About St. Mary, St. Luke the Evangelist Parish · Geneseo, New York
St. Luke the Evangelist Parish is a multi-site Roman Catholic parish in western Livingston County, New York, administered from its main office in Geneseo. Formed on July 1, 2006 by merging five longstanding local parishes — St. Mary in Geneseo, St. Patrick in Mount Morris, Holy Angels in Nunda, St. Thomas Aquinas in Leicester (now the St. Juan Diego Community), and St. Lucy in Retsof — the parish shares priests and resources so Mass, sacraments, faith formation and outreach continue across the rural region. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Rochester and, in addition to its five worship sites, ministers at the Livingston County Jail, Groveland Correctional Facility, the Livingston County Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, Morgan Estates Assisted Living, and the Newman Community at SUNY Geneseo.
- Established
- 2006
- Patron
- St. Luke the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Daniel L. White (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
St. Luke the Evangelist is a small but active Catholic community that brings together five historic parish worship sites across western Livingston County. Whether you attend Mass at St. Mary's in Geneseo, St. Patrick's near Letchworth, Holy Angels in Nunda, St. Lucy's in Retsof, or the St. Juan Diego Community in Leicester, you join a parish that pairs traditional devotions — daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, Stations of the Cross, Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet — with hands-on outreach to the homeless through the Soup Kitchen, Pro-Life Rosary, Monday Night Prayer Group, Music Ministry, Men's and Women's groups, and ministry to the incarcerated and elderly. It is a parish where faith formation is offered for K–8 children, a two-year Confirmation preparation, RCIA/OCIA for adults, and a Newman Community at SUNY Geneseo, so that every age and stage has a place to grow.
Mass times at St. Mary, St. Luke the Evangelist Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday during Adoration, 5:00–7:00 PM at St. Mary, Geneseo
- Saturday, 3:15–3:35 PM (or 3:15–3:45 PM per diocese directory) at St. Lucy, Retsof
- Anytime by appointment — call or email the parish office
Adoration times
- Monday, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at St. Mary, Geneseo (communal, with confessions)
- Third Thursday of the month, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM at St. Patrick, Mt. Morris (Communal Holy Hour with Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet)
Parish History
St. Luke the Evangelist Parish was formed on July 1, 2006 when five long-standing Livingston County parishes — St. Mary (Geneseo), St. Patrick (Mount Morris), Holy Angels (Nunda), St. Thomas Aquinas (Leicester), and St. Lucy (Retsof) — merged to share clergy and resources. Catholic ministry in the area, however, dates back to the 1830s, when itinerant priests served Irish families building the Genesee Valley Canal. The parish's dedicated history page, compiled with help from parishioners Kathy Trainor and Theresa Gall, preserves anniversary histories for each constituent church and remembers closed missions such as Santa Maria de Mercede in Cuylerville and St. Raphael's in Piffard.
- St. Mary, Geneseo — founded 1854; current church at 4 Avon Rd dedicated 1889
- St. Patrick, Mount Morris — first church 1850; present church dedicated 1874
- Holy Angels, Nunda — mission Masses in 1840s; first church 1854; current church 1872
- St. Thomas Aquinas, Leicester — founded 1897 in a former 1844 Baptist church (now St. Juan Diego Community)
- St. Lucy, Retsof — founded 1911; present church held its first liturgy (midnight Christmas Mass) in 1964
- Closed missions: Santa Maria de Mercede, Cuylerville (1914–c.1933); St. Raphael's, Piffard (1887–1978)
Worship Sites
St. Luke the Evangelist is a multi-site parish: Mass and the sacraments are celebrated at five worship locations across western Livingston County, with the parish office at 13 North Street in Geneseo. Each site keeps its own historic identity while sharing clergy and ministries.
- St. Mary Church — 13 North St. (office) / 4 Avon Rd. (church), Geneseo
- St. Patrick Church — 46/49 Stanley St., Mount Morris (near Letchworth State Park)
- Holy Angels Church — 45 N. Church St., Nunda
- St. Juan Diego Community (formerly St. Thomas Aquinas) — 175 Main St., Leicester
- St. Lucy Church — 2770 Retsof Ave., Retsof
Sacramental Life
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments across its worship sites. Baptisms and marriage arrangements are coordinated through the parish office, with marriage needing at least six months' advance planning. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation follows Diocesan guidelines and is described on the Sacraments page.
- Baptism — call the office or contact Leslie Nieves ([email protected])
- First Reconciliation and First Communion — grade 2 preparation
- Confirmation — 2-year preparation beginning no sooner than 8th grade
- Marriage — arranged at least six months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — call one of the priests for serious or terminal illness
- RCIA / OCIA — for adults becoming Catholic
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Luke's is offered for every age. K–8 classes meet Sunday mornings at three parish sites; youth Confirmation is a two-year Diocesan process beginning no sooner than eighth grade; adults grow through RCIA/OCIA, parish groups, and devotions; and SUNY Geneseo students are served by the parish-supported Newman Community.
- K–8 classes Sunday mornings: St. Mary 9:00–10:00 AM; St. Patrick 8:45–9:45 AM; Holy Angels 9:15–10:15 AM
- Confirmation — 2-year process; suggested donation $20 per student for materials
- First Communion / First Reconciliation preparation (grade 2)
- RCIA / OCIA for adults — coordinated by Leslie Nieves
- Newman Community at SUNY Geneseo
- Religious Education Coordinator: Cathy Meyer
Parish Ministries & Groups
Parish life is built around both liturgical and service ministries, with room for social and prayer groups too. The ministries page lists more than two dozen ways to get involved — from choir and altar service to the Soup Kitchen and Parish Pastoral Council.
- Liturgical: Sacristan, Usher, Greeter, Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Altar Server, Senior Altar Server, Music Ministry, Liturgical Linen Service
- Service: Soup Kitchen, Offertory Counters, Flowers and Grounds, Fellowship Committee, Baptism Preparation
- Prayer & Groups: Monday Night Prayer Group, Pro-Life Rosary, Women's Group, Men's Group (every other Saturday 7:30–8:50 AM)
- Parish leadership: Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Council
Music Ministry
The parish Music Ministry gathers weekly under the direction of the choir director to rehearse and lead parish sung worship. Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings at 7 PM in the Choir Loft, with singers joining the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass at St. Mary's as their schedules allow. New members are welcomed; no audition is required — interested parishioners are encouraged to contact the choir director through the parish office.
- Rehearsal: Tuesday evenings, 7:00 PM, Choir Loft
- Sings at the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass (St. Mary)
- Open to new members — contact the choir director
Outreach & Catholic Ministry Beyond the Parish
Following a tradition of bringing the Eucharist and pastoral care to people where they are, St. Luke the Evangelist ministers at several secular institutions in Livingston County. The parish also runs a monthly Soup Kitchen for the homeless and welcomes new ideas for additional service ministries.
- Livingston County Jail, Geneseo — served by St. Mary
- Groveland Correctional Facility, Sonyea — served by volunteers from various parish churches
- Livingston County Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation (CNR), Mount Morris — served by St. Patrick's and St. Mary's
- Morgan Estates Assisted Living Community, Geneseo
- Newman Community at SUNY Geneseo
- Soup Kitchen — provides hot meals monthly to the homeless
Parish Staff & Contacts
Day-to-day parish operations are coordinated from the office at 13 North Street, Geneseo. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to noon. The parish is led by a Parochial Administrator and Parochial Vicar and supported by a Faith Formation Pastoral Minister, Religious Education Coordinator, Finance Director, Regional Assistant Finance Manager, Secretary, and Cemetery Manager.
- Rev. Daniel L. White — Parochial Administrator ([email protected])
- Rev. Hoan Dinh — Parochial Vicar
- Leslie Nieves — Faith Formation Pastoral Minister ([email protected])
- Cathy Meyer — Secretary / Religious Education Coordinator
- Annette Syracusa — Finance Director
- Laurie A. Baverstock — Regional Assistant Finance Manager
- Andy DiFulvio — Cemetery Manager ([email protected])
- Parish phone: (585) 243-1100; email: [email protected]
Planning Your Visit
Visitors and parishioners are welcomed at any of the five worship sites. The parish encourages regular attendance at Sunday Mass as the foundation of Catholic life and recommends reading the weekly bulletin and checking the parish calendar for the latest event and schedule information. Baptism, marriage, and Anointing of the Sick arrangements are made through the parish office.
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 noon
- Parish office: 13 North Street, Geneseo, NY 14454
- Phone: (585) 243-1100 — Email: [email protected]
- Livestreamed Masses on the parish YouTube channel
- For Anointing of the Sick: call one of the priests
- For Marriage: arrange at least six months in advance