Our Histories

The first Mass was said in 1849 and our small family literally gathered around a table on the towpath of the canal. Our first church, built on High Street in 1854, was expanded to twice its original size in 1862. This frame structure still stands on its original site at 22 High Street across the road from the present church. The shape is the same but it is now covered with siding and houses apartments.

It was during Father John Codyre's pastorship in 1882 that the familiar Celtic cross first graced the sky over the church on East Avenue bearing the name of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Father James Wood arrived in 1925 as Father Codyre's successor. He made many improvements and saw a need for further expansion. This building is no longer standing but was located where the current parking lot is.

Shortly after Father Leonard Kelly arrived in 1954, our parish saw more major improvements. While advancing the catechetical teaching in Fairport, he became aware of the need to expand or rebuild the church. He had the foresight to plan for a School of Religion rather than a full-time school, which was until 2001 was located on Baumer Place. Over the years, the Father Kelly School of Religion has been the home for religion classes for as many as one thousand high school and elementary students a year. Adult sessions are held in teacher training, parenting, doctrine, scripture, contemporary moral and social issues. These are given by parish staff, parishioners specially trained for this work, and visiting lecturers. (Newcomer volunteers for lay catechists are especially welcome.)

In 1964, one of our parishioners, Joseph Dellelce, deeded his land on High Street to the Church of the Assumption as an expression of his devotion to Mary. He unknowingly gave us the actual foundation for our present church. When Father Joseph Beatini began his brief pastorship here in 1975, he began an appeal to his people for a building fund to enlarge the church on East Avenue. 1980 brought our seventh pastor, Father John Norris who completed this third building in 1981. It still retains some links to the past. The Stations of the Cross came from the earlier building as did the stained glass windows in the front foyer, which are over one hundred years old. The bells also came from the earlier church and ring out the Angelus during the day. In 1990, Father Norris added a carillon to the church.

In 1991, Father Norris retired and was succeeded by Father Ed Golden. During Father Golden's nine-year tenure, plans were developed to expand the church building, and consolidate it with a new School of Religion and a parish life center on one campus. Plans went forward under Father Gary Tyman as administrator and construction was completed under our ninth pastor, Father Ed Palumbos. The old rectory was converted to offices and the parish life center was added. The priests' residence was moved to 44 High Street, just up the street from our first church building!

The Church of the Resurrection was founded as a post-Vatican II parish at the request of Bishop Joseph L. Hogan of Rochester. (After Vatican II the Mass was celebrated in the vernacular. The priest turned to face the people. Gregorian chant was replaced with more modern music. Church buildings themselves were remodeled to make room for lay ministers and to reflect a theology in which the community itself helped pray the Mass. The Catholic Church entered into ecumenical conversations with other churches with the hope of establishing greater Christian unity. And so much more.) On Easter in March of 1973, Fr. Robert G. Kreckel and a few dedicated parishioners planted the seed that was to become this caring, loving community.

This new “church” had no building. Fr. Bob and a small group of original parishioners had the vision that “the people are the church.” This was ingrained in the hearts of our members. Weekend liturgies were celebrated in the building next to Martha Brown Middle School; daily Mass at the rectory, which was located on Hamilton Road; and committees met in parishioners’ homes. Fr. Bob personally visited each new parishioner for as long as he could and requested invitations from parishioners to eat dinner in their homes so that he could get to know them better.

On October 9, 1976, we celebrated the first Mass in our current building at 63 Mason Road. For many years, the building served the dual function of place of worship and parish center. The majority of our activities took place in the great room, which resembled a medieval banquet hall. Here our families partook in the meal of the Eucharist and experienced their faith community as well. Classrooms and offices line the outer walls; a community room and kitchen were behind the Worship Space. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is located near the front door; it was available for daily Mass, and individual and group prayer whenever the building was open. There are seven arches in the main body that represent the seven sacraments. This building was designed to have a second floor, but that plan never came to fruition.

Fr. Lawrence V. Murphy became our pastor in 1985. During his tenure, the rectory was moved from 283 Hamilton Rd. to 52 Mason Rd. When Fr. Louis A. Vasile became our pastor in 1993, a parish building capital fund drive and the creation of the current Parish Mission Statement took place.

Fr. William E. Graf was asked to be our pastor in 1998, and he was a bridge into the 21st Century. He worked with parishioners to renovate the Worship Space, add padded pews, build our Emmaus Hall (name based on the post-Resurrection story) with a new kitchen. We also expanded outreach to all in Fairport and beyond. Although he retired in 2005, he continued as Sacramental Minister, presiding at Mass and Sacraments.

Nancy DeRycke was appointed by Bishop Matthew Clark in June 2005 as our first Pastoral Administrator. She was followed by Sr. Joan M. Cawley, SSJ, in 2008 as our second Pastoral Administrator. Fr. George Heyman joined the staff in 2008 as Sacramental Minister.

In 2014 Bishop Salvatore R. Matano assigned Fr. Edward L. Palumbos to assume the role of Pastor of Church of the Resurrection as a sister parish to Church of the Assumption where he was serving as Pastor. He helped the two parishes to collaborate their ministries, committees, and efforts wherever possible to be good stewards of the resources that God has provided to us.

In 2018, Fr. George Heyman returned to become Pastor for both Church of the Resurrection and Church of the Assumption. In early 2020, he guided the parishioners through the COVID-19 pandemic. Church of the Resurrection was closed for a while, but in July of 2020, the building was reopened for daily Mass, and on November 1st Fr. George resumed saying Mass on Sundays, although we were wearing masks and sitting in alternate pews.

In April 2021, our parish community was shocked by Fr. George Heyman's sudden passing. Fr. Peter Clifford, from neighboring St. John of Rochester, stepped in as interim administrator until a new pastor could be appointed by Bishop Matano. In June 2021, Fr. Mickey McGrath became the pastor of Church of the Resurrection and Church of the Assumption.

Church of the Resurrection is a vibrant, hospitable, and loving Faith Community, a people called to reach out to God and our neighbor. Enlivened by the Holy Spirit, we share the joy of Baptism, Eucharist, First Reconciliation, Confirmation, and Weddings. Our early members laid the groundwork for embracing the philosophy of “Live simply so that others can simply live.” Over the years, some parishioners have volunteered their time as carpenters to do woodworking on our new building, while others have done staining and painting. Teens seeded the original lawn, and flower gardens are still maintained by volunteers of all ages. All of this is done so that the money saved can be used for outreach. Our ministries prayerfully, financially, and physically support the sick, the aged, the dying, and those in need, locally and far beyond our four walls. We cherish our times of fellowship with one another at Eucharist, parish events, retreats, and while serving others outside our Faith Community. We are a family!

While our building was partially closed due to a pandemic, we gained a new appreciation for the day our doors would be opened wide and we could return “home” to worship God -- as well as enjoy being in fellowship once again as we continue our faith journey together in our little church in the woods!

~Jan Harmon, parish secretary June 1997 to April 2018