St. Mary
ActiveDansville, Livingston County
St. Mary Church in Dansville is one of the oldest parishes in Livingston County, established in 1845 to serve the Catholic families in this Genesee Valley village. In its earliest years, the parish was served by visiting Redemptorist priests (C.Ss.R.) who traveled from Rochester to minister to the scattered Catholic settlers.
Father Aloysius Somoggi became the first resident pastor in 1851, but the parish struggled to maintain consistent leadership during its formative decades. The pastor list includes Father Sergius de Stehoulepnukoff, who served from 1862 to 1864—a Russian-born priest whose name reflects the diverse backgrounds of clergy who served on the American frontier.
Father Joseph Albinger provided the first period of sustained leadership with an eleven-year pastorate from 1864 to 1875. Father F. R. Rauber continued this stability with 15 years of service from 1879 to 1894. Father Leo G. Hofschneider led the parish for 27 years from 1909 to 1936, during which time the present church building was constructed in 1915.
Today, St. Mary Dansville is part of the Holy Family Catholic Community cluster, serving Catholics throughout southern Livingston County. The parish continues the mission begun nearly 180 years ago when the first Catholics gathered in this scenic corner of the Genesee Valley.
Exterior Photographs
Interior Photographs
Reliefs
Paintings along the walls
Station of the Cross
Stained Glass
Chapel in Parish Center
Historical Photographs
