Holy Name of Jesus

Holy Name of Jesus

Closed

Greece, Monroe County

The parish initially known as Church of the Holy Name (subsequently "Holy Name of Jesus") was incorporated on July 31, 1964. Bishop James Kearney appointed Fr. Thomas Reddington as founding Pastor for this new community serving southeastern Greece and part of the City of Rochester. The first Mass in the current church took place on October 29, 1967. Cardinal John Wright, then Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, blessed the church a year later on October 28, 1968.

The 1970s marked a period of substantial growth. Parish bulletins from the early 1970s document attendance exceeding 2,500, a staff of four priests, and seven weekend Masses. Over time, as Catholics relocated from the area, these figures declined considerably. By the 2010s, Holy Name averaged approximately 300 weekend worshippers, and Masses had been reduced to two.

Discussions about closing Holy Name surfaced as early as 2007, when the parish faced $180,000 in debt. Under Fr. John Gagnier's leadership, parishioners worked diligently to restore financial stability, eventually eliminating the debt and consistently meeting the diocesan Catholic Ministries Appeal assessment. Despite this financial turnaround, attendance continued falling, raising questions about long-term viability. In summer 2009, the Eastern Greece/Charlotte steering committee recommended closing nearby Our Lady of Mercy while calling for annual evaluation of Holy Name. Fr. John Firpo received appointment as temporary Parochial Administrator in June 2013, tasked with determining Holy Name of Jesus's future direction.

Bp. Salvatore Matano issued a decree dated June 23rd, 2014 announcing the amalgamation of Holy Name of Jesus parish with St. Charles Borromeo, operating under the St. Charles Borromeo name. The final regularly-scheduled Mass was celebrated September 21st, 2014. Holy Name was designated for use only at funerals, weddings, and special occasions until the church and related properties could be sold.