About St. Stephen · Croghan, New York
St. Stephen's Catholic Church is a rural parish in the Village of Croghan, New York (Lewis County), rooted in a long Franciscan tradition that began when Franciscan priests arrived in 1876 at the invitation of Bishop Edgar P. Wadhams. The current Romanesque-style church, with its landmark 140-foot steeple, was rebuilt in 1902-1903 under the direction of the Franciscan friar Rev. Leo Heinrichs after the original 1879 church was destroyed by fire. The parish continues an active sacramental and faith-formation life under the Diocese of Ogdensburg, with daily Mass, a parish school of religion, and a wide range of lay ministries. Since 1990, the parish has been led by diocesan (rather than Franciscan) clergy, and it remains the spiritual home of a community with deep German and French Catholic heritage in the Black River valley.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- St. Stephen
- Rector
- Rev. Donald J. Manfred
- Diocese
- Diocese of Ogdensburg
Why belong here
St. Stephen's offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in an intimate, rural setting: daily Mass Monday through Friday, a Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass, Saturday confessions, a Confirmation program under the deacon, and a parish school of religion serving kindergarten through ninth grade with a dedicated team of catechists. Parishioners can serve in any of more than a dozen liturgical and pastoral ministries — lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, ushers, greeters, music ministry, Liturgy of the Word with Children, homebound visitation, altar linen care, arts and environment, money counters, and custodial service — making it easy to find a way to belong and contribute.
Mass times at St. Stephen
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 PM to 4:45 PM (or by appointment — call 315-346-6958)
History of St. Stephen's Parish
Catholic life in what is now Croghan began with house gatherings just before the War of 1812. The community built its first church — a 20-by-30-foot log cabin with cloth-covered openings — in 1831, followed by successive churches in 1834, 1852, and 1879. The present Romanesque-style church was built in 1902-1903 under Franciscan friar Rev. Leo Heinrichs after the entire Catholic campus was destroyed in the April 24, 1902 fire that consumed 21 buildings in the village.
- First church: 1831 log cabin
- Successive churches: 1834, 1852, 1879
- Franciscan friars arrived 1876 at invitation of Bishop Edgar P. Wadhams
- April 24, 1902 fire destroyed church, monastery, convent, and school
- Rebuilding began August 22, 1902; dedicated Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1903
- Father Leo Memorial School opened 1916; staffed by Franciscan sisters until 1978
- Franciscan presence ended 1990; parish transitioned to diocesan clergy
Father Leo Heinrichs and the Rebuilding
Rev. Leo Heinrichs, a 34-year-old German-born Franciscan friar, arrived in May 1902 to oversee the rebuilding. He lived at first in a barn fitted up as a house and traveled up to 60 miles a day by sleigh in sub-zero temperatures to collect alms from lumber camps. Franciscan Brother Leonard came from St. Louis to serve as architect. The new 125-by-65-foot wood-frame Romanesque church, with its 140-foot steeple, cost about $30,000 and was praised as one of the most beautiful in the Diocese of Ogdensburg.
- Father Leo Heinrichs, OFM — pastor 1902-1904
- Brother Leonard, OFM — project architect
- Local industrialist Theodore Basselin let opera house serve as temporary church and later bequeathed $25,000 for the school
- Father Leo was shot and killed in 1908 while giving Communion in Denver; recognized among 125 American martyrs, with a cause for sainthood
Church Architecture and Interior
The present church is a Romanesque wood-frame building measuring 125 by 65 feet, with a steel-shingled roof and a 140-foot steeple that remains the tallest structure in the area. The interior was redecorated in 1933 by Chicago artist Professor Louis Carracciolo, whose decoratively painted ceiling murals and arch decorations survive to this day.
- Romanesque style, wood frame, 125 x 65 feet
- 140-foot steeple (tallest structure in the surrounding area)
- 1933 ceiling murals by Professor Louis Carracciolo of Chicago
- Murals include seven angels and a dove representing the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary, the stoning of St. Stephen, and the stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi
Parish Staff
The parish is led by its pastor with the support of a permanent deacon, a faith-formation leader, a parish secretary, a financial secretary, and a custodian.
- Rev. Donald J. Manfred — Pastor (third diocesan pastor since 1990)
- Deacon Peter J. Woolschlager, OFS — Permanent Deacon
- Debbie Hoppel — Faith Formation Leader
- Vicky Golden — Parish Secretary
- Chris Lashbrooks — Parish Financial Secretary
- Custodian
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish school of religion serves children from kindergarten through ninth grade plus a Confirmation program, with grade-level catechists and the deacon leading Confirmation preparation.
- Kindergarten & 1st Grade: Lynn Herzig
- 2nd Grade: Patty Flint
- 3rd Grade: Bobbi Sue Murphy
- 4th Grade: Yvette Edick
- 5th & 6th Grade: Michelle Pominville and Mikayla Ferguson
- 7th Grade: Traci Boliver
- 8th Grade: Anne Davis
- 9th Grade: Michele Nikitich
- Confirmation: Deacon Peter Woolschlager
- Faith Formation Leader: Debbie Hoppel
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners are invited to serve the liturgy in a variety of ways at the Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Masses.
- Music Ministry — leads musical praise at Saturday and Sunday liturgies and special celebrations
- Lector — proclaims Scripture at Mass (open to those 16+ with a clear speaking voice)
- Eucharistic Minister — distributes Holy Communion and brings Communion to the homebound
- Altar Server — Cross Bearers and Acolytes assisting the presider
- Usher — welcomes, assists seating, and takes up the collection
- Greeter — provides welcome, presents offertory gifts, distributes bulletins
Pastoral and Parish Service Ministries
Beyond the sanctuary, parishioners serve in ministries of care and stewardship that keep the parish running and extend its reach to the homebound.
- Homebound Visitation — bringing Communion and company to those unable to attend Mass
- Altar Linen Care — laundering and maintaining the altar linens
- Arts & Environment — caring for the worship space
- Money Counter — counting the weekly collection
- Parish Building & Grounds — custodial and maintenance volunteers
Liturgy of the Word with Children
During the Sunday 8:30 AM Mass, children are dismissed from the congregation with trained minister pairs who 'break open the Word' using age-appropriate materials. Children return to their families at the conclusion of the homily.
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments and offers preparation programs for those entering the Church or preparing for marriage.
- Baptism — preparation during pregnancy
- Matrimony — preparation required; arrangements at least 6 months in advance
- Confirmation — parish program led by Deacon Peter Woolschlager
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist — parish school of religion
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
Parish Office and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 9748 Main Street (State Route 812), Croghan, NY 13327. Office hours vary by day; the parish encourages visitors to call 315-346-6958 to reach Fr. Don when the office is closed.
- Address: 9748 Main Street, Croghan, NY 13327-0038
- Mailing: P.O. Box 38, Croghan, NY 13327
- Phone: 315-346-6958
- Fax: 315-346-1200
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon-Wed 9 AM-3 PM, Thu 12 PM-4 PM, Fri 9 AM-1 PM
Diocese and Wider Church
St. Stephen's is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg, which covers the North Country of New York. The parish is listed among the diocese's Jubilee Churches for the Holy Year 2025.
- Diocese of Ogdensburg
- Listed as a Jubilee Church in the Holy Year 2025 (per GCatholic)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Leo Heinrichs, OFM1902-1904
German-born Franciscan friar who rebuilt the parish after the 1902 fire; later killed in 1908 in Denver and recognized among American martyrs; cause for sainthood advanced.