St. Columba Church

History

St. Patrick Church, Mumford, NY, was built in 1854 as a “mission” of Scottsville. As the parish grew, another, larger church was needed to accommodate the growing number of people in Caledonia. St. Columba’s was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day 1885. The Rev. George Eisler, a native of Mumford, was the first pastor for the two churches and served until 1923. Succeeding pastors were the Rev. James Richard Edward Kennedy, the Rev. Cornelius Hogan, the Rev. Charles Reynolds and the Rev. John Sellinger. The Rev. William J. Devereaux came in 1944 and celebrated his Silver and Golden Jubilees at St. Columba’s. The Rev. Emmett J. Halloran arrived in 1970. Major liturgical and ecumenical changes took place including the installation of a Parish Pastoral Council. A new sanctuary was created by opening arches, and removing walls in the former sanctuary and side altars, and a rededication Mass was celebrated in December 1973. The Rev. John A. Morgan and then the Rev. Ronald E. Gaesser were the next pastors as the parish approached the 100th anniversary of St. Columba Church was celebrated on November 25, 1984. The Most Reverend Matthew Clark, Bishop of the Diocese of Rochester celebrated the centennial Mass. The Rev. FM. Gerard Hafner succeeded Father Gaesser in 1987. In 1996 the Rev. Walter Plominski became pastor, later succeeded by the Rev. Mickey McGrath, then pastoral administrator for the cluster, Irene Goodwin. Fr John Hayes is now Pastor for the parish.