About St. Mary. St. John Vianney Parish. · Bath, New York
St. John Vianney Parish is a multi-site Roman Catholic community in Steuben County, New York, formed in 2012 by uniting two long-standing Steuben County congregations: St. Mary's Church in Bath (founded in 1850, with its current church dedicated in 1892) and St. Gabriel's Church in Hammondsport (founded in 1848). It belongs to the Diocese of Rochester and is the only parish in that diocese named for St. John Vianney, the French Cure of Ars and patron saint of all priests. Today the parish is pastored by Very Rev. James P. Jaeger, who also serves as Dean of the West Deanery, and is supported by two deacons, parochial staff, and an active Pastoral and Finance Council.
- Established
- 2012
- Patron
- St. John Vianney (patron saint of all priests)
- Rector
- Very Rev. James P. Jaeger
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
St. John Vianney Parish offers two historic worship sites — St. Mary's in Bath and St. Gabriel's in Hammondsport — where Catholics can celebrate the Eucharist, receive the sacraments, and grow in faith together. Beyond the Mass schedule, parishioners find a true community life: liturgical ministries (choir, lectors, altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist), social-justice outreach such as visiting the homebound and supporting local food pantries and Loaves & Fishes, youth ministry, men's and women's groups, an annual Trash & Treasure sale, faith formation for all ages, and a parish book club. It is a welcoming home that embraces all people by sharing God's transforming love through worship, the sacraments, spiritual growth, and service.
Mass times at St. Mary. St. John Vianney Parish.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm at St. Mary's Church, Bath
- During Holy Hours: Mondays and Thursdays 10:00–11:00 am at St. Mary's; Tuesdays and Fridays 10:00–11:00 am at St. Gabriel's
- By appointment — call the parish office at 607-776-3327
Adoration times
- Monday 10:00 am at St. Mary's Church, Bath (followed by 11:00 am Mass)
- Thursday 10:00 am at St. Mary's Church, Bath (followed by 11:00 am Mass)
- Tuesday 10:00 am at St. Gabriel's Church, Hammondsport (followed by 11:00 am Mass)
- Friday 10:00 am at St. Gabriel's Church, Hammondsport (followed by 11:00 am Mass)
About St. John Vianney Parish
St. John Vianney Parish is a multi-site Roman Catholic community formed in 2012 from the union of St. Mary's Church in Bath and St. Gabriel's Church in Hammondsport, two congregations that had served Steuben County Catholics since the mid-1800s. It is the only parish in the Diocese of Rochester named for the Cure of Ars, and it is pastored today by Very Rev. James P. Jaeger, who also serves as Dean of the West Deanery. The parish mission is to be a welcoming home that embraces all people by sharing God's transforming love through worship, the sacraments, spiritual growth, and service.
- Mission Statement: 'St John Vianney Parish is a welcoming home which embraces all people by sharing God's transforming love. We worship, celebrate the Sacraments, promote spiritual growth and are Christ's hands for those in need.'
- Vision Statement: 'Full Churches every weekend with a vibrant, diverse community of parishioners exercising our faith inside and outside the church as living examples of Christ's work.'
History of the Parish
St. Mary's Church in Bath was founded in 1850 as a mission parish; a much larger church was dedicated in 1892, and that same structure on East Morris Street still serves parishioners today. St. Gabriel's Church in Hammondsport was founded in 1848, rebuilt after an 1885 church burned in 1908, and marked its 100th anniversary (of the current building) in 2009. After years of collaboration — including shared sacramental ministry from 1994 and a formal cluster in 2010 — Bishop Matthew H. Clark designated the combined parish under the patronage of St. John Vianney in 2012. Father James Jaeger became the parish's first pastor in 2019, succeeding Deacon David LaFortune upon his retirement.
- 1850 — St. Mary's, Bath founded as a mission parish
- 1848 — St. Gabriel's, Hammondsport founded (originally in a former Presbyterian church)
- 1892 — present St. Mary's Church dedicated
- 1908 — St. Gabriel's church burns; rebuilt the following year
- 1994 — Sister Anne Michelle McGill, SSJ, becomes first pastoral administrator in diocesan history
- 2010 — St. Mary's and St. Gabriel's formally clustered under Deacon David LaFortune
- 2012 — St. John Vianney Parish canonically established; first parish so named in the Diocese of Rochester
- 2019 — Father James Jaeger named first pastor
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. James P. Jaeger, pastor and Dean of the West Deanery, assisted by Fr. Hoan Dinh and two permanent deacons. A small staff and lay-led Pastoral and Finance Councils support the day-to-day operations of the parish.
- Very Rev. James P. Jaeger — Pastor and Dean of West Deanery
- Fr. Hoan Dinh — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Deacon Bob (Robert) Colomaio — Parish Deacon (607-222-8601)
- Deacon Thomas Jack — Parish Deacon (201-982-2501)
- Amy Finnerty — Southern Tier Regional Director
- Michelle (Shelly) Wood — Business Manager (607-382-6961)
- Breona Smith — Administrative Assistant
- Nicole (Nicki) Ignatz — Bulletin Editor (607-776-3328)
- Betty Gerych — Choir Director
- Ellie Boutwell — Accompanist
Parish Pastoral Council & Finance Council
Lay leadership is organized through a Parish Pastoral Council and a Parish Finance Council, with members drawn from across both worship sites.
- Pastoral Council Co-Chairs: Jack Merriam; Vice Chair: John McKinley
- Pastoral Council Members: Al Hanning, Lisa Glovins, Deacon Bob Colomaio, Keith Glovins, Jack Merriam, Steve Cummings, Deacon Thomas Jack, Sheri Neu
- Youth Representative: Ana Truth
- Finance Council Chair: Greg Hintz
- Finance Council Members: Pam Colomaio, Al Hanning, Bill MacNamara, Mark Alger, Richard Yochem, John Bell
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments in cooperation with the Diocese of Rochester. Parishioners are encouraged to contact the office early for Baptism, marriage, and other pastoral needs.
- Baptism — contact the parish office or Fr. Hoan Dinh
- Marriage — contact the parish office 8 to 12 months in advance
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00 pm; during Holy Hours; or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by request through the parish office
- Eucharist — daily and weekend Masses at both worship sites
Faith Formation & RCIA
Faith formation is offered across the lifespan, with programs for children, teens, and adults, including the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those exploring Catholicism or completing their sacraments. Those interested in learning more about the Catholic faith are invited to contact Deacon Dave LaFortune through the parish office.
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults; tailored to each inquirer's needs and circumstances
- Faith Formation for children and youth
- Parish book club (Eucharistic Revival initiative, discussing Scott Hahn's 'The Lamb's Supper')
Parish Life & Ministries
Beyond the sacraments, St. John Vianney offers a wide range of ministries and parish activities that give parishioners concrete ways to share their gifts. The parish encourages regular reading of the weekly bulletin and checking the parish calendar to stay informed about upcoming events.
- Liturgical ministries: choir, lectors, altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, sacristans
- Social-justice ministries: homebound visits, local food pantry support, Loaves & Fishes
- Youth ministry and youth representative on Pastoral Council
- Men's and women's parish groups
- Annual Trash & Treasure fundraiser
- Vacation Bible School
- Parish book club
Worship Sites
St. John Vianney Parish maintains its two historic worship buildings — St. Mary's in Bath and St. Gabriel's in Hammondsport — each with its own distinct identity, while sharing a single pastor, staff, and parish councils. Both buildings remain open 'as long as we have parishioners who are willing and able to financially support both church sites.'
- St. Mary's Church — 32 East Morris Street, Bath, NY 14810 (founded 1850; current building dedicated 1892)
- St. Gabriel's Church — 78 Shethar Street, Hammondsport, NY 14840 (founded 1848; rebuilt after 1908 fire)
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at both worship sites. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm at 32 East Morris Street, Bath, and can be reached by phone or email for sacramental needs, Mass intentions, bulletin submissions, or general inquiries.
- Parish Office: 32 East Morris Street, Bath, NY 14810
- Phone: 607-776-3327
- Email: [email protected] (also [email protected] / [email protected])
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Sister Anne Michelle McGill, SSJ1994–
First pastoral administrator in diocesan history; served St. Gabriel's as sacramental minister when the two churches began sharing one.
- Deacon David LaFortune2010–2019
Pastoral administrator of the St. Mary / St. Gabriel cluster, then of the newly formed St. John Vianney Parish from 2012 until his retirement.
- Very Rev. James P. Jaeger2008–present
Appointed sacramental minister of the cluster in 2008; became pastor in 2019 upon Deacon LaFortune's retirement. Also serves as Dean of the West Deanery.