About Sts. Joachim and Anne Parish (St. Vincent) · Attica, New York
Sts. Joachim and Anne Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Buffalo that serves the rural communities of Attica and Varysburg in Wyoming and Genesee counties of western New York. The parish operates two historic worship sites: St. Vincent Church in Attica (50 East Avenue) and St. Joseph Church in Varysburg (2311 NY-98 / Attica Road). Founded in 2008 as a merged parish, it is today a member of Family #14 of the diocesan "Fields of Grace" Catholic Community, a family of parishes that includes St. Michael in Warsaw, St. John Neumann in Strykersville/Sheldon, and (since the 2024 Road to Renewal realignment) Immaculate Heart of Mary in Darien Center. The parish welcomes all who wish to hear the Word, share Communion, and serve in its many lay ministries.
- Established
- 2008
- Patron
- Saints Joachim and Anne (parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. F. Patrick Melfi
- Diocese
- Diocese of Buffalo
Why belong here
Sts. Joachim and Anne is a welcoming two-site rural Catholic community where parishioners can easily get involved, whether serving at the altar, reading Scripture, singing in the Laudate Choir, distributing Communion, or greeting fellow worshippers at the door. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass at both St. Vincent in Attica and St. Joseph in Varysburg, with First-Friday confession and adoration, and a deep bench of lay-led ministries. Being part of the Fields of Grace family of parishes connects parishioners to a wider network of Catholic life across Wyoming and Genesee counties — including faith formation, Scripture study (in English and Spanish), social-teaching series, retreats, and outreach — while still preserving the close-knit feel of two small village churches.
Mass times at Sts. Joachim and Anne Parish (St. Vincent)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30 AM at St. Vincent Church, Attica (before 8:00 AM Mass)
- Sunday 8:30 AM at St. Joseph Church, Varysburg (before 9:00 AM Mass)
- After Mass on First Fridays (St. Vincent Church, Attica)
Adoration times
- After Mass on First Fridays at St. Vincent Church, Attica (along with confession)
About Sts. Joachim & Anne Parish
Sts. Joachim & Anne is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Buffalo that operates two historic worship sites in the rural villages of Attica and Varysburg, New York. The parish's home page describes its worship sites as 'active and vibrant parts of the community for many years' and invites visitors and newcomers to 'come be a part of our history.' The parish takes its name from Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose joint memorial the universal Church celebrates on July 26.
- Saints Joachim & Anne — patron saints of the parish
- Two worship sites: St. Vincent Church (Attica) and St. Joseph Church (Varysburg)
- Diocese of Buffalo
- Member parish of the 'Fields of Grace' Family #14
Parish History & Founding
According to the Official Catholic Directory of the Diocese of Buffalo, Sts. Joachim & Anne was canonically established in 2008 as a merged parish combining earlier Attica-area congregations with St. John Neumann, Sheldon. GCatholic likewise records the parish as established in 2008, listing its primary church (the former St. Vincent de Paul) in Attica with a second affiliated site at St. Joseph in Varysburg. In October 2024, as part of Bishop Michael W. Fisher's diocesan 'Road to Renewal,' the parish was moved from Family #13 into the newly aligned Family #14 — the 'Fields of Grace' family of parishes.
- Parish established: 2008
- Merged with St. John Neumann, Sheldon (per diocesan directory)
- Realigned into Fields of Grace Family #14 effective October 15, 2024
Worship Sites
The parish's two churches serve the small villages and surrounding farmland of Wyoming and Genesee counties. Both are listed in the Diocese of Buffalo's official directory and on GCatholic.
- St. Vincent Church — 50 East Ave, Attica, NY 14011 (principal worship site; listed as 'Church of St. Vincent de Paul' on GCatholic)
- St. Joseph Church — 2311 Attica Rd (NY-98), Varysburg, NY 14167
Clergy & Staff
As part of the Fields of Grace Family #14, the parish is served by the pastor of the family of parishes together with parochial vicars assigned across the family's worship sites. The parochial vicar's residence is at Sts. Joachim & Anne in Attica.
- Rev. F. Patrick Melfi — Pastor of Family #14 (Fields of Grace), including Sts. Joachim & Anne (appointed Oct. 15, 2024)
- Rev. Peter Napierkowski — Priest of Family #14
- Rev. George Devanapalle — Parochial Vicar of Family #14, residence at Sts. Joachim & Anne, Attica
- Parish office contact: [email protected], (585) 591-1228
Lay Ministries & Groups
The parish website invites parishioners to enhance their involvement in Mass by joining one or more of the lay groups that serve the church each week. Listed ministries include liturgical roles (altar server, lector, Eucharistic minister, usher/greeter) and music, formation, and outreach roles (Laudate Choir, Bible study, Alcoholics Anonymous).
- Altar Servers — assist the priest at the altar
- Eucharistic Ministers — distribute the Body and Blood of Christ
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God at Mass
- Ushers / Greeters — welcome and seat parishioners and take up the collection
- Laudate Choir — parish music ministry
- English Bible Class
- Spanish Bible Class
- Alcoholics Anonymous — Saturdays at noon in the Rectory
Faith Formation & Scripture Study
The parish supports ongoing formation for adults through weekly Bible study classes offered in both English and Spanish, and a Deanery-wide 'Social Teaching of the Church' Zoom series held on Mondays during Lent. The parish is also associated with Saints Joachim and Anne School, a Catholic school described as 'a learning place that fosters intellectual and technological development in an environment of love, justice, and peace.'
- English Bible Class (resumes in September after summer break)
- Spanish Bible Class
- Lenten 'Social Teaching of the Church' series for Deanery Q7 (Monday evenings on Zoom)
- Saints Joachim and Anne School (Catholic school)
- Director of Discipleship position advertised by Fields of Grace to oversee faith formation and evangelization across the family of parishes
Fields of Grace — Family of Parishes
Sts. Joachim & Anne belongs to Family #14, branded 'Fields of Grace,' of the Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal pastoral planning initiative. The family name evokes 'the faith, gratitude, and connection to the land that characterizes each of our parishes in a poetic and inspiring manner.' It suggests a community rooted in faith, where the grace of God is recognized and celebrated in everyday life. The family unites two parishes across five worship sites in rural Wyoming and Genesee counties.
- Family #14 ('Fields of Grace') of the Diocese of Buffalo's Road to Renewal
- Parishes in the family: St. Michael (Warsaw); St. John Neumann (Strykersville, Sheldon, Pavilion); Sts. Joachim & Anne (Attica, Varysburg); Immaculate Heart of Mary (Darien Center)
- Family website: fieldsofgrace.family
- Pastor: Rev. F. Patrick Melfi
Sacraments & Devotions
Beyond the Sunday and weekday Mass schedule, the parish's sacramental life centers on regular Reconciliation before Sunday Masses and after First Friday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays at St. Vincent, and a strong Marian devotion featured prominently on the parish's homepage ('Mary, Undoer of Knots, Pray for us'). Holy Day Masses are announced in the bulletin.
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Sundays and First Fridays
- Eucharistic Adoration — after First Friday Mass at St. Vincent, Attica
- Devotion to Mary, Undoer of Knots
- First Friday Mass with confession and adoration
- Holy Day Masses — see bulletin
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. F. Patrick MelfiAppointed October 15, 2024 (under Road to Renewal realignment into Fields of Grace Family #14)
Pastor of all parishes of newly aligned Family #14, including Sts. Joachim & Anne.