About St. Mary. St. Benedict Parish. · Canandaigua, New York
St. Benedict Parish is a Roman Catholic multi-site parish serving Canandaigua and East Bloomfield in Ontario County, in the heart of New York's Finger Lakes region. Formed in 2012 through the merger of historic St. Mary Parish (Canandaigua) and St. Bridget/St. Joseph Parish (East Bloomfield), the parish today maintains two active worship sites — St. Mary's Church at 95 North Main Street, Canandaigua, and St. Bridget's Church at 15 Church Street, East Bloomfield — together with St. Mary School, an established parochial school serving preschool through eighth grade. The parish is led by a pastor and parochial vicar, supported by a school principal, deacons, and a broad team of parish and faith-formation staff. With a rich worship life, many active ministries, and a long Catholic heritage dating to the 1840s, St. Benedict Parish welcomes new and returning parishioners alike with the message: 'When you are at St. Benedict Parish, you are home!'
- Established
- 2012 (parish formed by merger); constituent St. Mary's Parish founded 1840
- Patron
- St. Benedict (parish patron); worship sites also honor the Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary's) and St. Bridget of Kildare (St. Bridget's)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Costik, Pastor
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester (Catholic Diocese of Rochester, NY)
Why belong here
St. Benedict Parish offers the rare combination of a long Catholic heritage (back to the 1840s) and a vibrant, contemporary parish life in the Finger Lakes. Members worship at two beautiful historic churches — St. Mary's in Canandaigua (1905) and St. Bridget's in East Bloomfield (1875) — send their children to St. Mary School (preschool through grade 8), and can join a wide range of ministries, faith-formation programs, and music and liturgical opportunities. With daily and weekend Masses at both sites, regular confession, an active school community, and a pastor and parochial vicar who know their flock, St. Benedict is a parish that warmly welcomes new families, returning Catholics, and visitors to the Finger Lakes.
Mass times at St. Mary. St. Benedict Parish.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM at St. Bridget's Church
- Saturdays: 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM at St. Mary's Church
About St. Benedict Parish
St. Benedict Parish is a multi-site Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Rochester serving the Canandaigua and East Bloomfield communities of Ontario County, in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The parish describes itself as 'a vibrant religious community with rich worship, an exceptional and established parochial school, many active ministries, and lively activities.' Worship is offered at two historic churches — St. Mary's in Canandaigua and St. Bridget's in East Bloomfield — both of which remain open as worship sites.
- Two worship sites: St. Mary's Church (Canandaigua) and St. Bridget's Church (East Bloomfield)
- St. Mary School (preschool–grade 8) at 16 Gibson Street, Canandaigua
- Parish Administration Center at 95 N. Main St., Canandaigua
Parish History
St. Benedict Parish was formed on June 21, 2012 by decree of Bishop Matthew H. Clark, uniting St. Mary's Parish of Canandaigua (founded 1840) and St. Bridget/St. Joseph Parish of East Bloomfield. The two parishes had been collaborating since 2000, when Father Thomas Mull became pastor of St. Mary and began working with Sister Diane Dennie, SSJ, pastoral administrator at St. Bridget/St. Joseph. They clustered formally in 2007 and merged in 2012, with both worship sites preserved.
- 1840 — St. Mary's Parish founded
- 1844 — Original St. Mary's Church built
- 1849 — St. Mary School founded
- 1850 — St. Bridget's Parish founded in East Bloomfield
- 1852 — First St. Mary's Rectory completed
- 1852 — St. Bridget's Church erected
- 1873 — Granger property acquired; St. Mary's Convent founded
- 1875 — New St. Bridget's Church dedicated
- 1880 — First St. Mary's School erected
- 1905 — Current St. Mary's Church dedicated
- 1908 — St. Mary's Rectory built
- 1956 — St. Joseph (West Bloomfield) founded as mission of St. Bridget's
- 1990 — St. Bridget and St. Joseph merge
- 2007 — St. Mary and St. Bridget/St. Joseph cluster under one pastor
- June 21, 2012 — Bishop Matthew H. Clark decrees merger creating St. Benedict Parish
St. Mary School
St. Mary School is the parish's parochial school, serving preschool through eighth grade. Founded in 1849, it is one of the oldest Catholic schools in the Finger Lakes region and remains a centerpiece of parish life. The school is located at 16 Gibson Street, Canandaigua, and can be reached at (585) 394-4300. Many parishioners from St. Bridget/St. Joseph were particularly pleased that the merger brought their new parish into a school community.
- Preschool through 8th grade
- Founded 1849
- Address: 16 Gibson St., Canandaigua, NY 14424
- Phone: 585-394-4300
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The parish operates a Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation program for parish children. Families seeking Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, or Confirmation preparation for their children are directed to the parish office for information and registration.
- Faith Formation for parish children
- Sacramental Preparation in conjunction with Faith Formation
- Safe Environment compliance referenced on parish website
Music & Liturgy
The parish maintains a music ministry supporting worship at both worship sites. Parishioner and visitor engagement with the Liturgy Committee, parish choirs, and other liturgical roles is encouraged through the parish's 'Get Involved' outreach.
- Music Ministry (referenced on parish website)
- Liturgy Committee (combined council from the merger-era parishes)
Parish Life & Ministries
St. Benedict Parish offers many opportunities to get involved, including the combined Pastoral Council, Parish Life Committee, and various parish ministries that grew out of the merged communities. Visitors and parishioners are invited to take self-guided tours of both worship sites using PDFs available on the parish website.
- Pastoral Council
- Parish Life Committee
- Self-guided tours of St. Mary's and St. Bridget's churches
- Online parish registration for new members
Contact & Visiting
The Parish Administration Center is located at 95 North Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424, on the same campus as St. Mary's Church. The parish office is open weekdays with limited morning and afternoon hours; appointments are also available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Visitors to either worship site are warmly welcomed — the parish's message is, 'When you are at St. Benedict Parish, you are home!'
- Parish Administration Center: 95 N. Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424
- Phone: (585) 394-1220; Fax: (585) 396-3230
- Office Hours: Mon 9–12 & 1–4; Tue–Thu 9:30–12 & 1–4:30; Fri 9–12:30 & 1–2
- St. Bridget's Church: 15 Church St., East Bloomfield, NY 14469
- St. Mary School: 16 Gibson St., Canandaigua, NY 14424
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Mull2000 – c. 2012
Pastor of St. Mary who began collaboration with St. Bridget/St. Joseph in 2000; led the clustered parishes from 2007; first pastor of the merged St. Benedict Parish from its June 21, 2012 formation.
- Rev. Michael Costikpresent
Current pastor of St. Benedict Parish per the Diocese of Rochester directory.