About Sts. Brendan & Jude (St. Brendan Worship Site, Almond) · Almond, New York
Saints Brendan & Jude Parish was a Roman Catholic community serving Almond and Alfred in Allegany County, New York, under the Diocese of Buffalo. It was formed from two linked worship sites: St. Brendan's Oratory in Almond (founded 1949) and St. Jude Chapel in Alfred (established 1959 as a Catholic campus ministry for Alfred University and Alfred State College). The parish carried a unique mission to college and university students in the Southern Tier. As part of the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Road to Renewal' reorganization in 2024–2025, the St. Brendan site in Almond closed (final Mass January 19, 2025) and the parish was merged into Immaculate Conception Parish in Wellsville, with St. Jude Chapel retained as a continuing worship site under the new Christ Our Light Family.
- Established
- 1949
- Patron
- St. Brendan of Clonfert (St. Brendan the Voyager) and St. Jude Thaddeus
- Rector
- Rev. James Hartwell (current pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish / Christ Our Light Family, into which the parish was merged in 2025)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
SS. Brendan & Jude was a Eucharistic community in the rural Southern Tier with a distinctive calling: a village parish at St. Brendan's in Almond joined to a Catholic campus ministry at St. Jude Chapel in Alfred, serving both lifelong residents and the students of Alfred University and Alfred State College. With active faith formation (K–12 religious education, Children's Liturgy of the Word), youth ministry, Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, a prayer circle, liturgical music, and outreach through St. Vincent de Paul and a bereavement ministry, it offered a warm, full-orbed Catholic life — and its campus-ministry legacy now continues through St. Jude Chapel, retained as a worship site of the new Christ Our Light Family under Immaculate Conception Parish in Wellsville.
Mass times at Sts. Brendan & Jude (St. Brendan Worship Site, Almond)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15–4:50 PM (St. Brendan, Almond)
- Also by appointment (call rectory at 607-276-5304)
Adoration times
- First Fridays — one hour of Eucharistic Adoration immediately following the 9:00 AM Mass at St. Brendan Church
Parish History & 2025 Closure of St. Brendan's, Almond
St. Brendan's Oratory at 11 South Main Street, Almond, NY was founded in 1949 and named for St. Brendan of Clonfert, the Irish monastic 'Voyager.' In 1992 it was merged with St. Jude Chapel in Alfred to form SS. Brendan & Jude Parish, a single community with two worship sites. After more than seven decades of Catholic life in Almond, the parish held its closing Mass at St. Brendan's on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. — a moment described in the parish bulletin as 'with Great Sorrow.' A reception followed at the Almond Municipal Building with coffee, tea, cookies, conversation and a memorabilia display. St. Brendan's parishioners were invited to continue worshipping at one of the surviving Christ Our Light Family sites.
- Founded 1949 as St. Brendan's, Almond
- Merged with St. Jude, Alfred in 1992 to form SS. Brendan & Jude Parish
- Closing Mass at St. Brendan's: Sunday, January 19, 2025, 3:00 PM
- Closed and sold as part of the Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal
St. Jude Chapel & Catholic Campus Ministry, Alfred
Established in 1959 as a Catholic chaplaincy, St. Jude Chapel sits on Lower College Drive in Alfred, NY, serving the students of Alfred University and Alfred State College. After the 2025 merger, St. Jude was retained as a continuing secondary worship site of Immaculate Conception Parish in the Christ Our Light Family. Chris Yarnal, who arrived in 2006, served as Director of Campus Ministry and Retreat Director; he described the mission as sharing 'a part of the wonderful campus/community mission of SS. Brendan and Jude Parish.' The Sunday 6:30 PM Mass is offered only when the colleges are in session.
- St. Jude Chapel established 1959 for Alfred University and Alfred State College
- Director of Campus Ministry: Chris Yarnal (since 2006)
- Sunday 11:00 AM Mass and 6:30 PM Mass (college session)
- Retained as continuing worship site after 2025 merger
Patron: St. Brendan of Clonfert, the Voyager
According to the parish's January 2025 closing-Mass bulletin, the parish's patron was St. Brendan of Clonfert (also known as St. Brendan the Voyager), one of the so-called '12 apostles of Ireland.' Born c. 484 AD, he became a monk and was ordained a priest at age 26, went on to found several monasteries, and is most noted for his missionary voyages — said to have set sail in 512 AD and possibly reached North America. He died in 577 and is buried at Clonfert. His feast day is May 16.
- St. Brendan of Clonfert, 'the Voyager' (c. 484–577)
- Feast day: May 16
- Co-patron: St. Jude Thaddeus (feast October 28)
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
Rev. Sean E. DiMaria was pastor of SS. Brendan & Jude Parish from 2008 until its 2025 merger. Ordained in 2005 after a prior career as a firefighter, he previously served at SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Hamburg. Following the merger into Immaculate Conception Parish, pastoral leadership of the new Christ Our Light Family rests with Rev. James Hartwell as pastor, Rev. Jeffrey Donovan as parochial vicar, and Deacon David Harvey as permanent deacon. The Multi-Parish Business Office is staffed by Business Manager Kate Rahr and Administrative Assistant Martha Wandover.
- Fr. Sean E. DiMaria — Pastor, SS. Brendan & Jude (2008–2025)
- Fr. James Hartwell — Pastor, Christ Our Light Family (2025–)
- Fr. Jeffrey Donovan — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon David Harvey — Permanent Deacon
- Kate Rahr — Business Manager
- Martha Wandover — Administrative Assistant
Faith Formation, Youth & Children's Ministries
Religious education for grades K–12 was directed by Carol Prigmore (email: [email protected]), with a recurring need for teachers and substitutes. Children's Church for Pre-K through Elementary was led by Mrs. Cathy Johnson ([email protected]), offering monthly lessons and activities geared to younger children. A Children's Liturgy of the Word was celebrated on the last Sunday of each month at the 11:00 AM Mass. Youth ministry for older teens was directed by Dave Prete ([email protected]).
- Religious Education K–12: Carol Prigmore
- Children's Church (Pre-K–Elementary): Cathy Johnson
- Children's Liturgy of the Word: last Sunday of the month, 11:00 AM
- Youth Minister: Dave Prete
Liturgy, Music & Prayer Life
The parish's Liturgical & Music Committee was chaired by Mary Hoffman ([email protected]), who also served as Director of Music. Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors were coordinated by Sue Fowler. A parish Prayer Circle, organized by Cathy Johnson and Kim Donius, gathered prayer petitions for parishioners in need. Bereavement support was coordinated through Fr. Sean and the parish office.
- Music Director / Liturgical & Music Committee Chair: Mary Hoffman
- Eucharistic Ministers & Lectors: Sue Fowler
- Prayer Circle: Cathy Johnson (276-2519) and Kim Donius (587-8180)
- Bereavement Ministry: contact Fr. Sean
Pastoral Council, Trustees & Parish Organizations
The Pastoral Council included Kert Decker, Anthony Galeazzo (President), Peter Reynolds, Pat Quackenbush, Ron VanScoter, John Williams, Chris Yarnal, and Fr. Sean DiMaria. Parish Trustees were Walt Czworka ([email protected]) and Pat LaCourse ([email protected]). Virtus training for adult volunteers serving with minors was coordinated through Fr. Sean.
- Pastoral Council President: Anthony Galeazzo
- Trustees: Walt Czworka and Pat LaCourse
- Virtus Training: contact Fr. Sean
Sacraments at SS. Brendan & Jude
Baptisms were scheduled with Fr. Sean, with baptismal training for parents held the third Monday of each month at St. Jude's Chapel at 7:00 PM. Marriages required at least six months' notice under Buffalo Diocese policy, plus a Pre-Cana conference. The Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum were brought to the homebound, hospitalized, and those in nursing facilities upon notification of the parish office or rectory. Letters of Recommendation for godparent/sponsor eligibility were issued only to registered, confirmed parishioners who received the sacraments regularly.
- Baptism — schedule with Fr. Sean; parent training third Monday at 7:00 PM
- Marriage — 6 months' notice, Pre-Cana required
- Anointing of the Sick — for the ill, homebound, hospitalized
- Letters of Recommendation — registered and confirmed parishioners
Merger into Christ Our Light Family (2025)
As part of the Diocese of Buffalo's 'Road to Renewal' — driven by the diocese's bankruptcy, a priest shortage, and declining Mass attendance — SS. Brendan & Jude Parish was merged in 2025 into Immaculate Conception Parish in Wellsville, which now operates as the Christ Our Light Family with three secondary worship sites: St. Jude Chapel in Alfred, Holy Family in Belmont, and Our Lady of the Angels in Cuba. St. Brendan's Oratory in Almond, Blessed Sacrament in Andover, St. Mary in Bolivar, and St. Joseph Oratory in Scio were closed and their properties slated for sale. Sacramental records for the closed St. Brendan parish (1949–2025) are now held at Immaculate Conception, Wellsville.
- Merger announced 2024, effective January 2025
- St. Brendan's, Blessed Sacrament, St. Mary's Bolivar and St. Joseph's Scio — closed and sold
- Continuing worship sites: Immaculate Conception (Wellsville), St. Jude (Alfred), Holy Family (Belmont), Our Lady of the Angels (Cuba)
- Sacramental records at Immaculate Conception, 36 Maple Avenue, Wellsville
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Sean E. DiMaria2008–2025
Previously at SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Hamburg; ordained 2005; led SS. Brendan & Jude through its campus ministry years and into the 2025 merger with Immaculate Conception.