St. Mary’s Church “Our Lady of the Hills” Honeoye, New York

Beginning about 1855

Father Lee from St. Bridget’s in East Bloomfield intermittently visited the area and said Mass in various homes.

About 1860     

Father Hughes, who apparently replaced Father Lee, scheduled monthly Masses during the “favorable” months.  During this time, services were held in a small hall over Knapp’s Hardware Store (now Ace’s Restaurant).

October 6, 1868         

St. Mary’s was incorporated as a Mission Parish of St. Bridget’s by Bishop McQuaid.  Mass continued to be said over Knapp’s Hardware and later in a schoolhouse located at the present day corner of Allens Hill Road and East Lake Road.

June 27, 1871

Father Nicholas Byrne was appointed as the first resident pastor of  St. Michael’s in Livonia Center, and on this same date St. Mary’s, still a Mission Parish, was transferred to St. Michael’s, and there it remained for more than one hundred years

Probably in 1874

Land was purchased on West Main Street in Honeoye.

August 15, 1876

The Church was built in 1875-1876, and it was dedicated on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1876, by Bishop McQuaid.

1889

Four acres of land was purchased on what is now County Road #37 for use as a cemetery. 

1956

Under the pastorate of the late Father J. Joseph O’Connell, five acres of land was purchased on the corner of Route 20A and County Road #37.

1958

A new “St. Mary’s” was constructed at a cost of $63,000.  Beauty and simplicity were combined in its construction. 

June 28, 1958 (Saturday)

Mass was said for the last time in the old St. Mary’s.

June 29, 1958 (Sunday)

Father O’Connell offered Mass for the first time in the new St. Mary’s.  More than 1600 attended the four Masses that day. 

Fall of 1972

The new rectory, located across from the east drive of the church, was completed in the fall of 1972.  The old St. Michael’s rectory, located in Livonia Center, was sold. 

June 6, 1982

St. Michael’s was closed forever.

1987

A beautiful bell in an attractive bell tower was added.  Parishioners Eustace Deisenroth, Joe Bader, and Steve Wenthe collaborated in designing, planning, and building the bell tower.

(The above was taken from a manuscript, dated December 19, 1988, written by Edmund Nighan)

1992

In 1992, under the direction of Father Mike Hogan, a campaign was launched to build a parish center.  The parishioners pledged $300,000 toward the project and in 1993 it was completed.

June 23, 2007

Last 5:00 p.m. Mass was said by Father Richard Shatzel.

June 26, 2007

St. Mary’s in Honeoye and St. Matthew’s in Livonia were clustered with Father John Hayes being appointed by Bishop Matthew Clark as the pastor for both parishes.