St. Rose of Lima

St. Rose of Lima Church was established in 1848 in Lima, a village in Livingston County near the Genesee Valley. The parish was named for St. Rose of Lima, the first canonized saint of the Americas, reflecting the devotion of the early Catholic settlers.

The parish's history is marked by remarkably long pastorates. Father William A. Gregg served for over 25 years, from before 1846 until the 1870s—during his tenure, he also established St. Paul of the Cross in nearby Honeoye Falls as a mission. The present church building was dedicated in 1873. Father Simon FitzSimons continued this tradition, serving 28 years from 1884 to 1912.

Monsignor John M. Ball led the parish for 33 years from 1934 to 1967, guiding the community through the Great Depression, World War II, and the post-war era. Father James F. Doyle then served for 30 years until 1999. This pattern of long pastorates gave St. Rose remarkable stability—in over 150 years, the parish has had relatively few pastors.

Today, St. Rose of Lima is part of the St. Agnes/St. Paul of the Cross/St. Rose cluster, reuniting the parish with St. Paul of the Cross—the mission that Father Gregg established from St. Rose in 1846.