Mission and History

Who we are...

St. Peter’s Parish is a faithful community in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, NY. We seek to love God and neighbor, first, through a reverent celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Then receiving the graces God has given us, we serve our families, our neighbors, and our wider community. The Most Holy Eucharist is the core of our identity, the Source and Summit of our Faith, and we invite all to worship with us! 

Our Parish shield also speaks to who we are as a Catholic Community. First, notice the upside down cross. It is a reference to the martyrdom of St. Peter. Tradition tells us that when St. Peter was facing his execution in Rome, knowing he was going to be crucified, he considered himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Our Lord. And so, he was crucified upside down, joining his blood with the many martyrs who died in profession of the Faith. 

Second, the golden keys refer to the words spoken by Christ to St. Peter in Matthew 16:19: “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” You may also see such keys in regards to the Sacrament of Confession. The reference is not only to the authority given to St. Peter, the other Apostles, and their successors to govern the Church with the authority of Christ, but also to the authority to absolve penitents from their sins. The Church’s ministers have the power, given by Christ, to “loosen” one from his sins and so be reconciled to God. 

Third, the blue color is a reference to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In art, she is often depicted with such a color and we are reminded of her royal queenship over heaven and earth. She is the Mother of God and our Mother as well. We turn to her, asking her to cover us in her mantle, and to lead us to her Divine Son.  

History of our churches

St. Felix

Dedication: March 15, 1896

There has been a Catholic church in the village since 1856, when St. Agnes Parish was founded on Stephens Street. In 1895, Father Felix J. O’Hanlon, pastor of St. Agnes, and his parishioners laid the cornerstone for a new church on Hibbard Avenue. This church became known as St. Felix Church. 

St. Felix Parish Hall, formerly located at the corner of Broad and East Main Streets, was built in the 1860’s and originally served as a Universalist church. St. Felix Parish bought the building in 1920 and it held many parish events until it was sold to Clifton Springs Hospital in January 2005. The location of the hall, approximately a half mile away from the church itself, factored into selling the building, in addition to needed repairs. 

In November 2006, Bishop Matthew H. Clark, the then Bishop of Rochester, visited Clifton Springs to celebrate a Mass in honor of the 110th anniversary of St. Felix Church. The anniversary Mass took place the afternoon before the feast day of St. Felix of Valois, the church’s patron saint. Many descendants of the original parishioners of St. Agnes and St. Felix were present for the anniversary Mass and ensuing reception. 

St. Dominic

Dedication: September 16, 1900

In 1876, St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church was organized, and a lot was purchased on Sheldon Street. 

The first church building, seating two hundred, was constructed and dedicated in 1877 by the Most Reverend Bernard McQuaid, the first Bishop of Rochester. Twenty Catholic families composed the nucleus of the new parish. Very quickly the new church could not accommodate the growing population. 

In January 1900, the present site was purchased and in the same year a new church, approximately two-thirds the size of our present building, was erected. The cornerstone was laid on Sunday, the 9th of June 1900, by the first pastor, Father Felix J. O’Hanlon, who resided at St. Felix, Clifton Springs, NY.  The main building was composed of brick, faced with Canandaigua buff brick. The magnificent project was completed at total cost of $11,000. The edifice was blessed in September 1900. A competent musician, Father O’Hanlon, installed the present organ.

In 1935, during the pastorate of Father John E. Napier, a devastating fire struck the beautiful church. Heavily damaged it was restored and renewed, even better than before. At this time, the church was enlarged, roughly from the front pew all the way back to the south wall. That area included a new sanctuary, the side altar shrines and the sacristies. Father Leo Hastings, 1958-1961, added the new glass doors in both vestibules. Father John Woloch, 1961-1976, purchased the old Shortsville High School in 1966, demolished it, opened a parking lot and provided a playground for the church and the Village of Shortsville.

We are most grateful to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Her faithful servant Saint Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers - to whom she gave the Most Holy Rosary - who gave to each pastor a special work to do in this picturesque setting of Manchester-Shortsville.

St. Francis

Dedication: October 4, 1931

In the early 1800's Catholic Masses were celebrated in various homes in Vienna, now Phelps. Mass was only celebrated in Phelps a few times a year because there were very few priests in the area. Around 1850, "The St. Francis Roman Catholic Society" was founded in Phelps, then a part of the Diocese of Buffalo. he Diocese of Rochester was not formed until 1868. Priests from Geneva journeyed to Phelps to celebrate Mass, which was then held on a more regular basis. In 1856, the Rev. O'Connor was assigned to the Phelps community and commenced a collection for building a church edifice. A small church was built on the southwest corner of West Main and Eagle Streets. St. Francis was officially formed as a parish in 1869.

By 1870, the Congregation had grown so rapidly that the church on West Main St. was too small. The "White Church" on Church St., formerly a Presbyterian church, was purchased for a cost of $4000. This church had been built in 1824 by the Town Government. It’s clock was recognized as "Town Time" for many years.

In 1919, Father Edward Simpson was appointed as pastor of St. Francis and served in that capacity until 1967, 48 years. In 1925, a special weekly collection was started to raise money for a new church. In 1930, over $40,000 had been raised for that purpose and plans were begun to build the new church in the same location. During construction of the new church, Mass was held at the Masonic Temple.

The new church was built in the Romanesque style with a steel framework, brick finish and a tile roof at a total cost of $79,715.35. The church was built in the likeness of St. Monica's Church in Rochester's 19th Ward. The cornerstone was laid on June 21, containing various items of that time and included a portion of the wooden cross that surmounted the first church on West Main St.

On October 4th, 1931, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron of the church, the dedication of the church took place. Right Rev. O'Hern, then Bishop of Rochester, presided over the service.

The church underwent renovations in the 1980's and most significantly in 2006. The original Communion rails were removed and used to create a new altar, candle sticks, and a base for the processional cross. On October 4, 2006, the 75th anniversary of the church, Bishop Matthew Clark presided over a special Mass to bless the new altar and rededicate the renovated church.