About St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Luke the Evangelist Parish. · Leicester, New York
St. Luke the Evangelist is a multi-site Catholic parish in western Livingston County, New York, formed on July 1, 2006, from five previously independent parishes: St. Mary's in Geneseo, St. Patrick's in Mount Morris, Holy Angels in Nunda, St. Thomas Aquinas in Leicester, and St. Lucy's in Retsof. The merger was made so that the communities could continue sharing priests and resources. The parish is part of the Diocese of Rochester and is currently led by Fr. Daniel L. White as Parochial Administrator, with Fr. Hoan Dinh serving as Parochial Vicar. The former St. Thomas Aquinas church in Leicester (175 Main St.) now houses the St. Juan Diego Community, a diocesan migrant ministry that serves Spanish-speaking farmworkers and their families in the county.
- 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 one of the few parishes in the region that brings together five historic Catholic communities under a single pastoral team, making it easy to find a Mass in your home church while being supported by a wider family of believers. The parish also stands out for its outreach: through the St. Juan Diego Community and the Tepeyac Welcoming Migrant Center, it actively ministers to Spanish-speaking migrant farmworkers on more than 60 dairy farms in Livingston County, with Spanish Mass, sacramental preparation, ESL instruction, transportation, and cultural celebrations. Active liturgical ministries — from lectors and altar servers to greeters, sacristans, and musicians — invite every parishioner to participate visibly in the life of the Church.
Mass times at St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Luke the Evangelist Parish.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15–3:45 PM at St. Lucy Church (Retsof)
- During Adoration at St. Mary's, Monday 5:00–7:00 PM
- Anytime by appointment — call or email the parish office
Adoration times
- St. Mary's — Thursdays 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM (Private Adoration)
- St. Patrick — Third Thursday of the month 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM (Communal Holy Hour)
Parish Overview
St. Luke the Evangelist is a multi-site Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Rochester, centered in Geneseo, New York, and serving western Livingston County. It was formed on July 1, 2006, by uniting five former parishes — St. Mary's (Geneseo), St. Patrick's (Mount Morris), Holy Angels (Nunda), St. Thomas Aquinas (Leicester), and St. Lucy's (Retsof) — so they could continue to share priests and resources. The parish office is at 13 North St., Geneseo, NY 14454, and is staffed Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to noon.
- Parish office: 13 North St., Geneseo, NY 14454
- Phone: (585) 243-1100
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM – noon
History of St. Luke the Evangelist
The parish as it exists today began on July 1, 2006, but Catholic ministry in western Livingston County has roots going back to the 1830s. Each of the five constituent parishes was originally established as an independent parish in the second half of the 19th century; the merger allowed them to pool clergy, staff, and finances to keep all five worship sites active. The parish's own history page notes that the St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Leicester began as a mission church in 1897.
- 2006: Five parishes merge to form St. Luke the Evangelist
- St. Thomas Aquinas, Leicester: established 1897 as a mission church
- Catholic ministry in the area dates to at least the 1830s
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by a Parochial Administrator supported by a Parochial Vicar, a secretary, a pastoral minister for faith formation, a finance team, and a cemetery manager. The diocesan migrant ministry team — including Father Jesús Flores, Carmen Rollinson, and Jorge Salgado — collaborates closely with the St. Juan Diego Community site in Leicester.
- Fr. Daniel L. White — Parochial Administrator ([email protected])
- Fr. Hoan Dinh — Parochial Vicar
- Cathy Meyer — Secretary ([email protected])
- Leslie Nieves — Faith Formation Pastoral Minister ([email protected])
- Andy DiFulvio — Cemetery Manager
- Annette Syracusa — Finance Director
- Laurie A. Baverstock — Regional Assistant Finance Manager
Faith Formation and Sacraments
Faith Formation for children and families, along with preparation for the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, and adult initiation (becoming Catholic / RCIA), is coordinated by Leslie Nieves, the parish's Faith Formation Pastoral Minister. Communion is also brought to the sick and homebound by Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Anointing of the Sick, marriage preparation, and other sacramental needs are arranged through the parish office.
- Baptism preparation — contact Leslie Nieves
- RCIA / adult initiation — contact the parish office
- First Communion preparation for children
- Holy Communion brought to the sick and homebound
- Marriage preparation by arrangement
Liturgical Ministries
The parish actively invites parishioners to serve in a wide range of liturgical roles. Beyond the priest, every Mass depends on the work of lectors, altar servers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, sacristans, ushers, greeters, musicians, and those who care for the altar linens and the worship environment.
- Altar Servers (boys and girls after First Communion, plus adults at daily Mass and funerals)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Greeters
- Ushers
- Sacristans
- Liturgical Linen Service
- Arts and Environment (decorating)
- Hospitality / coffee hours
- Musicians and choir
- Church Cleaners (rotating)
- Neighborhood Ministry (funeral receptions at St. Mary)
St. Juan Diego Community and Migrant Ministry
The former St. Thomas Aquinas property in Leicester has become the home of the St. Juan Diego Community and the Tepeyac Welcoming Migrant Center, a ministry of the Diocese of Rochester's Office of Pastoral Services that serves migrant farmworkers — many of them from Mexico — working on more than 62 dairy farms in the county. Programs include a monthly Spanish Mass, sacramental preparation, ESL instruction, a clothing dispensary and food cupboard, transportation, and home visits. Cultural feasts of particular importance to the community, including the Day of the Dead, Three Kings Day, and the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, are celebrated alongside an annual summer festival. The name 'Tepeyac' honors the hill in Mexico City where Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego in 1531.
- Location: former St. Thomas Aquinas rectory and church, 175 Main St., Leicester, NY
- Founded: 2020, by the Diocese of Rochester's Office of Pastoral Services
- Monthly Spanish Mass celebrated by Father Jesús Flores
- Services: Spanish Mass, sacramental prep, ESL, food and clothing dispensaries, transportation
- Cultural celebrations: Day of the Dead, Three Kings Day, Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Diocesan partners: Catholic Charities, Finger Lakes Migrant, SUNY Geneseo
Cemetery
The parish manages cemetery operations across its multi-site footprint. Inquiries can be directed to Andy DiFulvio, Cemetery Manager.
- Cemetery Manager: Andy DiFulvio ([email protected])
Getting Involved and Contact
Parishioners are encouraged to participate in liturgical ministries, faith formation, the St. Juan Diego / migrant ministry, and parish events. The office is staffed Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to noon. Donations can be made online through the parish website.
- Parish office: 13 North St., Geneseo, NY 14454
- Phone: (585) 243-1100
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stlukelivingstoncounty.org/
- Livestream / YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLb4aX14NU9GRkCHPbCgznw