About All Saints Catholic Church · Albany, New York
All Saints Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Albany located at 16 Homestead Street in Albany, New York. Formed in 2009 from the merger of Holy Cross Parish and St. Margaret Mary Parish, it serves the western border of Albany, the eastern edge of the Town of Guilderland, and the uptown campus of the University at Albany. The parish community offers weekend and weekday Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, faith formation for children and adults, a vibrant music ministry, outreach to the homebound, and a range of parish groups rooted in prayer and service. All Saints is also the founding parish community of All Saints Catholic Academy, the merged Pre-K–8 school created in 1996 from Holy Cross Grammar School and St. Teresa of Avila Grammar School.
- Established
- 2009
- Patron
- All Saints (Solemnity of All Saints, November 1)
- Rector
- Rev. Charles Onyeneke
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
All Saints is a welcoming, mid-sized Albany parish with deep roots in two historic communities — Albany's 19th-century German Catholic population (Holy Cross) and the 20th-century Sacred Heart devotion (St. Margaret Mary Alacoque) — so newcomers join a congregation that takes seriously both tradition and hospitality. It offers weekend Masses with a livestream option, weekday Masses with a post-Mass Rosary on Mondays, Saturday confessions, faith formation for children and adults, a music ministry under a dedicated director, a parish nurse, online giving, and a Lazarus Bereavement Ministry — a real range of ways to be prayerfully involved. As the parish's own welcome statement puts it, 'all individuals, families, and children are invited, welcomed, accepted, loved, and respected at All Saints Catholic Church,' regardless of background or where one is on the faith journey.
Mass times at All Saints Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 pm (per the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany parish page and the parish's own website)
History of All Saints Catholic Church
All Saints Catholic Church is a young parish (officially dedicated November 1, 2009) but a very old community, heir to two deeply rooted Albany congregations: Holy Cross Parish, founded to serve the 19th-century German Catholic population of Albany, and St. Margaret Mary Parish, founded in 1920 as a Sacred Heart mission on the Albany–Guilderland border. After a roughly two-year transition overseen by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, both parishes were formally closed and merged into All Saints Catholic Church on the Solemnity of All Saints in 2009.
- Holy Cross Parish: organized 1842 (cornerstone laid May 12, 1850); original church at Philip and Hamilton Streets dedicated November 2, 1859; demolished 1959; rebuilt on Brevator & Rosemont Streets.
- St. Margaret Mary Parish: established 1920 as a mission; raised to parish status 1938; grammar school (Sisters of Mercy) opened with 35 pupils and closed in 1984.
- January 2009: Bishop Hubbard announces the merger.
- August 18, 2009: Fr. Paul D. Butler signs the parish registration letter from 1168 Western Avenue inviting all households to register.
- November 1, 2009: All Saints Catholic Church is officially dedicated on the Solemnity of All Saints.
Holy Cross Parish (1842–2009)
Holy Cross was the first German Roman Catholic parish in Albany. It grew from a 7,000-strong German-speaking Catholic population, weathered the Great Depression and World War II, and ultimately had to relocate when its downtown site was razed in 1959. It then rebuilt on the western edge of Albany, where it continued until joining All Saints.
- Cornerstone laid May 12, 1850, with a parade of ~3,000 spectators.
- Church completed and dedicated November 2, 1859; seated over 800.
- Mass offered in German, French, and English.
- By the 1950s, Holy Cross Academic School was the smallest school in the Diocese of Albany.
- 1959: original Philip Street church and school demolished; new Holy Cross Church built at Brevator & Rosemont.
St. Margaret Mary Parish (1920–2009)
St. Margaret Mary was founded as a Sacred Heart mission church along the Albany–Guilderland border. From its first day, the education of children was central, and the Sisters of Mercy staffed the parish grammar school. After decades of service the school closed in 1984, but the parish continued until its 2009 merger.
- Founded 1920 as a mission; named for the newly canonized St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.
- Raised to parish status in 1938.
- Grammar school opened with 35 pupils under the Sisters of Mercy.
- School closed in 1984 due to declining enrollment and Sisters of Mercy staffing shortages.
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by a pastor supported by two permanent deacons, a Director of Faith Formation, a Music Director, and parish office staff.
- Rev. Thomas M. Lawless — Pastor
- Deacon Gary O'Connor
- Deacon Timothy McAuliffe
- Cylon George — Music Director
- Matthew Gilligan — Director of Faith Formation ([email protected])
- Mary Oxaal — Bookkeeper
- Mary Rothaupt — Secretary
- Paul Dearing — Facility Manager
- Sr. Maureen Joyce — Soup Kitchen ministry
Parish Office & Locations
All Saints operates from two adjacent sites on the western edge of Albany: the Parish Office at 16 Homestead Street and the Parish Center on Rosemont Street at the corner of Western Avenue.
- Parish Office: 16 Homestead Street, Albany, NY 12203 — Monday–Friday 9:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00 pm–4:00 pm. Phone (518) 482-4497; Fax (518) 482-4719.
- Parish Center: 10/12 Rosemont Street, Albany, NY 12203 (corner of Western & Rosemont). Parking off Brevator Street.
- Mailing/registration address used in 2009: 1168 Western Avenue, Albany NY 12203.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at All Saints is directed by Matthew Gilligan and prepares children and youth for the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist, with parents and the parish community involved as the young person discerns readiness.
- Director of Faith Formation: Matthew Gilligan ([email protected]; 518-227-5236).
- Family-based Confirmation preparation — invitation letters sent to families.
- Ongoing faith-formation opportunities for all ages (see Re-Igniting Our Faith).
Music & Liturgical Arts
The Music Ministry, under Director Cylon George, supports the sung liturgy of All Saints' weekend and weekday Masses. A Sacristan ministry tends to the seasonal liturgical décor of the church throughout the year as a visible sign of love and reverence toward God.
- Music Director: Cylon George.
- Sacristan ministry responsible for church décor across the liturgical year.
Outreach, Charity & Pastoral Care
All Saints sustains a notably broad outreach footprint for a parish of its size, combining direct service to the hungry and homebound with bereavement and healthcare ministries.
- Soup Kitchen — volunteer corps led by Sr. Maureen Joyce.
- Eucharistic Ministry to the Homebound — Communion brought to parishioners unable to attend Mass.
- Parish Nurse — Carol Hough, RN, writes a regular column in the parish bulletin and welcomes questions and suggestions.
- Lazarus Bereavement Ministry — assists grieving families at Masses of Christian Burial alongside the priest and deacon.
- MEN'S Association — open to men, women, and retirees.
- Re-Igniting Our Faith — parish initiative for spiritual renewal.
All Saints Catholic Academy (Pre-K–Grade 8)
All Saints Catholic Academy is the parish's Pre-K through Grade 8 school, with 3- and 4-year-old Pre-K, sharing the Rosemont Street campus with the Parish Center. It was created in 1996 from the merger of Holy Cross Grammar School and St. Teresa of Avila Grammar School. In March 2025, diocesan and parish leaders announced that, as part of a city-wide Catholic schools restructuring, All Saints Catholic Academy will close; Mater Christi School will remain Pre-K–8 and Blessed Sacrament will become Pre-K–5, with a unified school board to be created.
- Founded 1996 from the merger of Holy Cross Grammar School and St. Teresa of Avila Grammar School.
- Address: 10 Rosemont Street, Albany, NY 12203. Phone (518) 438-0066; Fax (518) 512-4049.
- Grades: Pre-K (3 and 4 year olds) through Grade 8.
- Principal (as of 2021): Ms. Traci Johnson. Business Manager: Mrs. Carrie Coffey.
- Past Twitter handle: @ASCA_Albany.
- March 2025: closure announced as part of Albany city Catholic schools restructuring.
Stewardship & Giving
All Saints encourages parishioners to share Time, Talent, and Treasure and offers both traditional envelope/mail giving and modern digital options including online giving and Text-to-Give.
- Online giving platform via the parish website.
- Text-to-Give: text to # 844-957-3603.
- Holy Day and special collections available through online giving.
- Stewardship spotlight on parishioners who volunteer (e.g., Sacristan Rose Marie Dittmann).
- Re-Igniting Our Faith — parish renewal and giving initiative.
Welcome, Visiting & Registration
All Saints explicitly welcomes anyone — Catholic or not, of any background or family situation — to attend Mass and become part of the parish. The 2009 registration letter and the current 'Who We Are' page both underscore the parish's commitment to radical hospitality.
- Address: 16 Homestead Street (across from Chase Bank), Albany, NY 12203.
- Phone: (518) 482-4497.
- Parish welcome statement: 'all individuals, families, and children are invited, welcomed, accepted, loved, and respected at All Saints Catholic Church.'
- Livestreamed Sunday 10:00 am Mass available on YouTube.
- Directions: From I-87 east on Route 20 (Western Ave) 1.5 miles; right at Homestead & Western, just east of the University at Albany entrance; the church is behind the CVS drug store.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Paul D. Butler2009
First pastor of All Saints Catholic Church; signed the parish registration letter dated August 18, 2009 announcing the Holy Cross–St. Margaret Mary merger.
- Rev. Thomas M. Lawlessthrough at least July 2021
Pastor; listed as pastor of All Saints Catholic Church in parish bulletins (e.g., July 25, 2021) alongside Deacons Gary O'Connor and Timothy McAuliffe.