About St. Mary of the Lake · Watkins Glen, New York
St. Mary of the Lake is a Roman Catholic parish in Watkins Glen, Schuyler County, New York, clustered with St. Benedict's Church in nearby Odessa under the name Schuyler Catholic Community. Worship at the parish church (905 N. Decatur St.) includes Sunday Masses at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., daily Mass Monday through Friday at 8:00 a.m., and a monthly Spanish-language Mass celebrated at St. Benedict's to serve migrant farmworkers in the region. The parish is led by Fr. Jeffrey S. Tunnicliff as Parochial Administrator, supported by three deacons and a small staff. It is one of the older Catholic communities in the Finger Lakes, with roots going back to the 1840s, and today it combines traditional parish life with a wide range of faith-formation, social-ministry, and corporal-works-of-mercy outreach across the two churches.
- Established
- 1846
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title 'Mary of the Lake')
- Rector
- Rev. Jeffrey S. Tunnicliff (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Lake is a long-standing Finger Lakes parish where Sunday Mass is offered twice (8:00 and 10:00 a.m.) along with daily Mass four days a week, confession several times a week, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, and a Divine Mercy apostolate — all in an intimate, two-church community. Families raising children find a strong K–6 Faith Formation program and a two-year youth Confirmation track, while adults can grow through Gospel Encounter small groups, OCIA (RCIA), spiritual ministry, and Stephen Ministry-style outreach. The parish also has a deep social-ministry heartbeat: a community food pantry for Schuyler County, jail ministry, funeral and bereavement ministry, ministry to migrant farmworkers through a monthly Spanish Mass at St. Benedict's, and a recognized cluster-wide response to the Corporal Works of Mercy.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Lake
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30–4:30 p.m. at St. Benedict's, Odessa
- Third Wednesday of each month, 4:00–6:00 p.m. at St. Mary's of the Lake
- Thursday before each First Friday of the month, following 8:00 a.m. Mass at St. Mary's (8:30–9:00 a.m.)
- By appointment — call the parish office at 607-535-2786
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month — Eucharistic Adoration following 8:00 a.m. Mass at St. Mary's, 8:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
- Divine Mercy Sunday — Adoration 3:00–4:00 p.m. at St. Mary's
Parish Identity & Cluster
St. Mary of the Lake is one half of the 'Schuyler Catholic Community,' a two-church cluster that also includes St. Benedict's Church in Odessa. The cluster was formed in 1989 when Father David L. Bonin became pastor. Both churches remain active worship sites: St. Mary's in Watkins Glen is the larger of the two and hosts daily Mass and the Sunday schedule (8:00 and 10:00 a.m.), while St. Benedict's hosts the Saturday 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass and is also the home of the parish's monthly Spanish Mass.
- St. Mary of the Lake — 905 N. Decatur St., Watkins Glen, NY 14891
- St. Benedict's Church — 304 Speedway Rd., Odessa, NY 14869
- Clustered since 1989 under Father Bonin
- Currently known as 'Schuyler Catholic Community'
History of St. Mary of the Lake
Catholic missionaries from Elmira (notably Rev. James Cunningham, 1850–1854) were the first to serve the small Catholic population in what is now Watkins Glen. Around 1846–1847 the community purchased an 1833-built former Presbyterian church, and in 1865 Father Dennis English of Penn Yan directed the construction of a new 400-seat church costing $22,000. Father James C. McManus became the first resident pastor in February 1869 and remained for three years. By 1876 the parish was part of the (then-new) Diocese of Rochester. A Catholic Courier profile from 1994 dates the formal parish establishment to 1846.
- Original 1833 building purchased from Presbyterians, c. 1846–1847
- New 400-seat church built 1865 under Father Dennis English
- First resident pastor: Father James C. McManus (1869–1872)
- Parish records (baptisms 1848–1869, marriages 1849–1869) preserved at Cornell University
- Cluster with St. Benedict's formed in 1989
Clergy & Staff
The Schuyler Catholic Community is currently led by Rev. Jeffrey S. Tunnicliff as Parochial Administrator. He is assisted by three permanent deacons with distinct ministerial portfolios. The parish office staff includes a secretary, business manager, and faith-formation assistant. Father Jeff can be reached at extension 104.
- Rev. Jeffrey S. Tunnicliff — Parochial Administrator (ext. 104)
- Deacon Dan Pavlina
- Deacon Rick Roy — Jail Ministry
- Deacon Tom Ruda — Spiritual Ministry
- Helen Specchio — Secretary (ext. 100)
- Terri Orbin — Business Manager (ext. 102)
- Maria Rondinaro — Faith Formation Assistant
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The parish's family-based Faith Formation program serves children in grades K–6, with parents meeting alongside their children and taking home weekly lessons to teach. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are prepared in second grade and above, with extra preparation sessions on the third Sunday of the month. Youth Confirmation is a two-year diocesan process beginning in 8th grade. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) welcomes adults exploring Catholicism.
- Grades K–6 Family Faith Formation
- First Reconciliation / First Eucharist preparation (grade 2+)
- Youth Confirmation (two-year, starting 8th grade)
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults
- Family sessions begin with a kickoff celebration each fall
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Mary's and St. Benedict's organize ministry around the Corporal Works of Mercy. A social-ministry office houses the community food pantry serving Schuyler County and an illiteracy volunteer program. Deacons lead jail ministry and broader spiritual ministry; lay-led Stephen Ministry-style outreach supports those facing physical or emotional difficulty. Caring and Sharing, funeral/bereavement, hospital and nursing-home visitation, and the pro-life 'United for Life' ministry round out the outreach apostolate.
- Community Food Pantry for Schuyler County residents
- Illiteracy volunteer program
- Stephen Ministry (lay caring outreach)
- Caring and Sharing Ministry
- Jail Ministry (Deacon Rick Roy)
- Hospital & Nursing Home visitation
- Funeral / Bereavement Ministry with Resurrection Choir
- United for Life Ministry
Hispanic Ministry & Migrant Outreach
Since 2024 the parish has hosted a monthly Spanish Mass at St. Benedict's Church in Odessa — every second Sunday at 7:30 p.m. — to serve migrant farmworkers, many of whom come from Mexico and Guatemala to labor on area dairy farms and in seasonal work such as grape harvesting. The liturgies are celebrated by Capuchin Father Brendan Buckley, OFM Cap., of St. Fidelis Friary in Interlaken, with assistance from Spanish-speaking parishioners as cantors, lectors, and musicians. A Mothers' Day blessing and a post-Mass fellowship dinner are regular features of the community.
- Spanish Mass — 2nd Sunday, 7:30 p.m. at St. Benedict's
- Serves migrant farmworkers from Mexico and Guatemala
- Celebrant: Father Brendan Buckley, OFM Cap. (St. Fidelis Friary, Interlaken)
- Spanish-speaking cantors, lectors, and musicians assist
- Spanish Masses originated on area farms in fall 2023, relocated to St. Benedict's in January 2024
Parish Cemeteries
The parish manages two cemeteries: St. Mary's Cemetery and Holy Cross Cemetery. Both are overseen by a Cemetery Coordinator working with the Cemetery Committee. The parish also has a mausoleum at St. Mary's Cemetery that holds historical connections to a survivor of the RMS Titanic. Information about purchasing burial rights is available by calling the Cemetery Coordinator at the parish office.
- St. Mary's Cemetery
- Holy Cross Cemetery
- Mausoleum at St. Mary's Cemetery (Titanic survivor connection)
- Cemetery Coordinator: (607) 535-2786
- Joint Cemetery Committee provides governance
Funeral & Bereavement Ministry
The parish supports families in planning Catholic funeral rites, including the choice of Scripture readings (Old Testament, Psalm, New Testament), general intercessions, music, and roles for family members such as pall-bearers and gift-bearers. The parish's Resurrection Choir sings at funeral liturgies. Calling hours and obituary coordination are handled in cooperation with area funeral homes (Vedder & Scott, Baird-Board, Royce-Chedoy, Haughey-Wood).
- Provided Scripture reading lists (OT, Psalm, NT)
- Two sets of General Intercessions (A & B) with personalization
- Resurrection Choir sings at funeral liturgies
- Family roles: pall placement, pall-bearers (up to 6), gift-bearers (1–4)
- Coordinates with local funeral homes
Sacraments
St. Mary of the Lake celebrates and prepares parishioners for the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Sacramental preparation is integrated with the Faith Formation program for children, while adult preparation takes place through OCIA. Marriage preparation and funeral/end-of-life rites are arranged directly through the parish office with Father Jeff.
- Baptism (infant and adult)
- First Reconciliation / First Eucharist
- Confirmation
- Marriage Preparation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Funeral Preparation / End-of-Life Rites
- Anointing of the Sick available on request
Getting Involved & Small Groups
The parish maintains a Pastoral Council and invites parishioners into small-group faith sharing through Gospel Encounter Groups. Adult faith formation and ministry involvement are emphasized as a normal part of parish life, with the parish's mission statement describing members as 'dedicated in our Baptism to lifelong … faith formation.'
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Gospel Encounter Groups (small faith-sharing groups)
- Stephen Ministry
- Resurrection Choir (music ministry)
- Social Ministry volunteers (food pantry, illiteracy program)
Contact, Location & Office Hours
The parish office is located at 905 N. Decatur Street, Watkins Glen, NY 14891 (mailing: P.O. Box 289, Watkins Glen, NY 14891). The main phone number is 607-535-2786, with a fax line at 607-535-2990. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; the office is closed Friday through Sunday.
- Address: 905 N. Decatur St., Watkins Glen, NY 14891
- Mailing: P.O. Box 289, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
- Phone: 607-535-2786
- Fax: 607-535-2990
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; closed Fri–Sun
- From Route 14: turn east onto 9th Street; church on the corner of 9th and Decatur
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Cunningham1850–1854
Priest from Elmira who visited the small Catholic community regularly before there was a resident pastor.
- Father Dennis English (of Penn Yan)circa 1865
Directed the construction of the new 400-seat church completed in 1865.
- Father James C. McManus1869–1872
First resident pastor of St. Mary of the Lake; served for three years.
- Father David L. Boninarrived 1989
Pastor under whom the cluster with St. Benedict's (Odessa) was formed and many lay ministries (Stephen Ministry, food pantry, illiteracy program) were launched.
- Rev. Jeffrey S. Tunnicliffcurrent
Current Parochial Administrator of the Schuyler Catholic Community cluster.