home for all of God`s people

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Published 1999
St. Louis Church
Reveverend James A. Schwartz, Pastor
Ministry Center
64 South Main Street
Pittsford, NY 14534
(716) 586-5675
Fax (716) 387-9888
http://www.stlouischurch.org
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“Then Yahweh answered me and said,
Write the vision down,
inscribe it on tablets to be easily read.
For the vision is for its appointed time,
it hastens towards its end and will not die;
although it may take some time, wait for it,
for come it certainly will before too long.”
Habakkuk 2: 2-4
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Table of Contents
The Early Years................................................ 3
The Edelman Era ............................................11
The Reddington Years.................................... 21
The Hohman Decade ..................................... 39
The Schwartz Presence .................................. 47
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Rev. Patrick C. McGrath, the pastor of Assumption Church in
Fairport, served St. Louis Mission from 1870 to 1878.
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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. The Rev. 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.”
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 consider the
immigrant origins of the local Catholic population.
A Pittsford town historian writing in the BrightonPittsford 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
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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.
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 partici7
pate 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 the Rev. 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 manmade 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
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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.
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 the Rev. 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 the Rev. 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 of South Main and Church Streets - site of the
current Charter One Bank.
Photo courtesy of Peg Tousey Edwards
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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 the Rev.
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 (1 mixed) and 0 Burials.
The Rev. 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
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St. Louis Church on the south side of State Street in the village
served the parish from 1884 to 1966. The building was demolished
by a subsequent owner in 1968.
builder; he built a church of similar design in
Churchville, New York. 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. A Mr.
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The interior of St. Louis Church on State Street, with communion
rail and large statues
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.
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.
Rev. John L. Codyre, the second pastor from Fairport to serve St.
Louis, supervised the construction of the church on State Street.
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Rev. Louis W. Edelman
Pastor 1911 to 1953.
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The Edelman Era
On July 1, 1911, Bishop McQuaid appointed the Rev.
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.
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, festivalgoers 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
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Church had its first rectory.
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
parishoners, 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 Tom Sullivan:
‘Ye’ll do no sich thing.’ And Father Edelman, with a
glance around, agreed with him: ‘I guess we won’t.’
And two weeks later old Tom Sullivan approached the
young priest: ‘Fa-ather, I’m eighty years old today.
Here’s eighty dollars to buy a statue of Our Blissed
Mither.” And so, confidences were won and the tiny
rural church began to acquire some early furnishings.
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
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the developing need for religious education, the church
was renovated to make space for instruction rooms.
A first-hand account of life in the village during the
Edelman era comes to us from parishoner 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.”
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.
In 1948, Father Edelman said the first Christmas
Mass at St. Louis’s new chapel 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. Today the building serves as
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the office of realtor and developer H. R. Schoenberger.
Sorrow touched the parish community in 1948 with
the death of Julia Farrell, Father Edelman’s housekeeper of many years. Yet, in spite of the loss, 1948 was
also a year of hope, especially for the children of the
parish. In was in that year that parish growth had
prompted Father Edelman to seriously consider the
possibility of a school for St. Louis.
The very next year, 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 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
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.
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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 aboli18
tionist 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
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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.
Yet, as summer drew to a close, the work was not
completed and the sisters became worried that the
building wouldn’t be ready in time. We learn of their
concerns in a letter from Sister M. Richard Whalen,
dated August 25, 1950: “On the Feast of St. Louis,
August 25, 1950, the Sisters (Sister M. Richard
Whalen, Sister M. Joseph Miller, Sister M. Brigid
Quinn, Sister M. Cephas Massucci and Sister M. Janet
Caufield) sat in state, trembling in the parlor (of the
rectory). After an interesting interview (with Father
Edelman) we were told to go home and not come back
for a week as the house was being fixed for school and
workmen were busy there all day. Secretly we had
slipped in before the interview so at least we knew the
‘lay of the land.’”
“The week progressed - First Friday in September, the
date set for moving in. We emerged at 10 o’clock on the
front steps of the motherhouse after having piled up all
our boxes of belongings to be picked up later by truck.
We were greeted at the Manse by Father with the
exclamation of welcome, ‘Why Sisters, you can’t come
to stay yet we haven’t the gas connected.’ When we
laughed and declared we didn’t need our coffee, Father
decided we weren’t such a fussy lot and smilingly said,
‘all right, the place is yours.’
“As soon as the parishioners were convinced the
Sisters intended to stay in their new location, school
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registration jumped from 102 to 158 and more desks
had to be ordered immediately. When the pupils in
Sister M. Joseph’s and Sister M. Brigid’s rooms needed
to write, they simply knelt on the floor and used the
seats of their chairs as desktops. For three months this
was the daily routine and no one complained.”
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 the Rev. John
Reddington as the second pastor of St. Louis Church. In
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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.
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Rev. John A. Reddington
Pastor 1953 to 1983
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The Reddington Years
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 Edward Cardinal
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.
Father Reddington assumed his responsiblities 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
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St. Louis School reached 250 pupils and the little
church on State Street had become inadequate to serve
the ever-increasing congregation.
In a newspaper photo from 1957, Father Reddington greets young
parishioner Jay Dee Whiting and his horse in front of the State
Street church. The church’s horse hitching block can still be seen in
front of 19 State Street in the village.
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
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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.
In May of 1956, the new St. Louis School building was dedicated
by Bishop Kearney.
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.
Official dedication activities for the school were held
during a busy week in May. Bishop Kearney dedicated
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Sister Rose Mary’s fifth grade class settled in to their new new
school in the Spring of 1956.
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. The children performed a school dedication play on Wednesday
afternoon and repeated their performance for parents
and friends on Thursday and Friday at 8:30 PM.
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.
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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.
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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
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Creed, the “Faith that makes us one.” The Rev. 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 Sts. 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.
Saint Louis 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 the Manse. His landscape of the church and
another of his works grace 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
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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.
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.
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 sancturary room was used as a basketball
court for St. Louis School. In 1966, with the construction of the Junior High and Parish Center (today known
31
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.
When 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.
The sanctuary of the church as it appeared in 1958 with the then
tradtional 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.
32
The dedication Mass for the new St. Louis Church was a joyous
celebration with 150 priests in attendance.
Truly, the St. Louis community had flourished from
those early days in the village.
The sixties saw a renewed era of growth for St. Louis.
Vivian Ripton was asked to revitalize the Ladies Guild,
opening the group to all women of the parish. To this
day, the group continues its two-fold purpose of community and charity. For the group’s annual Sunshine
Luncheon, held every spring for the elderly and disabled, parishoners and St. Louis School students join to
make and serve the meal.
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
33
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. It was rumored Bishop Sheen had heard of
Kate Van Brocklin’s great cooking at the Rectory and
wanted to try it.
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
Gathered in front of the new church following the dedication:
Father Tom Reddington (brother of Father John), Bishop Kearney,
Father John Reddington and Father Bob McNamara.
34
sisters, as well as several hundred parishioners and
friends. The Rev. 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 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.
In 1968, the growing number of children in the parish
prompted Assistant Pastor, the Rev. John Phillips, to
begin a separate children’s liturgy in the school to
coincide with the 8:45 AM Sunday Mass. This focus on
the needs of children was so well received that the
children’s liturgy was merged with the celebration in
church and the Mass became known as the Children’s
Liturgy. The children were invited to come up to the
sanctuary area for the homily and again during the
Liturgy of the Eucharist to stand around the altar. In
time, children’s liturgies would further grow to include
pageants under the direction of Janet Walsh.
In April of 1969, Bishop John Wright, who had
preached at the dedication of St. Louis Church, was
elevated from Bishop of Pittsburgh to the Order of
35
Cardinal. He summoned six priests who were ordained
with him to concelebrate this event. Two of the six were
from Rochester: our own Father John and his brother
Father Thomas Reddington.
Under the leadership of Father Reddington, St. Louis
began many initiatives that continue to this day. They
include: the outreach to St. Bridget’s parish of Rochester, the World Hunger Task Force under the leadership
of Marcia Mendola, the Corn Sale with 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.
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.
36
At St. Louis School, the first Home School Association was formed and the first school yearbook was
published. The school earned a reputation for high
academic standards, for its dramatic productions (including a big show for the American bicentennial in
1976) and for its basketball team. In the 1970’s, the
pastors handled all the major decisions for parish
schools. At St. Louis School, however, we were blessed
with a wonderful principal in Sister Barbara Hamm,
RSM. While Father Reddington outwardly insisted on
maintaining his authority in matters related to the
school, he would have been the first to admit that Sister
Barbara was such a capable administrator, there was
very little for him to do. Around St. Louis, the saying
“whatever Barbara wants, Barbara gets” became a
familiar catch phrase and an acknowledgment of the
widespread admiration for her talents as principal.
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 the Sisters of Mercy. It was
built back in 1868 and it had been remodeled in 1920.
The six sisters who originally lived in this convent were
37
Sister Barbara Hamm, Sister Nancy Whitley, Sister Ann
Cullen, Sister Mary Alice O’Brien, Sister Agnes
Theresa, and Sister Edwardine Weaver.
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 our current minister of Christian Formation, Deacon Thomas Driscoll. When Tom
was hired at St. Louis in 1980, he worked with Christian Formation and helped form the RCIA Program. He
created both the Adult Education and Social Ministry
programs in the parish. In 1983, he and Ginny Miller
worked together on the Easter Vigil Liturgy, moving the
service from its former site in the St. Louis School gym
to the Church. Deacon Tom was also instrumental in
helping to prepare for St. Louis’s first adult baptism by
Deacon Thomas Driscoll and his wife, Michele. Tom, our current
Pastoral Associate for Social Justice and Christian Formation,
began his career with St. Louis in 1980.
38
immersion.
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 the Rev. 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.
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.
39
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.
40
Rev. Louis Hohman
Pastor 1983 to 1993
41
The Hohman Decade
With the retirement of Father Reddington, Bishop
Matthew Clark selected the Rev. Louis Hohman to
become the third pastor of St. Louis.
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.
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.
In June of 1984, with a deepening awareness of the
call to tithe, the Parish Council voted to reinstate the
42
practice of contributing five percent of regular Sunday
offerings to worthy causes outside our faith community.
Thus, the outreach of the St. Louis community continued to spread beyond the local Diocesan Church. Father
Hohman continued to support the ministry of “twinning” with St. Bridget’s parish in the inner city, begun
under Father Reddington. Father Hohman would stay
overnight at St. Bridget’s homeless shelter along with
the Saint Louis volunteers who had prepared the meals
at home to feed those at the shelter.
In 1985, our outreach extended all the way 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 current
recipient of our Christmas ornament benefit is the Little
Brothers and Sisters Orphanage in Haiti.
The Brighton-Pittsford Post announced that school
year 1985-1986 “has been designated a special
fundraising year at St. Louis School by Sister Miriam
Nugent, RSM, principal, in order to construct a proposed playground next to the junior high building (now
Reddington Hall). The playground will measure 80 x 70
feet.” Under the leadership of John Payne and Cathy
Hill, the project involved a great many parishioners
who were committed to providing a recreational area
for our youth. On Wednesday, April 25 a prayer service
was held to ask that work on the playground proceed
smoothly with good weather and no injuries. Work
began Thursday promptly at 7:00 AM and continued
Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 6:30 PM. During the
opening ceremony Sunday evening, children sang ‘This
is the Day the Lord has made’ and released red and
43
white balloons into the air. Nearly 300 adults celebrated
the completion of the project with a victory dinner. “It
was more than just having a playground,” the newspaper quoted Sister Miriam, “The big, big emphasis was
on community.”
In 1986, parish volunteers joined together to build a playground
next to Reddington Hall.
The spiritual life of the parish was also an area of
collaboration and growth. Parish R&R Renewals were
held annually during the Lenten season in the school
hall. They included liturgy, music, presentations on
selected themes and a banquet. They were held from
Sunday to Wednesday with a different theme each
night. They also included small group sharing, games
and a performance of a play, “Can You Be Convicted of
Being a Christian?” The parish renewals were well
attended and developed the depth of the parish’s spirituality.
In 1989, continuing the tradition set by the parish
renewals, Deacon Tom Driscoll, John Keelan, Ginny
Miller and Sister Kathleen Ward, RSM, joined with
44
others to create the Spirituality Faire. It was a smorgasbord of spirituality with a main speaker and workshops
on a developed theme. It was held for two consecutive
nights with various workshops to choose from each
night. From 1989 to 1998, the annual Spirituality Faire
grew to become a popular ecumenical event for the
region; attendance averaged 350 people per night.
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.
Other changes proposed for the early 1990’s came to
be known as the “Catch the Vision” project. Father Lou
described his original intent as wanting to create an
immersion font to bring out the centrality of Baptism in
the life of the parish. As initial plans for the baptismal
font were discussed, additional ideas began to take
shape, including plans for a gathering space in front of
the baptismal font that would extend out toward the
parking lot. Further proposals involved moving the
location of the organ to the front of the church, moving
the altar forward, as well as installing a new presider’s
chair, new candlesticks and cross for the Sanctuary.
Researcher Gordon Black conducted a parish survey to
determine the level of support for all aspects of the
“Catch the Vision” project. Survey results reflected a
nearly even mix of opinion: 1/3 in favor, 1/3 against,
and 1/3 undecided. As a result, the parish did not
proceed with all of the renovations under consideration.
45
The sanctuary’s Visser-Rowland organ was dedicated in September
of 1993.
The organ location, however, was moved. 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.
46
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.
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
47
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.
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.
48
Photo by John Menihan, Jr.
Rev. James A. Schwartz
Pastor 1993 to present
.
49
The Schwartz Presence
Bishop Matthew Clark appointed the Rev. James
Schwartz the fourth pastor of St. Louis parish, effective
June 29, 1993. Father Jim had been ordained twentyfive 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.
In his initial homily at St. Louis, Father Jim said: “I
come with the confidence that my ministry among you
will be spirit-filled. The words of the prophet Jeremiah
ring deeply in my heart: ‘I know full well the plans I
50
have in mind for you, says the Lord: a future full of
hope...’”Jer 29: 11-14.
With a sense of pastoral vision, Father Jim accompanied Diane Knittle, Kayt Huttlin and Bernie Trombetta
to Stephen Ministry Training in Baltimore, Maryland in
August 1993. This led to formal training sessions at St.
Louis to create a core of Stephen Ministers. In 1996,
Sister Judith Ann Kenrick, RSM, the Pastoral Associate
for Pastoral Care, took over as the leadership person of
the parish staff in providing needed oversight for
Stephen Ministry. Today the pastoral care activities of
the parish extend beyond those offered by the full-time
staff alone. Stephen Ministers, after in-depth training in
pastoral care and communication skills, provide oneon-one pastoral care to those seeking the support of a
soul friend.
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.
51
On October 1, 2 and 3 of 1993, the Seventh General
Diocesan Synod was held at the Riverside Convention
Center. Gary Amendola, Kayt Huttlin, Aloma
LeMasters, Rod Mattingly, Pat O’Connor, Ginny
Pierce, Karen Pocious, Nan Runde, Jane Westerman
and Father Jim served as delegates from St. Louis at
this significant event in the life of the Diocese. A major
result of the Synod was the development of four Synod
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. With
staff leadership coming from Deacon Tom Driscoll,
adult education was given an equal emphasis along with
the Christian formation of our youth. Faith formation
became a lifelong commitment.
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
52
of abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, violence, war
and poverty continue to be the focus of the CLE Committee. Lisa Magguilli, Meg Smerbeck and Shelia
Knipper have been driving forces behind the work of
this committee.
The Dignity of Women Committee, chaired by Sister
Rosemary Sherman, RSM, has raised the consciousness
of the parish to the value of inclusiveness. We continue
to strive to eliminate sexist language in the ways we
celebrate liturgy. We work for the equality of men and
women in church and society.
The fourth synod goal of fostering Small Christian
Communities in our parish life continues to be an
ongoing challenge. Because of the large size of our
parish, we foster the development of small Christian
communities that respond to particular needs. For
example, on Monday mornings at 6:30 AM, there is a
group of twelve to fifteen men who have formed a
Men’s Spirituality Group. In its early days, the development of the group was fostered by Peter DeBellis, then
a seminarian. Today, John O’Neill and Jeff Mason
provide ongoing leadership. The Moms and Tots Group
meets on Thursday mornings headed by Debbie
McKnight. 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.
The parish grounds were further enhanced in May of
1994 when a fountain dedicated to our Blessed Mother
Mary was renovated and enhanced with a garden of
reflection near the east entrance of the church. Marian
Battle provided the inspiration and the design for this
Marian shrine.
53
In 1994, the fountain dedicated to our Blessed Mother Mary was
renovated and enhanced with a garden of reflection near the east
entrance of the church.
In 1994, after ten years of faithful service, the principal of St. Louis School, Sister Miriam Nugent, RSM,
left for a new ministry. Former St. Louis Principal
Sister Barbara Hamm, RSM, returned to her post where
she set about strengthening the computer program in
addition to encouraging the work of Deacon Tom and
the faculty as they developed a curriculum for teaching
children how to meditate.
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.
54
Staff transitions are always a difficult time, but they
are inevitable in the evolution of our parish life. In July
of 1995, the parish community said goodbye to muchloved staff members Diane Knittle, Ginny Miller and
Jean Obernesser. We welcomed new staff members Sr.
Judith Ann Kenrick, RSM, Chris Hood and Gail De
Voria. The community was grateful for the giftedness of
Diane, Ginny and Jean; and the parish looked forward
to the ministry of Sister Judy, Gail and “Hoody.”
Amid the inevitable staffing changes that characterize
our parish life, the celebration of the Eucharist was and
In 1996 a new baptismal font was constructed just inside the main
entrance of the Church. It serves as a focal point of liturgical
celebrations while it affirms our parish as a community of the
baptized.
55
is always the center of our community life. As the
disciples of Jesus, we gather on a weekly basis to
celebrate the mystery of our sharing in the dying and
rising of Jesus. Our parish liturgies are faithful to the
rich tradition of our Church and, at the same time, are
responsive to the spiritual hunger that is experienced by
the parish community. With six weekend liturgies, the
number of parish liturgical ministers easily exceeds 100
parishioners each week who volunteer their gifts in
praise of God and in the service of the parish community. John and Sue Payne are among the parish volunteers who have demonstrated a strong commitment to
liturgical worship. Sue has been actively involved as
the chair of the Liturgy Committee, and she is now on
the parish staff as the Coordinator of Religious Education. John was ordained to the permanent deaconate in
June of 1999 and now serves as one of our parish
deacons.
Father Jim and the Liturgy Committee renewed the
effort to create an area in which a baptismal font could
become a focal point during liturgical celebrations. This
need was also symbolic of the growing awareness of
the St. Louis parish community as a community of the
baptized. 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
56
Bishop Matthew Clark baptizes parishioner Matthew McKnight,
the first to receive the life-giving waters of baptism in the new font.
celebrated during a regular Sunday Liturgy with Bishop
Clark presiding and Father Jim concelebrating.
For parish communication, Lucy Nunn encouraged
the creation of a quarterly parish newsletter, “Wings of
the Spirit,” to amplify the weekly church bulletin which
had been recently renamed “The Spirit of St. Louis.”
The newsletter enables the pastor, members of the Staff,
and various other contributors to address parishioners in
depth on topics of concern. As Editor, Lucy is ably
assisted by Larry McKnight who lends his invaluable
technical expertise to produce the newsletter, and by
Chrissy Carpenter, who shares her artistic talent in her
sketches.
While St. Louis School is no longer a parish school, it
is now part of the school system of the Monroe County
57
Father Jim with Sister Barbara Hamm, RSM. Sister Barbara
served as principal of St. Louis School for two terms; 1970 - 1983
and 1994 - 1997.
Catholic Schools. Nonetheless, St. Louis School continues to be a major focus of our parish life. Catholic
education is a priority for many families in our parish
community. The school provides quality academic
education as well as the Christian formation of our
youth. We are indebted to the leadership of Sister
Miriam Nugent, RSM, Sister Barbara Hamm, RSM,
and Kathleen Carroll who succeeded Sister Barbara as
principal in July of 1997.
The need to minister to the youth of the community
had long been a priority for St. Louis. Pat Fox was
hired as a Youth Minister and Religious Education
Coordinator in 1974. He led a variety of groups, implemented a Sunday evening liturgy, worked with the
Confirmation Program and established baseball and
softball leagues. Major retreats were held for the youth,
and they even conducted a Sunrise Service on Easter
Sunday. Each July, they performed a play for the entire
community. In 1982, Pat left his position at St. Louis to
58
become the Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese.
The Rev. David Gramkee, the Associate Pastor, worked
with the youth from 1975 to 1979. Later, others led the
youth ministry activities: Paul Swiatek, Michael
Lombardo, Kelly Albainy, Carmen Quinones, Jean
Obernesser and Chris Hood.
In July 1997, Lynne Boucher began work with our
parish youth. Our parish youth ministry has grown
significantly as Lynne has created a welcoming environment for our parish teens. They have engaged in
retreats as they have probed, “Who is Jesus” in their
lives, and they have extended themselves to ministries
of service to people in need.
Social outreach was becoming more of a constitutive
dimension of parish life. Aware of the needs of the
children in one of St. Louis’ outreach projects, Father
Jim visited the Little Brothers and Sisters Orphanage in
Haiti, accompanied by Bob McNamara and Chris
Hood. The group left for Haiti June 29, 1995 and spent
a very powerful several days in Haiti visiting with the
The interior of St. Louis Church decorated for Christmas in 1996.
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Rev. Rick Frechette, CP, Director of the orphanage
ministry. As you might imagine, you cannot immerse
yourself in the poverty and the neediness of the Haitian
people without developing a growing awareness of a
commitment to share what we have with people in
need. As a parish community, St. Louis has been greatly
blessed. “To whom much is given, much will be required.” Father Jim invited and challenged our parish
community to be leaders in the ways we share our
resources.
In keeping with the tradition of having ongoing
participation in the outreach ministries of St. Louis,
parishioners were given yet another opportunity to
reach out to those in need in a way they had done in the
past. A proposal was made to the parish council about
the sponsorship of the construction of another home
through Habitat for Humanity. It was approved and, on
May 11, 1996, under the leadership of Mona Alongi,
groundbreaking was held for the construction of the
parish’s second Habitat for Humanity house at 35
Hoeltzer Street, near downtown Rochester. Father Jim
and the entire parish staff were among the many St.
Louis volunteers who assisted in the construction of the
home which was completed that fall.
The parish council decided to increase the St. Louis
tithing amount from five to ten percent beginning on
the first Sunday in Lent, 1997. Joseph Bagale, a dedicated St. Louis parishioner, was instrumental in this
effort. Today, Rod Mattingly chairs this committee.
Celebrations have always been an integral part of the
parish life of St. Louis; so it was with great enthusiasm
that we celebrated the 60th anniversary of Father John
Reddington’s Ordination. It began with the 4:30 PM
Liturgy on March 8, 1997 concelebrated by Father Jim
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Schwartz, Father James Slattery, Father Kip Corriveau
and Father Protus Hamisi. Father Reddington began the
homily with his hallmark phrase, “Dearly beloved in
Christ,” and exclaimed to all in attendance: “Well, I
made it.” A standing ovation followed this remark. He
also insisted he was “not doing bad for an old guy.”
And most in attendance agreed wholeheartedly. After
the liturgy, a reception followed in Reddington Hall,
with long lines of well wishers at each table and in the
reception line. Photos of the past were prominently
displayed and parishioners and members of the Reddington family celebrated the history of the parish on
this festive occasion.
To facilitate communication and as an enhancement
of parish service availability, the Ministry Center of the
parish was centralized into one location at 64 South
Main Street. This entailed moving some offices from 46
South Main Street to join others previously located at
60 South Main Street. The move-in date was April 23,
1996, but the process began in 1995 with the closing of
the Convent at 64 South Main Street. With this move of
the Ministry Center offices, the empty building at 46
South Main Street was once again made a Convent for
the Sisters of Mercy. This move also gave the Ministry
Center more room and more opportunities to serve the
needs of the parish community. Birdie Proctor, the
parish secretary, spearheaded the secretarial efforts and
assisted with computer training for the staff at the new
Ministry Center.
With the continuing popularity of communicating via
computer, it was time for the parish to have an internet
web site created. On the web at
http://www.stlouischurch.org, Father Jim’s welcoming message expressed our “marvel at the ways in
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which computer networks bring us closer to one another. Interconnected, may we find God in places we
never imagined.”
In July of 1994, seminarian Peter DeBellis came to
minister at St. Louis. Deacon Peter had a great love for
people and quickly won the hearts of many of the
parishioners. He was ordained to the priesthood by
Bishop Clark in May 1997, and many of the St. Louis
parishioners attended this grand celebration.
Peter DeBellis first came to minister at St. Louis as a seminarian
in 1994. In June of 1997, he returned as Father Peter to celebrate
his first Mass in Rochester. Left to right; Deacon Tom Driscoll,
Father Peter, Father Jim, Father Reddington, Father Ralph
Fraats, Father Kip, Father Jim Slattery.
A few years earlier, in 1991, in order to devote more
time to music direction for the parish, Ginny Miller had
hired a new organist, Stephanie Honz. In 1995,
Stephanie succeeded Ginny as Director of Liturgical
Music. She 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
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organist has been both nationally and internationally acclaimed. She is one of those
unusual people who is 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
Stephanie Honz, Pastoral
Associate for Liturgy and
and choir of St. Catherine’s,
Liturgical Music
Mendon. In November of
1999, the combined choirs of St. Louis and St.
Catherine’s sang at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome for the
liturgy of All Saints Day.
Stephanie delegated the directing of the Children’s
Choir to Bea Hack. Bea is now responsible for the
Children’s Choir as well as the Children and Adult Bell
Choirs. Currently, the Children’s Choir enriches the
weekly Sunday family Eucharist with the enthusiasm
and the prayerfulness of our parish youth. On a weekly
basis, a member of the Children’s Choir serves as the
cantor for this Eucharistic celebration.
On February 9, 1997, the Rev. Kip Corriveau joined
the staff at St. Louis and began working in a variety of
ways in the parish. He worked with the Men’s Spirituality Group, religious education programs, RCIA, Synod
Goal Four’s Group on Christian Communities as well
as assisted with hospital visitation and Liturgy planning.
These days found the parish community blessed with
the number of priests living in the rectory. Father Jim
and the two senior priests, Father Reddington and
Father Jim Slattery, welcomed Father Kip into the
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rectory residence. Father Jim Slattery, the retired pastor
of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Brighton, served as a
priest in residence at St. Louis and celebrated Mass
each day for our parish community. By this time, the
rectory was also home to Mr. Jack Balinsky, the diocesan Director of Catholic Charities.
In the autumn of 1997, Father Protus Hamisi, a priest
of the Diocese of Kakamega, Kenya took up residence
in the rectory as he pursued his studies in communication at St. John Fisher and SUNY Brockport. Father
Hamisi continued the St. Louis tradition of inviting
African priests to live at the rectory while studying at
St. John Fisher College.
Sensing a need for a quiet style of communal prayer,
Father Jim and Sister Rosemary Sherman, RSM, initiated the Contemplative Prayer Group. This began in
Lent of1996, and participants continue to meet each
Wednesday evening to pray and share together. Most
often we pray with words. It is a wonderful spiritual
discipline to pray without words - the prayer of contemplation. This prayer group seeks to live out the words of
the 46th psalm: “Be still and know that I am God.”
The utilization of inclusive language became an
integral part of parish efforts to give the St. Louis
community a deeper understanding of the power of
language in all of life. An inclusive language Lectionary was implemented in 1996 for all liturgies; and we
began to use new songbooks, entitled Ritual Song, for
our liturgical music in September of1998.
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
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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. “After realizing his shortness of
breath probably meant he would not be able to celebrate
the 11:00 AM Liturgy that day, December 30, 1997,
Father John called to Father Slattery to see if he could
say the 11:00 AM Mass for him. That being done, he
celebrated the 11:00 AM Mass in heaven.” 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.
One of the stories Father John was fond of recalling
was one that Cardinal Wright had told. “The Cardinal
wanted the rosary to be said at his wake. If no one has a
Rosary, look in his right pants pocket and take his. If it
wasn’t there, you’d know he’d been robbed.” Knowing
this story, Father Peter DeBellis led the Rosary before
the Mass of the High Priest for Father John. The entire
staff of St. Louis was integrally involved in the planning of the funeral.
In his homily, Father Jim recalled: “He was so happy
the night before he died. All five of us priests living at
the rectory - Father Slattery, Kip, Protus Hamisi, Jack
and I gathered at Dominic and Terry Bronte’s. If you
ever want a good meal, Italian style, stop over to the
Bronte’s. Father John had a great love for Rome and
Sicily, the Italian language (he was an accomplished
linguist) and Italian food. We gathered to speak Italian
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one last time, enjoy a great meal, a bit of red wine, and
recall stories of his Sicilian days during the II World
War.”
In Father John’s passing, an era had ended and many
felt that the torch was passed but will never shine as
brightly again. Thankfully, he had taught us much about
how to live as people who are “Dearly beloved in
Christ.”
In 1998, in direct response to the needs of others, the
Pittsford Food Cupboard was created at the Old Pickle
Factory at 1 Grove Street. The Pittsford Food Cupboard
is a community project begun by the Pittsford Clergy
Association, spearheaded by the leadership of Deacon
Tom Driscoll. Thus, St. Louis continues to be involved
in direct service and advocacy in the greater Monroe
County community.
In March of 1998, the parish joined with Catholic
Family Center to sponsor a refugee family and assist
The students in St. Louis School look forward to Father Jim’s
weekly visits in the classroom.
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At Children’s Liturgy, Father Jim blesses the young parishioners
who have come up to the sanctuary for the homily.
them in their resettlement in Rochester. The Ali family,
eight children and their mother, came from Barava,
Somalia. Parishioners Sheila Knipper, Colleen Knauf
and Joe Dahlkemper led the committee working on this
effort.
Taking the idea a step further, a new parish ministry
known as Saint’s Place was begun later in 1998, under
the leadership of Colleen Knauf. Saint’s Place collects
and delivers donated furniture and household items in a
continuing effort to help Catholic Family Center set up
housing for refugees fleeing war-torn countries.
The dedication of St. Louis people to active participation in all aspects of parish life is celebrated each year
with a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. In January 1999,
Mario’s Via Abruzzi restaurant hosted over 300 parishioners for this traditional event. A way of measuring our
parish’s vitality is the generosity and commitment of so
many parish volunteers. Indeed, the parish is a community of the baptized who have a strong commitment to
the mission of the parish.
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On May 31, 1998, the parish celebrated the 30th
anniversary of the Ordination of Father Jim. There was
a gathering after each of the weekend liturgies and a
reception following the 12:15 PM liturgy. At this
Liturgy, Father Jim’s family participated, joining parishioners afterwards in Reddington Hall for the reception. It was a wonderful tribute to Father Jim, as well as
another opportunity for the members of St. Louis parish
to come together to celebrate so many years of commitment and ministry to God’s people.
Gail DeVoria was named the Coordinator of Evangelization in July of 1999 to go along with her RCIA
responsibilities. Gail is coordinating a team of people
who will reach out in welcome to new parishioners as
well as parishioners who feel marginalized from the
Church. Gail’s position emphasizes the parish’s desire
to welcome all into the life of the faith community.
There are no strangers among us, only friends we have
not yet met. All are welcome in our faith community.
At the end of Mass, Father Jim often carries the newly baptized
baby down the aisle.
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Father Jim and Bishop Clark
As 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 to occur. All parishes in the diocese
were placed in planning groups in a process entitled,
Pastoral Planning for the New Millennium. St. Louis
was placed in the cluster that includes the Church of the
Transfiguration, St. Catherine’s Mendon and Nazareth
College. In initiating Pastoral Planning, Bishop Matthew Clark is calling all parishes of the diocese to enter
a new era of collaboration with parishes pooling their
resources with each other. In the Pittsford-Mendon
group of parishes, there are three parishes with strong
and healthy parish identities. Collaboration is being
sought not to weaken parish identity, but to discover
new ways that our ministries are enhanced by pooling
our resources.
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To further implement the clustering process, the
parish created five parish priorities for the new millennium: 1. Effectively share personnel, facilities and
resources with our neighbors. 2. Develop a program to
attract and retain young adults to our faith community.
3. Become a more inclusive parish community by
reaching out to those who may not always feel welcome
in our parish. 4. Integrate our parish resources with the
efforts of our local governments and community resources. 5. Share our material wealth and personal
talents with others.
On September 28, 1998, Bishop Clark formally
accepted the covenant agreement of the Pittsford Mendon Catholic Communities. This agreement was formed
with the St. Louis representatives of Peter Spinelli, Pat
Spinelli, Deacon Tom Driscoll and Father Jim. Peter is
the chair of the steering committee of the four faith
communities. The covenant document is as follows:
Formed: January 1998
Membership: St. Catherine’s (Mendon), St. Louis
(Pittsford), Transfiguration (Pittsford), Nazareth College (Pittsford)
Purpose: To provide for collaborative planning, information exchange and program implementation which
will better serve the needs of our immediate faith
communities as well as the entire Pittsford-Mendon
population and beyond.
Mission Statement: We recognize our responsibility to
extend a ministry of Christian love and service beyond
our individual faith communities. While we need to
retain our individual parish/college identities, we
believe that many important spiritual and temporal
goals can be more successfully achieved if we plan and
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act together. The Pittsford-Mendon Catholic Communities is formed to facilitate implementation of the
Synod Goals, a sharing of resources and ideas, and a
program of outreach to the greater Pittsford-Mendon
and Rochester communities.
As Father Jim reflects on the mission and ministry of
St. Louis parish, it is his vision that at the end of the
day we not be defined as a “program” parish with an
endless list of programs and meetings. Rather, we are
an evangelizing parish. Our commitment is to remain
true to our spiritual center. Our commitment is to
witness to the good news of the gospel: God’s love is
for all people. St. Louis parish is a home for all of
God’s people.
As St. Louis parish and the entire Pittsford-Mendon
Catholic Community look to the new millennium, we
ask that we and all who are “Dearly beloved in Christ,”
may live ever more deeply our call to be a community
of the baptized. May we believe in Jeremiah’s words
that we have “a future full of hope” and continue to
write the vision for generations to come.
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St. Louis is grateful for the ministry of the sixteen
priests who served our parish as Associate Pastors:
L. James Callan............................................. 1950-55
Robert C. McNamara .................................... 1956-58
Richard Nangle ............................................. 1961-66
William Flynn ............................................... 1965-69
John Phillips ................................................. 1966-73
Robert Smith ................................................. 1969-71
William Lum ................................................. 1973-75
Thomas Hoctor ............................................. 1975-76
David Gramkee ............................................. 1975-79
Kevin Murphy............................................... 1979-81
Christopher Linsler ...................................... 1981-82
John Firpo ..................................................... 1981-82
Louis Sirianni ............................................... 1982-85
Michael Huerter ............................................ 1985-91
James Wolfe .................................................. 1991-94
Kip Corriveau ............................................... 1997-99
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St. Louis Staff: front row - Lynne Boucher, Bernie Eilertsen, Sue
Payne, Tom Driscoll, Sr. Judy Kenrick, RSM, Margaret Higgins;
back row - Sally Shrecker, Floyd Hardy, Bea Hack, Fr. Jim
Schwartz, Birdie Proctor, Dan Garvin, Stephanie Honz, Zach, and
Tom Viti.
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Foreword
Saint Louis Parish is a home for all of God’s people. We
respect and welcome all in the spirit of Baptism and the sharing
of Eucharist. We are committed to the Gospel message through
service to our parish family, the larger community and especially those in need throughout the world.
St. Louis Mission Statement
These words, approved on February 10, 1997 by the St. Louis
Parish Council, echo with great clarity through the ripples of
time since the beginnings of the Catholic Church in the area
known today as Pittsford, New York. How clearly they focus us
on our commitment to the Gospel message and service to the
world. Yet, in the early days, no one could have ever predicted
how the community of St. Louis would evolve.
From a modest beginning as a small parish community to this
day, we have gathered to celebrate the Eucharist each and every
Sunday without exception. We have rooted our lives in the
centrality of the Eucharist. We are a community of the disciples
of Jesus who trust that our God goes with us in each and every
experience of our parish life.
We share our story in this parish history to remember where
we have come from and to remember 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.
In this story we recommit ourselves to our parish mission. We
witness to God’s unconditional love in our lives and in our
world.
I wish to express my deep thanks to Sister Rosemary
Sherman, RSM, the primary author of this history who built on
the initial contributions of Sister Gert Skelly, RSM, and
Michael Anne Guido. The skillful editing is the work of Lucy
Nunn and Tom Cummings. Larry McKnight was responsible
for the design and the production of this document. Finally,
thanks to everyone who contributed favorite memories and
anecdotes that help to tell the story of our parish.
Father Jim Schwartz
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