charge
• December 15, 1897 — parish incorporated as St. Mary's Church of Minoa
• 1901 — 112 families, 498 parishioners recorded

Tri-Parish Community (St. Francis / St. Mary / St. Matthew)

Since 2015 St. Mary of the Assumption has been canonically linked with St. Francis of Assisi (Bridgeport) and St. Matthew (East Syracuse) as a single tri-parish community served by one pastor. The shared parish office is at St. Matthew's, 229 W. Yates Street, East Syracuse, NY 13057. Together the three churches share clergy, staff, Faith Formation, and bulletins; St. Matthew's serves as the 'hub church' of the grouping.

• St. Francis of Assisi — 7820 Route 298, Bridgeport, NY 13030
• St. Mary of the Assumption — 401 N. Main St., Minoa, NY 13116
• St. Matthew — 229 W. Yates St., East Syracuse, NY 13057 (hub church / shared parish office)
• Main tri-parish phone: 315-437-8318

Clergy & Staff

The tri-parish is led by Pastor Rev. Stephen P. Wirkes, with the assistance of two permanent deacons and several assisting priests. A Faith Formation Director, Business Manager, Music Director, Cemetery Director, and Administrative Assistants round out the staff.

• Rev. Stephen P. Wirkes — Pastor
• Dc. Dean Brainard
• Dc. Joseph Lupia Jr.
• Rev. John Kurgan — Assisting Priest
• Rev. Matthew Rawson — Assisting Priest
• Rev. Michael Guzik, SJ — Assisting Priest
• Gary Krajacic — Faith Formation Director
• Thomas Lupia Jr. — Business Manager
• Laura Cavanaugh — Music Director
• Lynne Stocker — Cemetery Director (315-725-8510)
• Anne Kolozsvary & JoAnn Binion — Administrative Assistants

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith Formation for the tri-parish is coordinated out of the parish office and led by Faith Formation Director Gary Krajacic. Programs serve the children, youth, and families of all three linked parishes — St. Mary's (Minoa), St. Francis (Bridgeport), and St. Matthew (East Syracuse).

Parish Ministries & Groups

Tri-parish ministries include weekly BINGO and a long-running Craft Club, along with music ministry and parish cemetery care. New volunteers are welcomed in all programs.

• BINGO — St. Francis Parish Center, every Thursday 6:00–9:00 PM (floor workers, kitchen, card sales / pull tabs)
• Craft Club — St. Mary's Parish Center (cemetery end of the building), every Thursday 2:00–4:00 PM. Sewing, crochet, knitting, quilting. Contact Patty Koch 315-575-5391 or Dave Stevens 315-264-5764
• Music Ministry — Music Director Laura Cavanaugh
• Cemetery Care — St. Mary's Cemetery, Minoa; Director Lynne Stocker 315-725-8510

St. Mary's Cemetery, Minoa

The parish cemetery in Minoa is part of the original land deeded to the parish's founders in 1838. Today it is administered by Cemetery Director Lynne Stocker (315-725-8510). Burial arrangements and plot information are handled through the tri-parish office.

Sacraments & Mass Intentions

Mass intention requests can be made by calling the parish office or mailing in a request, ideally 3–6 months in advance of the preferred date. If a preferred Mass time is unavailable, the next available time will be scheduled. The Sacrament of Penance is heard Saturday 3:30–4:15 PM at St. Matthew's and after the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass at St. Mary's.

• Request a Mass intention: call 315-437-8318 or send request to the parish office
• Confession: Saturday 3:30–4:15 PM at St. Matthew's; Sunday after 11:00 AM Mass at St. Mary's
• In the event of a Funeral Mass, intentions will be moved to another day

Visiting St. Mary of the Assumption

St. Mary's is in the Village of Minoa, just east of Syracuse. From I-481 take Exit 5E, merge east to the second traffic light at Minoa Rd / Schepps Corners Rd / Main St., turn right (south), and continue about one mile. The church is on the right; pass it and turn right onto Dorothy Street to reach the parking lot.

• Physical address: 401 N. Main St., Minoa, NY 13116
• Tri-parish mailing address: 229 W. Yates St., East Syracuse, NY 13057
• Phone: 315-437-8318
• Fax: 315-463-4328
• Email: [email protected]