About St. Thomas Aquinas · Binghamton, New York
St. Thomas Aquinas is a Roman Catholic parish on Binghamton's West Side, founded in 1927 by Irish-born Father Thomas J. Hannon under Bishop Daniel J. Curley of Syracuse. Today it is linked with neighboring St. Patrick's Church as the 'Linked Roman Catholic Communities of St. Patrick's & St. Thomas Aquinas,' serving families of the southern tier of New York under the Diocese of Syracuse. The parish hosts the largest seating capacity of any Catholic church in the region and runs a wide range of faith-formation, youth, outreach, and devotional ministries from its campus at 1 Aquinas Street.
- Established
- 1927
- Patron
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. John P. Putano
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
St. Thomas Aquinas is the largest-capacity Catholic church in the southern tier of New York and a warm, welcoming West Side community in the Diocese of Syracuse, linked with neighboring St. Patrick's. Daily and Sunday Masses are celebrated in a Vatican II-era circular church whose 2017 remodel added a stained-glass medallion, a new tabernacle altar, and full handicap accessibility. The parish runs a vibrant faith-formation program for K–10th graders, the Catholic Youth Leadership Program (CYLP) for high schoolers, RCIA, a weekly Bible study, a perpetual-adoration Divine Mercy chapel, and an outreach network that includes the St. Patrick's Sandwich Ministry, the CHOW Pantry, Showers of Hope, a Community Warming Station, and seasonal clothing and grocery giveaways.
Mass times at St. Thomas Aquinas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM (St. Thomas Aquinas)
- Saturday 11:30 AM (St. Patrick's, linked parish)
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Divine Mercy Perpetual Adoration Chapel — 7 days a week, 7:30 AM–9:00 PM (contact the Parish Office to register)
- Open Church at St. Thomas Aquinas — Thursdays 10:30 AM–4:30 PM during the Jubilee Season
Parish History
Bishop Daniel J. Curley of Syracuse purchased wooded land on Binghamton's West Side on January 3, 1926, and on July 28, 1927 the parish was incorporated under the leadership of Father Thomas J. Hannon, a priest born in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland. Under Hannon the parish grew from 500 to 2,500 families, and the campus grew to include a rectory (1950), convent (1953), and school (1956). He died on December 15, 1964, having guided the parish through the Great Depression. In 1966–67 the parish built its present circular church in keeping with the liturgical changes of Vatican II; the original church bell was last rung from the steeple on July 4, 1976, as part of Binghamton's Bicentennial celebration, and the old church was demolished that August. The school closed in 2011; the parish marked its 90th anniversary in 2017 with a major handicap-accessible sanctuary remodel.
- January 3, 1926 – Bishop Curley purchases the West Side land
- July 28, 1927 – parish incorporated under Father Thomas J. Hannon
- April 28, 1929 – first Confirmation class (60 children and 15 adults)
- 1950 – rectory built; 1953 – convent built; September 9, 1956 – school blessed and cornerstoned
- December 15, 1964 – death of Msgr. Hannon after 37 years as pastor
- September 20, 1966 – groundbreaking for the new circular church
- December 16, 1967 – first Mass and dedication of the present church
- July 4, 1976 – original church bell rings for the Bicentennial; August 1976 – old church demolished
- May 2011 – parish school closes with the Catholic Schools of Broome County restructuring
- 2017 – 90th anniversary and sanctuary remodel with stained-glass dome medallion
Architecture & Sanctuary Remodel
The current St. Thomas Aquinas Church was built in 1966–67 as a deliberate response to Vatican II: a circular plan that put every worshiper within 72 feet of the altar and seated the choir within the assembly rather than in a loft. The 2017 remodel preserved the circular character while updating the sanctuary: a stained-glass medallion now crowns the dome above the main altar; the original marble altar is highlighted with marble flooring and a backdrop supporting a life-size crucifix; the readorned original tabernacle sits on a new solid-wood tabernacle altar; the 'storied angels' from the original 1927 church were repurposed into the new appointments; a new choir area, state-of-the-art sound and video system, and two large screens were added; the Baptismal Font was moved into the main church; the old Baptistery became the Cebula Room meeting space; and restrooms were enlarged for accessibility.
Linked Roman Catholic Communities
St. Thomas Aquinas is formally linked with St. Patrick's Church at 9 Leroy Street, Binghamton, as the 'Linked Roman Catholic Communities of St. Patrick's & St. Thomas Aquinas.' The two parishes share clergy, staff, bulletins, ministries, and major events — including the St. Patrick's Day Hooley — while each retains its own church identity. The parish offices are open 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, Monday–Friday at both locations.
- St. Patrick's: 9 Leroy Street, Binghamton, NY 13905 — (607) 722-1060 — [email protected]
- St. Thomas Aquinas: 1 Aquinas Street, Binghamton, NY 13905 — (607) 797-4015 — [email protected]
- Daily Mass Mon–Fri 7:00 AM (St. Patrick's) and 10:00 AM (St. Thomas Aquinas); 5:20 PM at STA in Lent
- Sunday Mass 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM (St. Patrick's) and 11:00 AM (St. Thomas Aquinas)
- Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM (St. Thomas Aquinas) and 5:15 PM (St. Patrick's)
Mission & Vision
The parish mission statement reads: 'We the Roman Catholic Christian Community of the Diocese of Syracuse, in response to our baptismal call and nourished by the Eucharist, seek to continue the mission of Jesus Christ by welcoming, supporting and guiding God's family through prayer, sacramental celebration, service, and education.' The parish vision is 'to develop and support a culture of life and joyous expectation through the Word, deed and the Sacraments, living as Jesus would have us do; loving and serving Him and our neighbor.'
Clergy, Staff & Religious Orders
The parish is served by Pastor Rev. Msgr. John P. Putano, Parochial Vicar Rev. Evans Kulei, Deacon Rev. Mr. Adeolu Ademoyo, and two priests-in-residence — Rev. Augustine Okwuzu at St. Patrick's and Rev. Paul Machira at St. Thomas Aquinas. Pastoral care is shared with the Little Sisters of St. Francis (LSOSF), whose sisters serve in both parishes as Pastoral Care Associate, Sacristan, and a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. Parish administration is led by Parish Administrator Danita Fiacco, with Mickey Carbo and Kathyann Strong staffing the St. Thomas Aquinas office.
- Pastor: Rev. Msgr. John P. Putano
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Evans Kulei
- In Residence at St. Patrick's: Rev. Augustine Okwuzu
- In Residence at St. Thomas Aquinas: Rev. Paul Machira
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Adeolu Ademoyo
- Little Sisters of St. Francis: Sr. MaryJane Athieno, Sr. Margaret Mueni Muia, Sr. Lucia Mugambi, Sr. Teresia Mutiso, Sr. Hermenegilde Naluyima
- Parish Administrator: Danita Fiacco
- St. Thomas Aquinas Secretaries: Mickey Carbo (Tue/Wed/Fri), Kathyann Strong (Mon/Thu/Fri)
- Technology Coordinator: Frederick Kelley; Website & Communications Specialist: Angel DeLap
Faith Formation & Discipleship
Faith Formation at the linked parishes is coordinated by Family & Children's Ministry Coordinator Peg Gaska, with Confirmation preparation led by Tina Corbin through the Catholic Youth Leadership Program (CYLP) for 10th–12th graders. Classes meet most Sundays from 10:10–11:10 AM in the St. Patrick's school for K–10th graders, and a 'Life Night' for 9th–12th graders follows the 4:00 PM Mass at St. Patrick's with dinner and activities. RCIA is led by Stew Higgins, and a Wednesday Morning Bible Study, led by Rosemary Reich, meets after the 10:00 AM daily Mass in the Cebula Room at St. Thomas Aquinas.
- Faith Formation K–10th grade, Sundays 10:10–11:10 AM at St. Patrick's school
- Catholic Youth Leadership Program (CYLP) 10–12th grade with Life Nights
- Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
- Wednesday Morning Bible Study (Cebula Room at St. Thomas Aquinas)
Outreach & Service
Outreach is a major part of parish life, with Food Coordinator Clover Bobnick and Clothing Coordinator Winnie Esworthy coordinating regular giveaways, and Brian Donnelly leading the Showers of Hope and special distribution services. The parish operates the St. Patrick's Sandwich Ministry (weekday lunches from the rear of the SP parish hall) and the CHOW Pantry (Mon/Wed/Fri 11:00 AM–1:00 PM at the SP gym entry), runs a Community Warming Station in cold months, and provides Holiday Baskets at Christmas.
- St. Patrick's Sandwich Ministry
- St. Patrick's CHOW Pantry
- Parish Grocery and Clothing Giveaway
- Showers of Hope & Special Distribution Services
- Community Warming Station
- Holiday Baskets
- Seasonal Volunteer Opportunities
Parish Life & Special Events
Beyond worship and outreach, the linked parishes maintain a full social calendar through the Parish Life Committee and Special Parish Events Team, including Coffee Hours, Trivia Nights, a St. Patrick's Day Mass & Hooley, Breakfast with Santa, an Easter Egg Hunt, a Ladies Christmas Tea, a Halloween Party, and a Holiday Craft Fair.
- Coffee Hours and Trivia Nights
- St. Patrick's Day Mass & Hooley
- Breakfast with Santa
- Easter Egg Hunt
- Ladies Christmas Tea
- Halloween Party
- Holiday Craft Fair
Music & Liturgy
Music ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas is led by Choir Director/Cantor Steven Nanni (with Colin DeLap substituting), with Angel DeLap serving as Organist/Pianist alongside Colin DeLap (sub.). The Live Stream Team of Dennis Coleman and Frederick Kelley carries the daily and Sunday Masses onto the parish YouTube channel. The 2017 remodel added a new choir area, two large screens over the sanctuary for song texts and videos, and vestibule monitors for parish announcements.
- Choir Director/Cantor: Steven Nanni
- Organist/Pianist: Angel DeLap
- Live Stream Team: Dennis Coleman, Frederick Kelley
- Sacristan Team at St. Thomas Aquinas: Dennis Coleman, Jeanne Continetti, Sue Roessner, Mary Zervos
Sacraments
Information about the seven sacraments is available through the parish, with preparation and celebration coordinated by the clergy and staff. The Baptismal Font was relocated to the main church during the 2017 remodel, making baptismal liturgies more visible to the assembly. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the parish Faith Formation program; Confirmation is normally celebrated at the 11:00 AM Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas, with a 10th-grade Eucharistic Confirmation Retreat at the Transfiguration Monastery in Windsor as a preparation requirement. The parish also coordinates Marriage preparation, Anointing of the Sick, and ongoing pastoral care — including grief-recovery ministry through Sr. Teresia Mutiso, LSOSF.
- Baptism
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation (10th-grade Eucharistic Confirmation Retreat)
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas (also 11:30 AM at St. Patrick's) and by appointment
Former School & Lourdes Daycare
The parish school, which had operated on the St. Thomas Aquinas campus since 1956 with peak enrollments over 400, closed in May 2011 as part of the Catholic Schools of Broome County restructuring. After the September 2011 flood, the building housed Binghamton City School District's McAuliffe Elementary until 2016. The parish then welcomed the expansion of Lourdes Hospital Daycare Services to the site, continuing the building's role as a center for children and families.
Visit, Contact & Livestream
Parish offices are open Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM at 1 Aquinas Street, Binghamton, NY 13905 (phone 607-797-4015, email [email protected]). The Sunday 11:00 AM and weekday 10:00 AM Masses are live streamed on the parish YouTube channel. The parish can also be followed on Facebook at facebook.com/STABinghamton and on Instagram at instagram.com/stthomas_aquinasbing.
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Phone: (607) 797-4015
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: http://www.sta-sp.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/STABinghamton
- Instagram: instagram.com/stthomas_aquinasbing
- Live Stream via the parish YouTube channel (Sunday 11:00 AM and weekday 10:00 AM Masses)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Hannon1927–1964
Founding pastor; born in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland. Built the parish from 500 to 2,500 families, added the rectory, convent, and school, and guided the community through the Great Depression. Died December 15, 1964.