About St. Mary. St. Francis and St. Clare Community. · Waterloo, New York
St. Francis and St. Clare Roman Catholic Community is a merged parish serving Waterloo and Seneca Falls, New York, formed in 2013 from the union of St. Mary’s Parish and St. Patrick’s Parish. It operates with two worship sites and offers a wide range of ministries, sacraments, and pastoral care. The community emphasizes faith formation, social ministry, and spiritual support through regular Masses, confession, adoration, and outreach to the homebound and hospitalized. It is part of the Diocese of Rochester and serves a diverse congregation with active involvement in parish life and sacramental preparation.
- Established
- 2013
- Patron
- St. Francis, St. Clare
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
Join a community that offers deep spiritual life through regular Masses, sacraments, and faith formation programs. Engage in ministries that support the vulnerable, including homebound visits, hospital visitations, and parish outreach. Experience a welcoming, multi-site parish that blends tradition with modern pastoral care and active parishioner involvement.
Mass times at St. Mary. St. Francis and St. Clare Community.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 3:30 to 4:30 pm every Saturday at St. Mary's Church
- First Fridays and First Saturdays from 9:00 to 10:00 am at St. Patrick's Church
Parish History
The parish was created in 2013 through the merger of St. Mary’s Parish in Waterloo and St. Patrick’s Parish in Seneca Falls. St. Patrick’s history dates to 1835, with its first Mass held in a home that collapsed under the crowd, leading to a Mass completed across the street. The current church was dedicated in 1931 after construction began in 1929, delayed by the Great Depression. St. Patrick’s School closed in 2005, and the parish rectory, built in 1956, now houses the priests.
Sacraments
The parish offers all seven sacraments, including Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Marriage Preparation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. Preparation for Confirmation is a two-year process beginning in 8th grade, and Baptism is typically scheduled during a weekend Mass or at 12:30 pm after Mass.
Ministries
The parish offers a wide range of ministries including Social Ministry, Faith Formation, Prayer Life, Devotions, Pastoral Care, and Support Organizations. These ministries support the spiritual, emotional, and practical needs of the community, including outreach to the homebound and hospitalized.
Pastoral Care
The parish provides pastoral care through hospital and nursing home visitations, monthly Masses and Communion Services at both Huntington and Seneca Nursing Homes, and homebound ministry. The Catholic Daughters recite the Rosary and assist with bingo at Seneca Nursing Home.