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St. mary’S of tHe lake
Located near the southern tip of Seneca Lake, St. Mary’s of the Lake was established in 1846 in the village then known as Jefferson, with priests from nearby communities celebrating Mass for the rst several years.
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IIt wasn’t until 1852 that Jefferson was incorporated as Watkins, and it was renamed Watkins Glen
in 1926.
The parish’s rst facility was a former Presbyterian church, which was visited for the rst time by Buffalo Bishop James Timon in 1848. Catholics worshiped there for 22 years before St. Mary’s moved to its current location at 901 N. Decatur St. The new church’s dedication Mass took place Dec. 13, 1868, with Buffalo Bishop Stephen V. Ryan presiding. In 1869, Father James McManus became St. Mary’s rst resident pastor as the parish was elevated from mission status to independent parish. In 1896 the parish, formerly part of the Diocese of Buffalo, became part of the Diocese of Rochester.
During its early years, St. Mary’s of the Lake served a large number of Irish families who had immigrated
to the Southern Tier due to the great potato famine.
By the turn of the 20
main ethnic group owing into Schuyler County and joining the parish.
In addition to its church, St. Mary’s of the Lake’s facilities include a parish center that was constructed in 1957.
The parish community welcomes numerous visitors during the warm-weather months, thanks to such notable area attractions as Watkins Glen International Speedway, Watkins Glen State Park, wineries and the village’s annual Italian Festival.
Since 1989, St. Mary’s of the Lake has been joined with St. Benedict Chapel in nearby Odessa to form the Schuyler Catholic Community cluster.
th
century, Italians were the