Our Parish History
The first Mass in Ogden was celebrated by the Rev. Michael Welch in a wagon shop. By 1857 a small wooden chapel was built near what is now Coleman Ave in the Village of Spencerport. At this time, Spencerport was part of the Diocese of Buffalo. This was soon outgrown as the population in the area boomed. Land was eventually acquired on the northwest corner of Amity and Martha Streets (where the current parking lot is) to build a proper church.  In October of 1867, Fr. Richard Story laid the cornerstone, unfortunately a severe storm in December caused a collapse of the partially completed structure. The Church was rebuilt and formally dedicated on Nov. 22, 1868 and incorporated as a parish in the  new Diocese of Rochester. By 1873, land was purchased nearby for a cemetery with the first burial being that of Thomas Reynolds. By the year 1884, the parish recorded a congregation of 500 and annexed St. Leo’s in Hilton as an out-mission.
By 1914, this frame church was at capacity and land was purchased across the street on the northeast corner.  The new English, Gothic style church was designed by the well-known architect, John T. Comes of Pennsylvania. Ground was broken in March of 1915. The outer structure of the building was constructed of fieldstones brought by the parishioners from their farms. Mr. John Manion, a parishioner, acted as contractor. The Most Rev. Bishop Thomas Hickey said the first Mass on Nov. 21^st of that same year.
The old frame church was turned into a school and opened in 1927 with 106 students. The current school building and auditorium was constructed in 1967. The School was staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph until its closing in 2008.
Over the years, many pastors have served our congregation and the church has seen several renovations with the most recent being in 2021. Our campus now includes the Church with a connecting rectory to the north and an outdoor shrine to Our Lady of the Highway on the east side of Martha Street. Across the street to the west, in addition to our parking area, is our large Parish Center with its offices and meeting rooms, and to the west of it, the School/Gym building housing our Faith Formation Programs as well as youth sports activities.