About St. Rose · Lima, New York
St. Rose is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of Lima, Livingston County, New York, part of the Diocese of Rochester and a member of a three-church cluster with St. Agnes (Avon) and St. Paul of the Cross (Honeoye Falls) that was formed in 2010. The parish traces its origin to 1842, when the first Mass was offered in a pioneer home, and was formally established in 1848 to serve the Irish Catholic families who had settled in rural western New York. Today's beautiful church at 1985 Lake Avenue was built in 1870–1873 and, together with the historic Brendan Hall parochial school, the rectory, and the convent, forms a complex listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1988. The parish is served by Father Michael G. Fowler, two deacons, and a staff that runs faith formation for children, youth, and adults across the cluster.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- St. Rose of Lima
- Rector
- Rev. Michael G. Fowler
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
St. Rose offers a small-town, historic Catholic home in the village of Lima with Sunday Mass every week at 8:00 a.m. and a Monday noon weekday Mass. Parishioners can pray the Rosary together on weekday mornings, spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration on alternating Wednesdays, and join a long list of active ministries — Music Ministry, Altar Servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Greeters, Ushers, the St. Rose Women's Club, the Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Flowers and Grounds, and more — so there is room for every gift. As part of the three-parish cluster with St. Agnes and St. Paul of the Cross, the parish offers full faith formation from kindergarten through Confirmation, OCIA for adults, youth ministry, an adult Bible study, and outreach rooted in the Eucharist.
Mass times at St. Rose
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 12:30–2:00 PM at St. Paul of the Cross
- Wednesday 3:00–4:30 PM at St. Rose (alternating weeks; see parish calendar)
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM at St. Agnes
Adoration times
- First Friday 8:45 AM–12:00 PM at St. Agnes (September through June)
- Wednesday 12:30–2:00 PM at St. Paul of the Cross (alternating weeks; see calendar)
- Wednesday 3:00–4:30 PM at St. Rose (alternating weeks; see calendar)
History of St. Rose Parish
St. Rose Parish grew from mid-19th-century Irish Catholic settlement in the Town of Lima. The first Catholic settler, Thomas Martin, arrived in 1834, and the first Mass in the town was celebrated in 1842 in the home of John Brennan by Father Murphy. The parish was formally established in 1848 under the newly created Diocese of Buffalo, a first wooden church was built in 1849, and an addition followed only two years later to keep up with rapid growth. A parish burial ground was purchased in 1857, formalizing the community's care for its dead.
The 1873 Church and Historic Complex
The present St. Rose Church, built 1870–1873 and designed by architects Andrew J. Warner and R.T. Porter in a Late Victorian, Italianate, and Romanesque style, is the centerpiece of a four-building complex that also includes Brendan Hall (built 1894 as a parochial school), the rectory, and the convent. The complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 25, 1988. The interior retains traditional Catholic furnishings including stained-glass windows, statues along the side walls, and the Stations of the Cross.
- Church constructed 1870–1873, dedicated 1873
- Architects: Andrew J. Warner and R.T. Porter
- Architectural style: Late Victorian / Italianate / Romanesque
- NRHP reference No. 88001345, added August 25, 1988
- Brendan Hall parochial school built 1894
- Includes the rectory and the convent
Cluster of St. Agnes, St. Paul of the Cross, and St. Rose
In 2010, St. Rose joined St. Agnes in Avon (founded 1850, current church 1870, school opened 1908) and St. Paul of the Cross in Honeoye Falls (founded 1869, current church 1940) to form a three-parish cluster sharing clergy and staff across northern Livingston and southern Monroe Counties. The cluster's shared parish office mailing address is 96 Prospect St., Avon, NY 14414, and office hours are Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM. The cluster's mission statement reads: 'Energized by the Holy Spirit and nourished by the Eucharist, we the parishioners of St. Agnes, St. Paul of the Cross, and St. Rose, in joyful unity embrace our baptismal call to worship God, spread the good news of Jesus Christ, build up a welcoming community of faith and hope, and lovingly serve and comfort those in need.'
- Cluster formed in 2010
- St. Agnes — 120 Prospect Street, Avon
- St. Paul of the Cross — 31 Monroe Street, Honeoye Falls
- St. Rose — 1985 Lake Avenue, Lima
- Shared mailing address: 96 Prospect St., Avon, NY 14414
- Parish office phone: 585-226-2100
Faith Formation
The cluster's Faith Formation program, coordinated by Director of Faith Formation Amanda Tkaczow, walks families through a lifelong process of deepening their relationship with God and responding to the call to live as missionary disciples. Programming includes weekly Family Faith Formation Grades K–7, Sacramental preparation, Confirmation, High School Youth Ministry, a Young Adult Ministry, an Adult Ministry and Bible Study group (gatherings on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM), and the OCIA process for adults seeking initiation into the Catholic Church. Resources include the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies, the Family Zone Newsletter, Prayers for Families, a Creating a Safe Environment program, and a Growing in Faith Together Young Adult Newsletter.
- Director of Faith Formation: Amanda Tkaczow ([email protected])
- Faith Formation Grades K–7 with Family Faith Formation model
- Confirmation preparation
- High School Youth Ministry
- Young Adult Ministry
- Adult Ministry & Bible Study (Tuesdays 6:30 PM)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Family Zone Newsletter and Growing in Faith Together Young Adult Newsletter
Parish Ministries and Volunteer Opportunities
St. Rose and its sister parishes offer a broad menu of ministries so that every parishioner can find a way to serve. Liturgical ministries include Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (including visits to the sick and homebound), Greeters, Ushers, Sacristans, Mass Coordinators, and Music Ministry under the direction of the choir directors. Prayer and devotional ministries include the Rosary groups (weekdays at St. Rose, Tuesdays at St. Paul of the Cross, Wednesdays at St. Agnes), Eucharistic Adoration volunteers, Stations of the Cross during Lent (6:30 PM at St. Agnes and 7:00 PM at St. Rose), and Children's Liturgy of the Word at all Sunday Masses. Pastoral and stewardship ministries include the Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Fellowship Committee, Offertory Counters, Flowers and Grounds, the St. Paul Rosary Women & St. Rose Women's Club, and Baptism Preparation.
- Music Ministry
- St. Paul Rosary Women & St. Rose Women's Club
- Rosary groups (three locations)
- Altar Servers (grade 3 and up)
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Baptism Preparation
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Finance Council
- Fellowship Committee
- Offertory Counters
- Flowers and Grounds
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Greeters
- Lectors
- Stations of the Cross (Lent)
- OCIA
- Mass Coordinator
- Ushers
- Sacristan
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
Parish Staff
The cluster parish staff welcomes calls and emails. The team includes the pastor, two deacons, the Director of Faith Formation, a Pastoral Associate for Youth Ministry, an Administrative Assistant, and a Maintenance Coordinator, all reachable through the main parish phone line at 585-226-2100.
- Rev. Michael Fowler — Pastor
- Deacon Peter Dohr
- Deacon William Goodman
- Christine DeVito — listed on Faith Formation staff page
- Amanda Tkaczow — Director of Faith Formation
- Kristy McLaughlin — Pastoral Associate & Youth Ministry
- Michelle Gerwig — Administrative Assistant (ext. 1)
- Maintenance Coordinator (staff)
Sacraments
Information about the seven sacraments is offered through the parish's preparation programs. Parents prepare for the Baptism of their children through Baptism Preparation; children receive First Communion and Confirmation through Faith Formation Grades K–7 and the Confirmation program; adults enter the Church through OCIA; the faithful prepare for Matrimony and Anointing of the Sick by contacting the parish office; and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion bring the Eucharist to the sick and homebound.
- Baptism Preparation
- First Communion (through Faith Formation)
- Confirmation (through Faith Formation)
- Matrimony — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick and visits to the sick and homebound
- OCIA for adult initiation
Visiting and Contact
St. Rose is located at 1985 Lake Avenue in the village of Lima, Livingston County, NY. The parish office is reached at 585-226-2100 or by email at [email protected], and is staffed Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The shared cluster mailing address is 96 Prospect St., Avon, NY 14414. The combined parish website at saintagnespaulrose.org carries the calendar, bulletin, faith-formation registration, ministry sign-ups, and contact information for the three churches.
- Address: 1985 Lake Avenue, Lima, NY 14485
- Cluster mailing address: 96 Prospect St., Avon, NY 14414
- Phone: 585-226-2100
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Website: https://www.saintagnespaulrose.org/