St. Joseph's Church sits on West Genesee Street in Camillus, a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Syracuse where weekend and weekday Masses, the seven sacraments, a faith formation program, a preschool, a food pantry, and a CYO basketball program have shaped parish life for many years. The parish mission is to "welcome everyone in the Spirit of the Good News of Jesus Christ through prayer, liturgy, education, stewardship and service to all under the guidance of the Holy Spirit."
Mass and Reconciliation on West Genesee Street
St. Joseph's celebrates Mass seven days a week. Saturday vigil Mass is at 4:30 PM, Sunday Masses are at 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM, and weekday Mass is at 9:00 AM from Monday through Friday. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered every Saturday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM in the confessional on the south side of the church, facing West Genesee Street, and Reconciliation can also be arranged by appointment with the pastor, Father Robert Hyde. Parishioners who cannot attend in person can follow the liturgies through a livestream on the parish's YouTube channel, where recent Masses and other liturgical celebrations are archived.
The Seven Sacraments
St. Joseph's prepares members for each of the seven sacraments instituted by Christ. The celebration of the Eucharist is "the source and summit" of Catholic faith at the parish, with the simple elements of bread and wine becoming the Body and Blood of Christ through the words of the priest and the faith of the community gathered.
Infant Baptism is usually celebrated within a weekend liturgy a few weeks after birth, and parents are encouraged to choose godparents who actively practice their faith. The parish teaches that "Baptism is seen as the starting point in the journey of faith for infants." Adults seeking Baptism typically take part in the parish's Order of Christian Initiation for Adults.
The parish celebrates Reconciliation as the place where "God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins." First Reconciliation and First Communion are primarily parent-taught and reinforced in the religious education classroom, supported by a one-time retreat for each. The First Reconciliation program is generally offered to second graders enrolled in Faith Formation. Confirmation is celebrated with the bishop, and the parish teaches that "Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world."
Couples preparing for Marriage are asked to begin at least six months in advance, including sessions with the priest and a Marriage Preparation Seminar that addresses the role of family and friends, future children, finances, communication, the practice of faith, and the ceremony itself. Weddings at St. Joseph's are celebrated on Friday evenings and on Saturdays at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 2:00 PM, and outdoor weddings can also be arranged. The Anointing of the Sick is offered to the elderly, the chronically or critically ill, and those preparing for surgery. Inquiries about Holy Orders or vocational discernment can be directed to the pastor.
Faith Formation for Children and Teens
Faith Formation at St. Joseph's begins in kindergarten and continues through eighth grade, with classes on Sunday mornings during the school year. Kindergarten through sixth grade meets from 9:30 to 10:30 AM in the basement of the church, and seventh- and eighth-graders attend TEENFAITH, a program that meets twice a month on Sundays from 9:15 to 10:15 AM in the Parish Center. TEENFAITH pairs interactive Bible study with topical guest speakers and service projects, and is led by adult instructors with high-school senior youth mentors. A Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during the 10:45 AM Sunday Mass for younger children.
Confirmation preparation is a two-year program for ninth and tenth graders and is coordinated through the parish's Youth Ministry office. Adults who want to enter the Catholic Church or complete their initiation sacraments take part in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), which meets twice a week on Sundays and Tuesdays from October through May. Cindy Heath and Kathy Picciott direct Faith Formation, and questions can be sent to faithformation@stjosephscamillus.org or to the parish office at (315) 488-8490.
Youth Ministry, Confirmation, and CYO
St. Joseph's Youth Ministry brings together middle- and high-schoolers for formation, fellowship, and service. Confirmation preparation is led by Cindy Heath, with Jodi Hunt supporting youth ministry and the food pantry. Confirmation candidates follow the parish's two-year program in ninth and tenth grades, and updates for confirmation and youth events are posted on a separate parish Facebook page.
The parish's Catholic Youth Organization fields basketball teams at the Junior High, Junior Varsity, and Varsity levels, with open gym nights for pre-season practice. Schedules, results, and announcements are shared through the parish CYO calendar, and volunteers and coaches at every level are an ongoing need.
St. Joseph's Preschool
St. Joseph's Preschool, located in the parish center, serves children ages three and four with two-, three-, and five-day-a-week programs. The four-year-old program offers a three-day option (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and a five-day option (Monday through Friday), with classes running from 9:15 to 11:45 AM. The three-year-old program offers a two-day option (Tuesday and Thursday) and a three-day option (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), also from 9:15 to 11:45 AM. Children must be the appropriate age on or before December 1 of the enrolling year and should be toilet trained.
The preschool follows the New York State Prekindergarten Foundations for the Common Core with a play-based, child-centered curriculum that nurtures spiritual, physical, intellectual, and emotional development. The religious education component uses the Seeds (Preschool) Pflaum Gospel Weeklies Faith Formation Program. Each day, children move through centers such as the Block Center, Sensory Table, Creativity Center, Social Studies Center, Science Center, Literacy Center, Dramatic Play Center, Math Center, Learning Loft, and Fine Motor Skills Center, with time in the gymnasium or outdoor play area and a combined music session. Three to four field trips are scheduled each year, with parents providing transportation. A typical day includes arrival, circle time, centers, snack and story, gross motor, combined music, and dismissal. The director is Patti Yeager, and tours can be arranged by emailing stjosephpreschool@outlook.com.
The Food Pantry and Living Our Faith
St. Joseph's Food Pantry serves neighbors in the 13031, 13112, and 13164 zip codes. Sign-up takes place at the parish office on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30 PM and on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 3:00 PM; a photo ID and printed proof of address for everyone in the household are required. The pantry's intake is coordinated by Jodi Hunt, and the parish also refers neighbors in immediate need of food to the local 211 line.
For more than ten years, the parish's Living Our Faith program has contributed to charitable causes, supporting 44 charities with more than $85,000 in contributions. Local, national, and global organizations are considered for the parish's annual giving, and nominations are accepted by letter or by email to cindy@stjosephscamillus.org.
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Joshua Corcoran serves as Music Director, and the Music Ministry supports the congregation in song, including the playing of instruments and choral pieces at weekend and holy day liturgies. The parish maintains a Liturgical Ministries program with six areas of service: the Ministry of the Word (lectors who proclaim sacred scripture), Eucharistic Ministers (who assist with the distribution of Holy Communion under both species of bread and wine), the Ministry of Hospitality (ushers and bulletin distributors), the Ministry of Serving (altar servers, both boys and girls), the Ministry of Music, and the Ministry of the Assembly. The parish teaches that "St. Paul refers to Christians as a 'priestly people' who share with the ordained, ministerial priest in bringing the Lord present upon the altar and offering him to his Father as the best possible gift we are privileged to offer."
Parish Life and Contact
Father Robert Hyde serves as pastor, assisted by Deacons Tom Grigson and Nick Alvaro. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and closed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The mailing address is 5600 West Genesee Street, Camillus, NY 13031, the phone number is (315) 488-8490, and the general email is info@stjosephscamillus.org. The parish's Flocknote platform keeps registered families informed of news and events. Online giving is available through PayPal, with credit card options that do not require a PayPal account; members who use parish envelopes can include their envelope number with donations so contributions can be tracked for tax purposes. The weekly bulletin is published online, and the parish's preschool, faith formation, OCIA, and food pantry each have their own intake or registration details available through the office.