A community of believers. A place of worship. A growing campus. 

A few poor families gather in someone’s home to pray. They invite a priest to say Mass. A mission is established. A small church built. The mission becomes a parish. Growth continues, always with Eucharist at the heart of who we are and what we believe. Now, on any given weekend, the hundreds of families who call St. Louis parish their spiritual home choose from a full weekend schedule of Masses, participate in one of several models of religious education and faith formation offered, and give back in service through one of the many ministries that flow out of living our call to be disciples of Jesus.

We share our story in this parish history to remember where we have come from and to honor the debt we owe to the men and women who have gone before us. We are the grateful recipients of their faith and their generosity.  We invite you to become part of the living history of our parish!

The Early Years
The first mention of building a Catholic church in Pittsford comes from an 1874 financial report in the Diocese of Rochester archives. Father Patrick C. McGrath of Fairport, who served the small mission church of St. Louis, wrote, “The prospect of building a Church there (in Pittsford) ... is not very encouraging, as the people are few - and very poor.” However, he noted with some optimism that, “the few that come to Mass are very good people and are anxious to see a church in Pittsford.”

       
Rev. Patrick C. McGrath, the pastor of Assumption Church in Fairport, served St. Louis Mission from 1870 to 1878.

It would be ten years after Father McGrath’s report before St. Louis would have its own church building, and nearly three decades after that before it would be elevated to full parish status. To understand the reasons behind our humble beginnings, consider the village that Father McGrath surveyed in 1874 and the immigrant origins of the local Catholic population.

Pittsford Village
A Pittsford town historian writing in the Brighton-Pittsford Post, has described the earliest years of the village as influenced heavily by its geographic location. The area sits “on a limestone dome ... one of the notable topographical features of eastern Monroe county. A spring fed by an underground stream running through the limestone was a well-known meeting place in Indian days and attracted the first white men known to have visited here. This was the army of the Marquis Denonville, who bivouacked at the ‘Big Spring’ during the famed expedition against the Seneca Indians in 1689 at the commission of King Louis XIV of France.” In the early 1790’s, settlers planted the area’s first apple orchards. Many of these settlers became successful farmers, but a number of them, settling in what is now the village of Pittsford, were capitalists, speculators, or tradesmen. With economic growth came other benefits. As recounted in “Northfield on the Genesee” by Margaret Schmitt MacNab, the first library in Monroe County opened in the home of local resident, Ezra Patterson, in 1803. The town also claimed the first physician of Monroe County, Dr. John Ray. By 1811, a post office was established at Samuel Felt’s tavern where the mail arrived by horseback from Canandaigua. Mr. Gershum Dunham held the contract for the trip and when he was ill, his wife, Cynthia, substituted for him. In transportation, the village enjoyed the benefits of being a stop on the stagecoach route between Canandaigua and Irondequoit Landing. Throughout the early years, the area was known by various names: Stonetown, Northfield, Boyle and Smallwood. In 1814, Smallwood was divided into two parts: Brighton and Pittsford. Col. Caleb Hopkins, a leading citizen who had been town supervisor and a hero of the War of 1812, chose the name Pittsford after his hometown of Pittsford, Vermont. With the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, the small village became a busy shipping port. At the same time, the canal brought a heavy migration of settlers from New England. The coming of the Auburn and Rochester railroad in 1842 further propelled the growth of Pittsford, and by the mid-1800’s, the village was well established as a center of commerce and transportation via both canal and railroad.

An Immigrant Church
It is against this backdrop of a small boomtown that the story of our parish begins. However, for the most part, the early parishioners of St. Louis did not participate in the area’s prosperity. Many were Irish immigrants who had come to the area to dig the canal. Later, others followed to work on the railroads. The Irish did not bring material wealth of their own to Pittsford, but they did bring their Catholic faith. In Father Robert F. McNamara’s excellent history of the Diocese of Rochester, he acknowledges the role played by the Erie Canal and the railroad. “Catholicism in the twelve counties owes a great deal to these man-made rivers and iron highways. They not only gave Catholics, as immigrants, easier access; they also provided them with temporary or permanent jobs at construction and maintenance.” McNamara’s description of the settlement patterns that occurred throughout the diocese seem particularly apt for Pittsford in the mid-1800s. “Irish laborers were often attracted by one of the villages through which their work took them, and subsequently settled there with their families, which they usually brought over as soon as they earned passage money for them. Some immigrants continued for many years in the employ of the canals or railways; others branched out into different employments; still others became tenant farmers, and eventually bought improved farms for themselves. The women-folk of the Irish families were meanwhile in great demand for domestic service and their earnings contributed much to the support of the large families.” The Irish Famine of the 1840’s and the mass emigrations it caused swelled the local Irish population further. Leaving their homeland for economic and political reasons, the Irish began their lives here at the bottom of the social and economic ladder. Even after the Civil War, most of the Irish in America were still working as unskilled laborers and struggling to survive. The story of the Irish immigrants explains why, in spite of the relative prosperity of 19th century Pittsford, challenge and financial struggle marked the early years of St. Louis.

Home Masses
Before Catholic services were available in Pittsford, the faithful traveled to Rochesterville or Fairport, taking the handcar on the Auburn Railroad. The earliest forms of worship in Pittsford, as elsewhere, began with small groups of people gathering at a neighbor’s home to pray. As their numbers grew, they would eventually invite a priest to the house to say Mass. In 1856 a small group invited Father Louis Miller to celebrate Mass in the home of Mr. James Cleary on Locust Street in Pittsford. (A conflicting account states the first Mass in Pittsford was said by Father William Casey of Palmyra in 1864 at the Exchange Hotel.) Father Miller continued to serve the needs of the faithful until 1871 when the size of the congregation outgrew the Cleary home.

       
In 1871 St. Louis rented space for Sunday Mass on the second floor of the Tousey Market This 1928 photo shows the building’s location on corner the of South Main and Church Streets - site of the current Saha Mediterranean Grill  Photo courtesy of Peg Tousey Edwards

A New Diocese and a New Mission Church
The Catholic community in Pittsford was not alone in its vigorous growth. In 1868, the Diocese of Rochester (formerly a part of the Diocese of Buffalo) was inaugurated under the leadership of Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid. In that same year, St. Louis was established as a mission of Assumption Church in Fairport. In 1871, a hall was rented for use by the Pittsford mission church - an upper room over the Tousey Market, which stood on the northeast corner of South Main and Church Streets. Masses were celebrated by Father Patrick C. McGrath, pastor of Assumption Church. It was Father McGrath’s report to the diocese that cast doubt on the prospects for St. Louis building a church of its own. Diocesan archives contain a January 1872 statistical summary of a year in the early life of the St. Louis mission church. It notes 46 people registered in catechism class, 3 Baptisms, 0 First Communions, 0 Confirmations and 2 Marriages and 0 Burials.

The State Street Church
Father John L. Codyre took charge of the St. Louis Mission when he became pastor of Assumption Church in 1879. In that same year, a Mr. John Casgrove purchased a small house at 17 State Street in the village to serve as a more permanent home for St. Louis. When it was decided to build a new and more commodious church on the same site, the small building was moved across the street. Services were held there while the new church was under construction. The new State Street church would be a frame structure measuring 60 x 37 feet with seating for 200 people. The spire measured about 12 feet across at the base and 30 feet high. A Mr. Finucane was selected as the builder; he built a church of similar design in Churchville, New York.

       
St. Louis Church on the south side of State Street in the village served the parish from 1884 to 1956. The building was demolished by a subsequent owner in 1968.

October 6, 1884 was a proud day for St. Louis when Bishop McQuaid and Father Codyre dedicated the cornerstone for the new church. That cornerstone can today be seen on our parish grounds near the playground. The first wedding in the new church celebrated the marriage of John Sullivan and Margaret Brady.

       
The interior of St. Louis Church on State Street, with communion rail and large statues

A Mr. James Styles was the first to be buried from the new church. The St. Louis Church on State Street served as a resource for its members in many ways beyond those of a spiritual nature. Along with the local Grange, it provided a place for recreation and support for social activities.

       
Rev. John L. Codyre, the second pastor from Fairport to serve St. Louis, supervised the construction of the church on State Street.

Father Codyre would continue his travels from Fairport to say Mass at St. Louis for the next 26 years until February 1911, when, at last, St. Louis attained full parish status.

On July 1, 1911, Bishop McQuaid appointed Father Louis Edelman the first pastor of the new parish - St. Louis Catholic Church of Pittsford. As noted in a publication celebrating Father Edelman’s 50th Jubilee, he was also asked to serve the mission church of St. Catherine’s in Mendon. In those days before the automobile, traveling between his two remote assignments was difficult and time consuming. 
 

Rev. Louis W. Edelman Pastor 1911 to 1953.

The small, still mostly Irish community of St. Louis warmly welcomed Father Edelman. As an earlier history of St. Louis recounts, “some of the ‘old-timers’ the Cullens, the Sullivans, the Zornows remember the first day the young priest came to Pittsford. So will Father Edelman. ‘Father, you’ll starve out there’ were the parting words of Bishop Thomas Hickey. And with one Sunday collection of $3.41 at the time, it’s hard to understand why he didn’t. No rectory, no treasury, and a congregation of 35 or 40 Irish families.” 
The parish held a May Festival in 1914 with dinner priced at twenty-five cents a person. For an additional twenty cents, festival-goers could attend a musical and dramatic entertainment titled, “Between the Acts.” Even in the early days, sharing meals, fundraising and community building were an integral part of parish life.

For his first few years in Pittsford, Father Edelman commuted from his home in Rochester by way of the old New York Central Railroad. In July of 1914, he purchased a residence at 31 Monroe Avenue in the village. The home of former State Senator Jarvis Lord sold for a reported $6,400, and so, for a monthly mortgage payment of about twenty-five dollars, St. Louis Church had its first rectory. 

For his first few years in Pittsford, Father Edelman commuted from his home in Rochester by way of the old New York Central Railroad. In July of 1914, he purchased a residence at 31 Monroe Avenue in the village. The home of former State Senator Jarvis Lord sold for a reported $6,400, and so, for a monthly mortgage payment of about twenty-five dollars, St. Louis Church had its first rectory.

A Cautious Approach to Change

Father Edelman saw a need for changes in the parish, but he approached the subject cautiously. It was an era when most pastors sought little input from their parishioners, yet Father Edelman asked for the congregation’s opinion on one of his proposed changes to the Sunday Mass schedule. Newspapers of the era, now in Diocesan archives report, “the young priest had very carefully worked out a schedule for Masses at Mendon and Pittsford, and broached the change to the parishioners. Up in the front seat stood old Tom Sullivan: ‘You’ll do no such thing.’ And Father Edelman, with a glance around, agreed with him: ‘I guess we won’t.’ Two weeks later, Sullivan approached the young priest: ‘Father, I’m eighty years old today. Here’s eighty dollars to buy a statue of Our Blessed Mother.” And so, confidences were won and the tiny rural church began to acquire some early furnishings. 

The Fire

The flock grew and, in the early 1920’s, so did the church building as Father Edelman oversaw the enlargement of the south sacristy. Disaster struck on February 27, 1923, when a fire caused by a defective chimney broke out in the church attic. The blaze drew a large crowd of onlookers from the village and nearby farms. Father Edelman, one of the first on the scene, swiftly removed the Blessed Sacrament and sacred vessels. Firemen from the twenty-five year old Pittsford Fire Department battled the flames for more than an hour. Their diligent efforts saved the church from extensive damage, but the fire had burned its way into a corner of the sanctuary and brought down half the ceiling. Damages totaled nearly $4,200. Fortunately, insurance covered most of the repair costs with little expense to the congregation. In 1935, to accommodate the developing need for religious education, the church was renovated to make space for instruction rooms. 

Father Edelman’s Role in Village Life 

A first-hand account of life in the village during the Edelman era comes to us from parishioner James G. Burdett, whose family operated a store near the rectory. “Father was always a part of life in the village, particularly the life of children,” Mr. Burdett recalls. “When we stopped by his home, his housekeeper, Miss Farrell always had a cookie for each of us. Father would take us to his camp on Lake Ontario without any regard as to which church we attended. As we got older, when Father would see us hitchhiking to Rochester, he would stop his car and tell us to hop in. He would take us to the theater of our choice and even give us money for a ticket. When we had to leave for service in World War II, Father Edelman was there to wish us well and pray for our safe return. After the war, he welcomed us home and, in my case, performed our wedding ceremony.”

25th Anniversary Celebration

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Father Edelman’s pastorate of the parish in July of 1936, two hundred and fifty guests, including people from St. Louis and surrounding parishes as well as other friends of Father Edelman, gathered at the Pittsford Inn (today’s Phoenix Building). A chicken dinner was served and the Rev. H. J. Bortle, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, extended greetings from the Protestant congregations of the village. The principal speaker of the evening was Mr. Clyde O’Brien, a Rochester attorney, who was a member of St. Louis. 
The St. Louis Chapel in Bushnell’s Basin
In 1948, Father Edelman said the first Christmas Mass at St. Louis’s new chapel at the corner of Route 96 and Thornell Road in Bushnell’s Basin. The Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel was part of St. Louis parish until 1962, when it was gifted to the new St. John of Rochester parish. In recent times, the building has housed a variety of small commercial businesses.

St. Louis School Begins in Historic Home

In 1949, the historic Augustus Elliot house (also known as the Hargous-Briggs house) at 52 South Main Street, was purchased in preparation for establishing the first St. Louis School. Today, referred to by the church as “the Manse,” the stately Federal structure serves St. Louis as library, classroom and meeting space. 

The house built in 1812 by Augustus Elliot, today known as The Manse, was purchased by St. Louis in 1949 for use as a convent and school.

The house was built in 1812 by Augustus Elliot for his bride-to-be Jane Penfield, daughter of Daniel Penfield, the founder of Penfield, New York. The brick for the structure was made by Elihu Doud whose kiln also provided brick for the Phoenix Building. Mr. Elliot brought the impressive interior woodwork from Albany. In many respects the house was among the most gracious ever built in Pittsford.

However, it never served the purpose originally intended; Augustus Elliot and Jane Penfield never married. Elliot lived in the home as a bachelor for a brief time and later sold it to a Judge Sampson. In 1818, it became the property of Mr. James K. Guernsey. He built an elaborate system of pipes and troughs from a spring at Osgoodby Hill (the south end of Eastview Terrace in the village) to bring the first running water to a Pittsford home. Guernsey also planted extensive gardens and raised ginseng for export, which brought him much wealth and fame. 

Mr. Guernsey’s carriages transported notables between Pittsford’s Phoenix Hotel and Rochester. According to Pittsford lore, General LaFayette was a dinner guest at the Guernsey home when he came through Pittsford on his triumphant tour of the United States in 1825. As recounted in Andrew D. Wolfe’s  “Pittsford at 200,” LaFayette addressed the townspeople from the steps in front of the Phoenix building.

In 1849, the house was sold to the weathly Hargous family of New York City who traveled by canal boat to spend their summers in Pittsford. In 1887, in memory of their mother, the Hargous children donated the bell and clock in Pittsford’s Christ Episcopal Church. 

Rumors about the role the house may have played in the Underground Railroad still provide basis for speculation. According to a popular historical account in the Sisters of Mercy archives, “Pittsford saw much abolitionist activity and it is said that limestone caverns under the village were used as hiding places for slaves on their way to Canada. The door that supposedly leads to the caverns has long been cemented closed.” 


The St. Louis Parish community came together to renovate the interior of the Manse in 1993, with an eye toward maintaining an authentic, period look.
 

Monsignor William Shannon, who was assisting with Masses at St. Louis in 1949, tells how, when he learned that the historic house had become available for purchase, he immediately called Father Edelman who was on vacation in Panama. Father agreed that the time was right and the timely purchase of the historic structure was instrumental in the founding of St. Louis School.

Workmen began preparing the house to be ready for the first day of school in September 1950. The large building would serve as both the school and as a convent for the Sisters of Mercy who would teach there. In its first year, St. Louis School registered 158 pupils.

Monsignor Edelman Retires


Monsignor Edelman

In June 1952, Father Edelman became Monsignor Edelman when Pope Pius XII elevated him, on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee, to the rank of Domestic Prelate. With St. Louis School well established, Monsignor Edelman discerned that the time had come to pass his pastorate on to a younger priest. When he retired, Bishop James E. Kearney appointed Father John Reddington as the second pastor of St. Louis Church. In June 1953, Monsignor Edelman was named Pastor Emeritus of St. Louis parish. He bought a home at 3 Jefferson Circle and continued to celebrate Mass at both St. Louis and St. Jerome’s in East Rochester. He also taught at St. John Fisher College until he moved to St. Ann’s Home on October 21, 1962.

Father John Reddington

As St. Louis’ second pastor, Father John Reddington came to us with a prestigious educational background and distinguished war time service. He attended St. Bernard’s Seminary and was appointed, in 1931, by then Bishop Edward Mooney (later Cardinal Edward Mooney) to continue his studies at the North American College in Rome. Ordained by Francesco Cardinal Marchetti Salvaggiani on March 19, 1937, Father Reddington received his Doctor of Theology degree from Gregorian University in Rome in the spring of 1939. Returning to Rochester, he taught at St. Bernard’s Seminary. During World War II, he was called to serve as a chaplain in the U. S. Marine Corps stationed in Palermo, Sicily and Naples, Italy. It was there that his passion for helping the needy found tangible expression on a large scale. 

 

Shortages caused by the war had forced the children of Italy into the streets to beg for food. When Father Reddington saw their plight, he came up with a plan. Each day, he went to the U.S. Navy ships stationed in the harbors and collected their leftover food, which he then distributed to the starving children. For his efforts, he was honored with the Cavalliare Del Regno D’Italia, presented by the Italian government. 
After the war, Father Reddington was assigned to St. Francis DeSales parish in Geneva. In 1950, he became the assistant pastor at St. Ambrose Church in Rochester until 1953 when he become the pastor at St. Louis. 

Construction of the New School Building

Father Reddington assumed his responsibilities at an important time for St. Louis. The need for an ambitious new building program for both the school and the church had become apparent. By 1954, enrollment at St. Louis School reached 250 pupils and the little church on State Street had become inadequate to serve the ever-increasing congregation. 

St. Louis parishioners rose with enthusiasm to the task of fund-raising. The campaign was launched in October of 1954 with Robert E. Ginna (then President of Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation) as its general chairman. Parishioners responded generously and readily. By November 4th they had pledged $161,000 toward the building program. In the meantime, architectural plans were being readied for the school. An association had been formed between Mr. Alan Dailey, an architect of St. Louis parish, and Mr. J. Sanford Shanley, eminent church architect with offices in New York City. The combination was a happy one. The plans were put out to bid and in April of 1955 contracts were awarded to Daniel J. Meagher, Inc., general contractors; Betlem Air Conditioning Company, heating; A. Burgart, Inc., plumbing; and E. E. Driscoll & Son, for the electrical work. 

1955 was also the year that Father Reddington moved the rectory from Monroe Avenue to a newly purchased house at 46 South Main Street, next door to the Manse. This enabled closer communication with the school and would eventually serve a variety of other needs for the parish. 
Construction could hardly proceed quickly enough to meet the burgeoning enrollment of St. Louis School. In 1955, it approached 300 students and that forced the kindergarten and first grade to be housed temporarily in the church. When the interior of the new building was ready for occupancy in early February, the children were moved in immediately, even though grading and exterior work would not be finished for several months. February 14th, 1956 was the children’s first day in their new St. Louis School. 


Sister Rose Mary’s fifth grade class settled in to their new new school in the Spring of 1956.

Official dedication activities for the school were held during a busy week in May. Bishop Kearney dedicated the school on Sunday, May 5,1956 at 3:00 PM. Father John celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Louis Church on State Street. Two days later, Auxiliary Bishop Lawrence B. Casey visited St. Louis and conferred the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation.

Construction of the Main Street Church

With the school completed, construction began on the new church, located just south of the Manse. It, too, was built under the direction of New York architect J. Sanford Shanley and Father John Reddington.

Excerpts from the dedication program, dated May 21, 1958, describe the interior of the new church in detail.
The Rambusch Studios (of New York) were honored to work under the guidance of Father John Reddington and architect J. Sanford Shanley, and to be entrusted with the execution of the Stained Glass, Lighting, Stations of the Cross, and Mosaic Altar Frontal. 

Under the direction of New York architect J. Sanford Shanley and Father John Reddington, work began on St. Louis Church in the summer of 1956.

The sanctuary is distinguished from the body of the church by its higher roof level and its painted white brick walls.
The floor is of black marble with white marble worked in to suggest a carpet leading up through the center of the altar steps. The background or retable of the altar is serpentine scuro setting off the mosaic altar frontal where the vine and the branches are worked out in gold. The grapes are, of course a symbol of the Eucharist; the vine and the branches are a symbol of our union with Christ in the Communion of Saints.

Viewed from South Main Street, work continues on the church during February 1957. The new church was dedicated on May 21, 1958.

The altar candlesticks are Spanish baroque antiques as are the three lovely hanging sanctuary lamps. The Lady Chapel has a full view of the main altar. The altarpiece in the chapel is an original eighteenth century painting of the Madonna and child by Giacomo Amigoni. The Prayer chairs are by Stickley.

The Stations of the Cross were designed for Rambusch Studios by Hugues Maurin and executed in glazed terra cotta in Italy.
Lancet Windows of the Nave display a stunning tour de force in color harmony, running through the entire spectrum with the cooler colors used to the rear of the church, the warmer tones near the Sanctuary. These windows face East so that they dapple the church with the light of the morning sun, give it a warm glow in the afternoon. In these windows a series of Christian symbols has been employed to illustrate the Apostles Creed, the “Faith that makes us one.” Father Robert F. McNamara of St. Bernard’s Seminary was an invaluable consultant in his collaboration in working out these symbols.
The sanctuary windows: two large hexagonal windows on either side of the sanctuary recall the Old and the New Testament. On the epistle side the four major prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezechiel and Daniel represent the Old Testament. On the gospel side the four Evangelists of the New Testament SS. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are symbolized by a young man, the lion, the sacrificial heifer and the eagle.

The Entrance Window is of Christ the King. In a smaller jewel-like window of rich reds, the Holy Spirit, symbolized by the Dove and the flames of Pentecost, is represented hovering over the altar. The altar for the new church was donated in memory of Father Reddington’s parents. The altar relic is that of an early Christian martyr from the Catacombs in Rome.

St. Louis Church was most fortunate to be able to incorporate in the decor of the church the work of parishioner John C. Menihan, a prominent, eclectic artist and professor of art at the University of Rochester. The Shrine of St. Joseph mosaic, the large dossals and their companion banners, as well as the beautiful Nativity set are examples of his work that are enjoyed to this day. He was known primarily as a portrait painter, and his touch is seen in the portrait of Father Reddington that hangs in hallway gallery that connects the church with Reddington Hall. His landscape of the church graces the rectory.

The dedication Mass for the new St. Louis Church was a joyous celebration offered by Bishop Kearney with 150 priests in attendance. John Cardinal Wright of Pittsburgh, who was the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Clergy at the Vatican, preached the homily. Cardinal Wright also donated the Statue of St. Louis that graces the main entrance to the church. After the Dedication Ceremony, Bishop Kearney, Bishop Wright and the clergy were guests of honor at a dinner in the parish hall.

Above the main entrance to the church is a sculpture of St. Louis - King Louis IX of France - crafted in terra cotta by Frederick Shrady of Connecticut and donated by John Cardinal Wright of Pittsburgh.

The following weekend, the first Sunday Masses were celebrated in the new church, with Pastor Emeritus Father Edelman preaching. He also preached at the first Christmas Midnight Mass.

What became of the old St. Louis Church building on State Street? In 1958, the interior fittings were removed and the large sanctuary room was used as a basketball court for St. Louis School. In 1966, with the construction of the Junior High (today known as Reddington Hall), the old church building was no longer needed. It was sold to an advertising firm and two years later, on April 25, 1968, they demolished the building, citing the need for parking space and the high cost of renovating the structure. The copper and tin cross, which had adorned the top of the spire for 84 years, was saved as an historical artifact and is now in storage at St. Louis. The stained glass windows were donated to the Genesee Country Museum in Mumford, New York.

The sanctuary of the church as it appeared in 1958 with the then traditional placement of the altar and the communion rail. The walls of the sanctuary were painted white to distinguish it from the rest of the church.

A Half-Century of Growth

As the 1950’s drew to a close, with new school and church buildings completed, St. Louis parish could look back at a half century of accomplishment. Diocesan archives for the period 1911 through 1959 attest to the growth and success of St. Louis parish; 1361 Baptisms, 807 First Communions, 880 Confirmations (plus 32 from Mendon), 398 Marriages and 301 Burials. Truly, the St. Louis community had flourished from those early days in the village. 

Television Coverage

Always involved in the larger Diocesan community, St. Louis was chosen to have its Easter Sunday Mass televised throughout the area as the “Mass for Shut-Ins” on April 20, 1962. Father Reddington presided. This was only the first taste of television exposure for St. Louis. The church was featured on national television in January of 1968. Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, who had recently been named Bishop of Rochester, was conducting an Ecumenical Youth Group program at the Presbyterian Church in Pittsford. The event was being covered by an NBC network crew and when Bishop Sheen decided to walk down to St. Louis and concelebrate the 5:00 PM Sunday liturgy, the camera crew followed. Father John Phillips, then Assistant Pastor, made an audiotape of the celebration, which is now in the parish archives.

The Death of Monsignor Edelman

Wednesday, February 19, 1964, was a day of sadness for St. Louis. On that day Monsignor Edelman died peacefully at St. Ann’s Home where he had moved in October of 1962. Bishop Kearney celebrated the funeral Mass on February 22, 1964. In attendance were Bishop Lawrence B. Casey, 70 monsignori and priests, 100 sisters, as well as several hundred parishioners and friends. Father L. James Callan, who had served as Assistant Pastor at St. Louis from 1950 to 1955, gave the eulogy. Monsignor Edleman was survived by his two sisters: one a Visitation Sister in Ohio, and the other, Sr. Agnes Joseph SSJ of Rochester. 
 

The Campus Expands

The St. Louis campus continued to expand in 1966 with the construction of the junior high school building. Two years later, in 1968, the rectory was moved from 46 South Main Street to the remodeled Hawley House at 60 South Main Street. The Brighton-Pittsford Post noted that the remodeling of the house was done with care to preserve the historical and architectural character of the building. A large front porch was removed and the windows were altered, but overall the house retained its traditional Colonial style. In view of an increasing need for space to hold meetings, one room, located over the garage was to be used as a conference room for small groups. 
 

Outreach and Innovation

Under the leadership of Father Reddington, St. Louis began several initiatives. They included outreach to St. Bridget’s parish of Rochester (which would later become Immaculate Conception/St. Bridget’s Church), the World Hunger Task Force (later the Haiti Task Force) under the leadership of Marcia Mendola, the Corn Sale with sweet corn donated by Powers’ Farm Market, a wide range of parish committees, as well as the development of the Parish Council. 

Father Reddington endeavored to meet the needs of the community in a variety of ways. He implemented the use of Eucharistic Ministers at the liturgies and encouraged participation by the laity in the liturgies. In 1968, Ginny Pierce was the first woman to lector at St. Louis. 
 

Growth of Liturgical Music

The choir flourished under the guidance of Sr. Josepha Kennedy, SSJ, the first music director at St. Louis. She utilized the giftedness of the choir in a diverse array of liturgical music. 

The St. Louis folk music group was initiated by Darlene Flynn and featured artist John Menihan playing the banjo. Later, the folk group came under the direction of Ginny Miller, the second music director at St. Louis who served from 1985 to 1995. During that time Ginny provided innovative direction to the music ministries of the parish. She introduced flutes and clarinets into the folk group. She also began the Lessons and Carols Program as part of the Music Series of St. Louis. The early Music Series concerts benefited local food cupboards that served the needy of the Rochester area. 
 

A Pilgrimage Church

The Holy Year of 1975 saw St. Louis Church named one of the pilgrimage churches. The Courier Journal (Catholic Courier) reported, “‘Substituting for Sacred Heart Cathedral as a pilgrimage church in the Monroe county Southeast Region of the Diocese is the Church of St. Louis in Pittsford.” St. Louis was chosen as one of the pilgrimage churches along with Mount Saviour Monastery and St. Thomas the Apostle. Coincidentally, all three pilgrimage churches were designed by Joseph Sanford Shanley. 
In 1977, a new sacristy was added to the south side of St. Louis church. The space formerly occupied by the sacristy became our Blessed Sacrament Chapel. 

In 1978, St. Louis acquired the house at 64 South Main Street as a convent for six Sisters of Mercy. The house was built in 1868 and had been remodeled in 1920.  
 

Permanent Deacons 

The Diocese of Rochester took another step in responding to the varied needs of God’s people when, in 1982, it ordained its first class of Permanent Deacons. Embracing this new concept, Father John Reddington hired Deacon Tony Marini. One other member of that first ordination class was Deacon Thomas Driscoll.


Deacon Thomas Driscoll and his wife, Michele.

In 1980 Tom was hired at St. Louis to work on Christian Formation and help with the formation of the RCIA Program. During his time at St. Louis, Tom also helped establish the Elderberry Express and the Pittsford Food Cupboard.  Following Deacon Tom, St. Louis welcomed a new Deacon who was a St. Louis parishioner, John Payne. Deacon John served us from 1999 to 2012, when Deacon Dave Synder became our fourth Permanent Deacon. 
 

Church of the Transfiguration Established

1983 was a year of significant changes for our church. In looking at the constantly growing numbers of parishioners, the diocese decided to create a new parish in our area, the Church of the Transfiguration. While the creation of a new parish was an exciting movement in the history of the local Church, it was a difficult time for St. Louis as many of our members were requested to change parishes. With Father Gerald Appelby as its first Pastor and Deacon Al Wilson, who was ordained from St. Louis, the Church of the Transfiguration would be formally dedicated two years later on May 4, 1985. 
 

Father Reddington Retires

For thirty years, Father John Reddington led our faith community through a diverse series of changes and opportunities for growth. In 1983, Father Reddington retired from his active and energetic leadership of St. Louis. 

Father John led our faith community for thirty years, retiring in 1983. He continued to serve as a priest in residence and celebrated Mass on a regular basis until his passing in late 1997.

Father Lou Hohman

With the retirement of Father Reddington, Bishop Matthew Clark selected Father Louis Hohman to become the third pastor of St. Louis. 

 
Rev. Louis Hohman Pastor 1983 to 1993
 

A Rochester native, Father Hohman grew up in the South Wedge neighborhood known as Swillburg and was educated at St. Andrew’s and St. Bernard’s Seminaries in preparation for his ordination to the priesthood. His first two assignments as a priest were as an assistant pastor at St. Helen’s Church in Gates and at Blessed Sacrament Church in Rochester. In 1950 Father Hohman became the Spiritual Director of St. Andrew’s Seminary, where he remained for fifteen years. 
From 1965 to 1971, on the St. John Fisher campus, he served the college seminary, Becket Hall, for the first three years as spiritual director, then as rector. Immediately preceding his appointment to St. Louis, Father Hohman spent eleven years as pastor at St. Vincent DePaul Church in Churchville. During that time, he also served as Chaplain at Rochester Institute of Technology. 

A Collaborative Vision

In June of 1983, Father Lou Hohman became the third pastor of St. Louis Church. His vision of collaboration invited parishioners to share more fully in the decision-making process of the parish. He helped the Parish Council and the Finance Committee grow in their involvement in the life of the parish. Liturgically, as well as in all dimensions of parish life, lay ministry grew in importance in the life of the parish community. Men and women, lay and ordained, young and old were encouraged to participate in the life of the community. 

Outreach to Communities Near and Far 

Father Hohman continued to support the ministry of “twinning” with St. Bridget’s parish in the inner city. Father Hohman would stay overnight at St. Bridget’s homeless shelter along with the St. Louis volunteers who had prepared the meals at home to feed those at the shelter. 
In 1985, our outreach extended to Africa, as St. Louis donated funds for a water project in Kabarnet, Kenya. The people of Kabarnet provided the labor for the project and their local government matched the seed money that St. Louis had raised through the sale of Christmas ornaments. The ornament sale tradition continued at St. Louis. Proceeds currently benefit St. Damien Pediatric Hospital in Haiti, as well as several Rochester-area charities.

Changes to the Church and Grounds

In the spring of 1986 St. Louis volunteers came together to build a playground just south of the gym. The playground became a recreational resource enjoyed by the entire Pittsford Village community.


In 1986, parish volunteers joined together to build a playground next to Reddington Hall.

The early 1990’s were a time of many changes for the interior of St. Louis Church. In keeping with the move to more fully involve the congregation in the celebration of the Eucharist, it was proposed that the altar railing and pulpit be removed. The Parish Council spent an overnight at High Acres Retreat Center to meet and pray over the issue and then waited and prayed for two months before the decision was made to remove the original brick altar railing and pulpit. 

The altar was moved forward, the presider’s chair, candlesticks and a cross for the sanctuary were purchased. 
Realizing the importance of the organ as the principal liturgical instrument of the church, the music staff had inquired about the possibility of replacing the St. Louis’s original Stanley instrument. Its many years of service began even before it came to St. Louis in 1972. 


The sanctuary’s Visser-Rowland organ was dedicated in September of 1993.

By the early 1990’s, its malfunctioning components were beginning to compromise the quality of music in the church. In 1992, Marianna Sheehan donated a new organ built by Visser-Rowland. It was dedicated in the church sanctuary on September 26, 1993. The new organ was installed in a prominent position behind the altar.


Father Hohman donated the statue of the risen Christ, which graces the South Main Street facade of the church.

Another important change to St. Louis Church during the Hohman decade occurred on the outside of the building. A statue of the risen Christ, given to Father Lou some years before in memory of his father, had previously hung at St. Andrew’s Seminary when Father Lou was spiritual director there. He brought it to Becket Hall on the St. John Fisher campus when he served there as Spiritual Director and Rector. Finally, when he became pastor at St. Louis, the statue of the risen Christ found its current home on the South Main Street facade of the church. 

A Time of Transition

Father Lou was loved as an outgoing and affectionate pastor who made people feel welcome at St. Louis. He will long be remembered as an excellent homilist. He sought to gather people together for meeting and socializing as well as for worship. He had the energy and enthusiasm to inspire many improvements in the physical environment of the church. In his vision of collaboration, he endeavored to lead the parish through the difficult period of change. Father Lou developed the ministerial staff, and he expanded the role of the laity. He placed his gifts in the service of the community. As a result, the faith community of St. Louis was able to focus on the Gospel values of being of service to people in need. 

Father Jim Schwartz

Bishop Matthew Clark appointed Father James Schwartz the fourth pastor of St. Louis parish, effective June 29, 1993. Father Jim had been ordained twenty-five years at that time and had the experience of a variety of ministries. A graduate of St. Bernard’s Seminary, he holds a Doctorate of Ministry degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School. Bishop Fulton J. Sheen ordained Father Jim to the ministerial priesthood on June 1, 1968.

Through the years, his assignments had included four years as assistant pastor of St. Theodore’s Church in Gates, seven years as the Chaplain at Rochester General Hospital, and eight years as the Director of the Diocesan Ministry to Priests team. Concurrently, Father Jim served as the Spiritual Director and the Rector of Becket Hall. He had taught as an Adjunct Professor at St. Bernard’s Institute and in The Lay School of Theology.

In 1987, Father Jim was invited to serve on the national staff of the Center for Human Development based in Washington, D.C. on the grounds of the Catholic University. In this position, Father Jim helped initiate Diocesan Ministry to Priests programs to many dioceses throughout the country. He specialized in leading priests retreats and leading workshops in spiritual direction. After three years in Washington, he returned to our diocese as the pastor of Holy Family Church in Rochester.

Renovation of the Manse

In the summer of 1993, the St. Louis parish community came together to renovate the interior of the Manse. Coordinator of the project, Sally Schrecker, was quoted in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle remarking how “it was a wonderful combined effort of a lot of people.” Many hours of work went into the project that included new period-style wallpaper and fresh coats of paint. All the work was performed with the commitment to keep the look authentic to the period when the Manse was built.

As an active parish volunteer, Sally Schrecker became progressively more involved in the physical operation of our seven-building parish complex. Eventually, Father Jim hired Sally to be the operations manager of the parish. This enabled Sally to use her many gifts in the service of the parish, while it afforded Father Jim the opportunity to focus on the pastoral and spiritual needs of the parish community.

Diocesan Synod

In October 1993, the Seventh General Diocesan Synod was held at the Riverside Convention Center. A major result of the Synod was the development of four goals, which were to become parish priorities.
The Four Synod Goals were: 

1. Form Catholics in beliefs, Catholic morality and spirituality throughout life. 
2. Advocate for the consistent life ethic.
3. Recognize and value the dignity of women in Church and society.
4. Promote the growth of small Christian communities.

Father Jim spearheaded this process and delegated leadership of each of these goals to parishioners and their subsequently chosen committee members. Two of the parish committees changed their names to reflect the synod focus and a new parish committee was initiated. The Christian Formation Committee was renamed the Lifelong Faith Formation Committee.

The Consistent Life Ethic (CLE) Committee replaced the Social Outreach Ministry Committee. Along with social outreach, the sacredness of all human life is the context out of which parish ministry flows. The issues of abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, violence, war and poverty continue to be the focus of the CLE Committee.

The Dignity of Women Committee, chaired by Sister Rosemary Sherman, RSM, helped raise the consciousness of the parish to the value of inclusiveness. We continue to strive to eliminate sexist language in the ways we celebrate liturgy and work for the equality of men and women in church and society.

The fourth synod goal of fostering Small Christian Communities finds expression at St. Louis in a wide variety of communities that respond to particular needs. Ongoing bible study and seasonal prayer groups attest to the spiritual vitality of the parish. We continue to foster the development of small Christian communities in our vision to be a community of communities.

Parish Census

Desiring to assess the gifts and and the needs of our parish community more clearly, the Parish Council implemented a parish census, which was completed on April 2, 1995. More than a hundred trained parish volunteers went to every home within our parish boundaries with the invitation for all to participate in our parish community as they wished. This enabled us to update our parish database. More importantly, we were able to welcome back some people who were alienated from our Catholic community. Our parish volunteers were evangelizers - people who witnessed to God’s unconditional love for us.

A New Baptismal Font

Father Jim and the Liturgy Committee renewed the effort begun by Father Hohman to create an area in which a baptismal font could become a focal point during liturgical celebrations. After considerable parishioner input, a decision to construct a new baptismal font was made on November 6, 1995. The font was to be created within the main entrance of the Church. Blueprints were submitted and revised, costs were determined and revised until the font was created. On August 17, 1996, Bishop Clark celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism using the new font for the first time. Matthew McKnight was the first parishioner of St. Louis parish to receive the life-giving waters of baptism in this new font, with his proud parents, Debbie and Larry, joyfully participating in the celebration. The baptism was celebrated during a regular Sunday Liturgy with Bishop Clark presiding and Father Jim concelebrating.

Our Changing Campus

New Director of Liturgical Music

In 1995, Stephanie Honz succeeded Ginny Miller as Director of Liturgical Music. Stephanie introduced new challenges for the choir in seasonal liturgical music and a wider variety of psalms. Pieces by composers such as Mozart and Bach were added to the choir’s repertoire. Stephanie’s ability as an organist has been both nationally and internationally acclaimed. She has been able to raise the musical ability of the entire congregation and increase their love for sacred music. Stephanie has also begun a sharing of musical resources with the organist and choir of St. Catherine’s, Mendon. Under Stephanie’s leadership the choir has made several trips to perform in Rome and other European cities.

Diocesan Pastoral Planning

During 1997, the diocese began to look at the decreasing number of ordained priests and the needs of the local Church, a diocesan-wide process of clustering of parishes began. In initiating Pastoral Planning, Bishop Matthew Clark called upon all parishes of the diocese to enter a new era of collaboration. All parishes in the diocese were organized into planning groups.
St. Louis was placed in a cluster that includes the Church of the Transfiguration and St. Catherine’s in Mendon. One outcome of the collaboration was an annual Lenten retreat conducted jointly with the three churches.
 

The Death of Father Reddington

As 1997 drew to a close, so did a major chapter in the history of our parish. “He died in his home, next to the Church, the Church that he built, five days after celebrating the Christmas liturgy that marked the 40th anniversary of this house of God.” Thus began the funeral eulogy of Father John Reddington, given January 1, 1998 by the fourth pastor of the St. Louis Community, Father Jim. At age 84, not quite two months shy of being age 85, Father Reddington had passed on a great legacy to the Church of Rochester. Both the Mass of the High Priest, celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Hickey, and the Funeral Mass, celebrated by Bishop Matthew Clark, were tributes to this legacy and attended by hundreds of parishioners, friends, and, of course, Father Reddington’s family.
 

New Outreach Efforts in Our Community and Beyond

In 1998, the Pittsford Food Cupboard began as a community project sponsored by the Pittsford Clergy Association and spearheaded by St. Louis Deacon Tom Driscoll. That same year the parish joined with Catholic Family Center to sponsor a refugee family - the Ali family, eight children and their mother - from Barava, Somalia.

Taking the idea one step further, later in 1998 a new parish ministry known as Saint’s Place was begun under the leadership of Colleen Knauf. Working from donated space in the Old Pickle Factory in Pittsford, Saint’s Place secured an early donation from Xerox and put it toward the purchase of a van to pick up donations.

In 2000 the Saint's Place ministry moved to the St. Louis campus. From headquarters at 46 South Main Street, Saint’s Place coordinates the collection and delivery of thousands of donated furniture and household items in a continuing effort to help Catholic Family Center set up housing for refugees fleeing war-torn countries.

In 2010 the Saint’s Place Super Sale, the largest annual fundraising activity of the parish, raised almost $45,000 with over 200 volunteers working more than 3,000 hours. Today, Saint’s Place is a joint ministry of St. Louis and St. John of Rochester Churches, and Catholic Family Center.
 

Major Renovations for Our Church

In February of 1999 the Parish Council formed a committee to review the overall space needs of our growing parish. In September of that year, Father Jim and the committee presented the Parish Council with a draft proposal for the renovation of St. Louis Church.
The needs identified included:

1. Increasing the seating capacity of the Church in light of the shortage of priests, which will prompt a need to reduce the number of weekend liturgies, which numbered one each Saturday afternoon and five each Sunday in 1999.
2. Enhancing the prayerfulness of the Sanctuary space by moving the organ and the choir out of the sanctuary into a dedicated music space.
3. Responding to overall space needs of the parish community with the addition a gathering space for parishioners and additional classrooms for St. Louis School.

The Parish Council approved the plan and instituted a capital campaign in May of 2000. That fall Bob Healy from Labella Associates presented a design for the renovations and addition. The plan called for adding 100 seats in the church, the addition of a Parish Meeting Hall building and a Narthex that will connect the church and the meeting hall. LeChase Construction was selected as General Contractor for the project.

Rambusch Studios of New York was selected once again to serve as lead design consultants for the interior of the Church. They developed designs for new stained glass windows to complement the windows that they had designed when the church was first constructed. They also created the crucifix in the sanctuary and enhanced our Blessed Sacrament area.

Final approvals from the Village of Pittsford Zoning Board, Planning Board, and the Architectural and Preservation Review Board cleared the way for work to begin on schedule the day after Easter 2001. The first step was the move of the organ from behind the altar to the choir loft. During the construction process, daily Mass was held in the Manse Meeting Room. Sunday Eucharists continued in the church building using an altar in front of the sanctuary area, which was under construction behind a temporary wall.

On Sunday, January 6, 2002 at the 11:00 Mass, Bishop Matthew Clark blessed and rededicated our Church.
 

A Parish of Active Participants

In 2001, Bea Hack began volunteering as a Liturgical Minister and later took on roles including Wedding Coordinator, and Liturgy Coordinator. Bea has trained and supervised more than 400 volunteers including Liturgical Ministers, Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, ushers, altar servers and liturgy assistants. For many years her leadership of the Bell Choir enriched our liturgical music on special occasions. On a weekly basis, Bea led the Children’s Choir for the Sunday 9:00 AM Family Eucharistic celebration.
 

Habitat for Humanity

The active support of St. Louis Church for Habitat for Humanity has touched the lives of more than 50 families in and around the Rochester area for over 30 years.

After building homes through Flower City Habitat for Humanity as a parish, in 2004 the St. Louis Consistent Life Ethic Committee presented a proposal that we become involved in an initiative known as Habitat Interfaith Partnership (HIP), a joint project with other religious organizations in our community. That year, St. Louis Church was joined by First Presbyterian Church of Pittsford, Christ Episcopal Church, Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, the Islamic Center of Rochester, and Temple B'rith Kodesh.

The first St. Louis HIP home was built on Fulton Avenue in the Northeast quadrant of Rochester. A fundraising dinner and silent auction were held on April 30th 2004 in Reddington Hall followed by groundbreaking for the home that summer. The partnership, which has grown to include Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, Temple Sinai of Penfield, and Pittsford Rotary, continues to build new Habitat homes in Rochester on a schedule of once every three years.
 

Father Jim Moves to Penfield

In June of 2005, after 12 years as our pastor, Fr. Jim bid goodbye noting the many ways St. Louis had grown: increasing in numbers of parishioners, with renovation of our church, “but most of all, we have grown in our friendship with one another and our deepening awareness of Jesus as the Lord and Savior of our lives.” Fr. Jim’s new assignment took him to St. Joseph’s in Penfield, while St. Joe’s pastor, no stranger to St. Louis, came to Pittsford. 

Father Kevin Murphy

It was a homecoming of sorts for Father Kevin Murphy. He had served as associate pastor at St. Louis from 1979 to 1981. In June of 2005 he returned as our pastor.

As a boy, Father Kevin had grown up in Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Greece. He also attended Sacred Heart Parish and Sacred Heart Cathedral School. He recalled that a number of priests were influential in his decision to enter St. Andrew’s Seminary after eighth grade, including Father Michael Hogan, then an assistant pastor of the cathedral and brother of Rochester Bishop Joseph L. Hogan.

Father Kevin earned his master’s degree in divinity at St. Bernard’s Seminary and a master’s degree in education from Boston College. He was ordained June 1, 1968, by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

His first assignment was as associate pastor at St. Mary’s in Canandaigua. From 1972-77 he worked in campus ministry at Cornell University. Following assignments in the Southern Tier and Rochester, he had moved to St. Joseph Church in 1996.
 

Hurricane Katrina

At the end of Fr. Kevin’s first summer at St. Louis, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. St. Louis Church along with St. Catherine’s and Transfiguration responded to a diocesan appeal to provide aid to churches in the Gulf Coast Region. We “adopted” Our Lady of Prompt Succor (OLPS) parish in Chalmette, Louisiana and sent home-store gift cards and donations, in addition to pairing parishioners with OLPS families to provide a personal touch with phone calls and letters of support. 275 St. Louis families participated with donations presented to 34 families at OLPS.
 

Outdoor Masses

Father Kevin established a warm-weather tradition of celebrating the 11AM Mass on the front lawn of The Manse followed by a parish picnic. Outdoor Masses and picnics were held twice each year, in early June and early September.
 

Sister Judy

Sr. Judith Ann Kenrick, RSM came to St. Louis Church in 1994, serving first as Pastoral Associate for Stephen Ministry. Through the years she touched just about every aspect of pastoral care. She lead the Lazarus Group, offering prayers and spiritual support at funeral liturgies and the Bereavement Group, guiding parishioners in their mourning. She led our hospital outreach, as well as our ministry to The Highlands and Heather Heights senior care communities.

When Sister Judy died on August 21, 2009, she had served the people of God in the Diocese of Rochester with her spirit, her gentleness, and compassion for more than 50 years.

In the words of Fr. Kevin, “Sister Judy touched so many of us in a personal and individual way. She seemed to have that gift to be there when someone was in need with just the right word or way to share comfort. I feel blessed to having shared ministry with her over my four years here. She was inspiring to me in how she accepted the cross of cancer and she never stopped giving of herself even when she was ill.”
 

The Reversion of St. Louis School

In 2010 we began planning for the return of St. Louis School to parish control. Since 1992, the school had been part of Monroe County Catholic Schools. The financial challenges involved in the reversion of the school were met by a dedicated committee of parishioners from both school and non-school backgrounds. The focus was to create a business plan that would assure the viability of the school well into the future. Our Catholic School Committee, chaired by Bill Quinn, considered a range of options and concerns as they addressed this issue. In late November, the Committee made a recommendation to the Finance Council that the parish take back the school with full responsibility for its management and organization. The Finance Council approved the recommendation and on December 6th Jim Schnell, the Chair of the Finance Council made a presentation to the Parish Council. They voted unanimously to approve the recommendation and to accept responsibility for St. Louis Catholic School. By September of 2011, our School was once again a parish school and so began another chapter in the long history of Catholic education supported by our parish.
 

The Death of Lou Hohman

Early in 2011, Lou Hohman, our pastor from 1983 to 1993 died at age 89 in Sarasota, Florida. 
 

The Retirement of Father Kevin

 On April 13, 2011, Father Kevin had foot surgery and spent the following ten days recovering at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse, returning to the rectory on Easter. He noted in the bulletin that, “This is the second Holy Week in the last three that I have been out of commission. Maybe this will settle the matter and I can get back to my normal.” 

But that was not to be. After discussions with his physician and Bishop Clark, Father Kevin requested early retirement from pastoral leadership. He said, “I have decided that this would be the best approach for me and for St. Louis. I have been blessed in so many ways over the past six years, but my health has been an on-going concern and it’s time I did something about that.”

At Father Kevin’s farewell reception in June, the St. Louis community presented him with a gift of a vacation trip to Ireland. The very next weekend, we welcomed our current pastor, Father Bob Ring, who became the sixth pastor of St. Louis Church.

Father Bob Ring

Father Ring was born in 1954 in Salisbury, Maryland, son of Richard and Ann Ring. The middle child, with two sisters, Linda and Beth, he grew up on the Eastern Shore, half way between the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean. From high school, he went to Cornell, thinking of a career in chemistry, but God had other plans. Called to priesthood, he graduated in the last seminary class at St. Bernard’s, to be ordained a deacon at St. Michael’s in Newark in 1982. From there, his first priesthood assignment was Assumption in Fairport. Next he went to the Southern Tier, St. Mary Our Mother in Horseheads. His first pastorate was at St. Augustine’s in Rochester. 

From there he was appointed as Priest Personnel Director for the diocese, and during the 10 years in that role, also served as sacramental minister in several parishes, including St. Helen’s and Guardian Angels. In 1998, it was back to full-time parish life as pastor of St. Margaret Mary in Apalachin. Next he was called to serve as the pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes, 6 parishes in the heart of the Finger Lakes, including Dundee, Naples, Penn Yan, Prattsburgh, Rushville and Stanley, where he served since 2001. 

Coming to St. Louis in 2011 he said, “I feel honored and blessed to now be coming to St. Louis, and trust God will have good things in store for us as we walk the journey together.” 

Through the Grace of God, the St. Louis Parish community continues its great ministry to all. 
-- Fr. Mitch Zygadlo, Pastor, St. Louis Church and Catholic Chaplain USAF (Retired)