About Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception · Albany, New York
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, New York. Designed by Irish-born architect Patrick Charles Keely and built between 1848 and 1852, it is the second-oldest Catholic cathedral in New York State (after St. Patrick's in New York City), the third oldest in the United States, and the first American Catholic cathedral built in the Neo-Gothic style. It serves today as both the diocesan seat (housing the Bishop's cathedra) and a working parish for roughly 700 households drawn from some fifty zip codes across the Capital District. The Cathedral is also a center for diocesan liturgy, ecumenical events, sacred music, and social outreach.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Very Reverend Rendell Torres (Rector); Fr. Jay Atherton appointed Rector effective July 1, 2026
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
The Cathedral offers the rare experience of worshipping in one of the oldest and most architecturally significant Catholic cathedrals in the country, in the heart of downtown Albany. As both a working parish of some 700 households and the spiritual center of the Diocese of Albany, it hosts the Bishop's major liturgies — Midnight Mass, Holy Week, the Chrism Mass, the Rite of Election, ordinations and jubilees — while also sustaining a close-knit parish life of lectors, altar servers, ushers and greeters, a youth and adult choir under Director of Music Dr. Brian Glikes, a Consolation Committee for funerals and bereavement, and a monthly hospitality coffee hour. Through Cathedral Social Services it reaches beyond its walls with clothing, food and referrals for people in need. It is a place of beauty, prayer and historic continuity where visitors of any denomination are warmly welcomed.
Mass times at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
- Sunday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament begins one hour before each Sunday Mass (approximately 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM)
History of the Cathedral
Commissioned by Bishop John McCloskey for his Irish-American flock and designed by Patrick Charles Keely, the Cathedral was begun with the laying of the cornerstone on July 2, 1848 and dedicated on November 21, 1852. The apse and sacristies were added in 1891–1892, the spires rose between 1862 and 1888, and Bishop Thomas M. A. Burke consecrated the completed building on November 16, 1902.
- Cornerstone laid July 2, 1848 before 10,000+ spectators in the rain
- Dedicated November 21, 1852 by Bishop McCloskey and Archbishop John Hughes
- North tower spire completed 1862; south tower spire 1888
- Apse and sacristies added 1891–1892 under Bishop Francis McNeirny
- Consecrated November 16, 1902 — the 50th anniversary of dedication
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976
Architecture and Interior
The Cathedral is Neo-Gothic in style, built of stone with twin towers, twin spires, a richly ornamented plaster interior, vaulting, ceiling bosses and statuary dating to the original construction. Original stained-glass windows were imported from England, and the award-winning Stations of the Cross are among its artistic treasures.
- Architect: Patrick Charles Keely (1816–1896) of Brooklyn
- Style: Neo-Gothic (Gothic Revival) — first American Catholic cathedral in this style
- Original stained-glass windows imported from England
- Award-winning Stations of the Cross statuary
- Ornate plasterwork, carved ribs, ceiling bosses and vaulting from 1852
- Tallest building in Albany when completed
Bells, Spires and the Meneely Foundry
The Cathedral's bells were cast at the Meneely Bell Foundry in West Troy (now Watervliet), New York — one of the most important bell foundries in American history. They were blessed by Bishop McCloskey on November 16, 1862, and first rang on the eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1862.
- Cast at the Meneely Bell Foundry, West Troy (Watervliet), NY
- Blessed November 16, 1862; first rung December 8, 1862
- Installed in the north tower
The 20th Century and Empire State Plaza
Through most of the 20th century the Cathedral served as parish church to roughly 3,000 households and as the stage for diocesan milestones, including weddings from two New York governors' families. In the 1960s the construction of Governor Nelson Rockefeller's Empire State Plaza wiped out most of the surrounding neighborhood and reduced the parish to about 300 households; only the joint action of Bishop William A. Scully and Governor Rockefeller saved the Cathedral from demolition.
- Parish church to ~3,000 households for most of the 20th century
- Catherine Smith (daughter of Gov. Alfred E. Smith) married here in 1928
- Madeline Cuomo (daughter of Gov. Mario Cuomo) married here in 1993
- Empire State Plaza construction (1960s) reduced parish to ~300 households
- Bishop William A. Scully and Governor Rockefeller averted demolition
- Bishop Edwin B. Broderick first proposed a major restoration
The 1986 Christian–Jewish Service of Forgiveness and 'Portal'
On Palm Sunday 1986 Bishop Howard J. Hubbard hosted the first-ever service of forgiveness between Christians and Jews at the Cathedral, publicly expressing contrition and remorse for centuries of anti-Jewish hostility under the Church's auspices. The event drew some 1,500 Christian and Jewish guests and is commemorated by Robert Blood's sculpture 'Portal' on the west side of the building.
- Held on Palm Sunday 1986
- First-ever service of forgiveness between Christians and Jews
- Approximately 1,500 Christian and Jewish guests attended
- Commemorated by the sculpture 'Portal' by Robert Blood on the west of the Cathedral
Restoration and Renewal (2000s–2010)
Begun in 2000 under Bishop Emeritus Howard J. Hubbard and largely completed by 2010, the restoration tackled decades of decay: rotten structural timber, leaking roof, a leaning north spire and deteriorating plaster. New English sandstone replaced the worst exterior masonry, a rolled lead roof was installed, the interior was replastered and repainted to evoke Keely's original palette, the altar was raised on a concrete platform and new wider pews were fitted.
- Campaign launched in 2000 under Bishop Hubbard; interior largely completed 2010
- Total project cost reported at roughly $19 million (diocese) to $30 million (press)
- New sandstone imported from England for north tower and clerestories
- Rolled lead roof — reportedly the only one of its kind currently in America
- North spire rebuilt after being found leaning 13 inches over the street
- Interior returned to Keely's original paint scheme
Clergy and Staff
The Cathedral is led by Rector Very Reverend Rendell Torres under Bishop Mark O'Connell. Bishop Scharfenberger's pastoral assignments named Fr. Rendell Torres as Rector effective March 1, 2025; Bishop O'Connell subsequently named Fr. Jay Atherton as Rector effective July 1, 2026.
- Bishop of Albany: Most Reverend Mark O'Connell
- Rector: Very Reverend Rendell Torres (effective March 1, 2025)
- Incoming Rector: Fr. Jay Atherton (effective July 1, 2026)
- Deacon James Agnew
- Deacon Timothy J. Kosto, II
- Operations Manager: Barbara Koerner-Fox
- Facilities Manager: Kurt Schlachter
- Director of Music and Choirmaster: Dr. Brian Glikes
- Liturgical Coordinator and Sacristan: Patrick Buonacore
- Bookkeeper: Harry D'Agostino
Music and the Cathedral Choir
The Cathedral has long been a venue for sacred and secular music, hosting the Albany Symphony, Albany Pro Musica, the Empire State Youth Orchestra, Boston Brass and tenor Anthony Kearns. The parish's own Cathedral Choir, under Director of Music and Choirmaster Dr. Brian Glikes, sings each Sunday at the 11:00 AM Mass from the week after Labor Day through Corpus Christi, as well as at Christmas, Holy Week and other major liturgies.
- Cathedral Choir (adults and advanced college/high school students)
- Rehearsals: Thursdays 7:00–9:00 PM
- Services: 11 AM Sunday Mass weekly, plus Christmas, Holy Week and special observances
- Repertoire spans Gregorian chant through 21st-century choral music
- All adult music-program volunteers must complete Virtus Safe Environment training
Parish Life and Ministries
The parish invites participation through a wide range of lay ministries: ushers and greeters, collection counters, lectors, altar servers, the youth and adult choirs, the Consolation Committee for funeral planning and bereavement, and the Hospitality Ministry that hosts a monthly coffee hour. The Cathedral also welcomes those wishing to serve through Cathedral Social Services, VITA tax preparation and the Family Promise program for homeless families.
- Ushers/Greeters
- Collection Counters
- Lectors (especially for the 5 PM Sunday Mass)
- Altar Servers
- Youth and Adult Choir Members
- Consolation Committee — funeral planning and bereavement
- Hospitality Ministry — monthly coffee hour
- Cathedral Social Services — clothing, food and referrals
- Faith formation / educational programs for young people
- VITA tax-preparation volunteers
- Family Promise host site for homeless families
The Cathedral as Center of the Diocese
As the 'mother church' of the Diocese of Albany, the Cathedral houses the cathedra — the bishop's chair, symbol of his teaching authority — and hosts the major diocesan liturgies of the year: Christmas Midnight Mass, Holy Week, Easter, the Chrism Mass, the Rite of Election, ordinations to the priesthood and diaconate, and the annual Marriage Jubilee.
- Christmas Midnight Mass
- Holy Week and Easter Triduum
- Chrism Mass and Rite of Election
- Ordinations of priests and deacons
- Marriage Jubilee and other diocesan celebrations
- Visits by Cardinals and leaders of other faiths
A Beacon of Hope and Center for the Arts
Beyond its liturgical role, the Cathedral is described by the parish as a 'dynamic symbol of the sacred in the midst of the secular,' offering beauty, solace and refuge to people of all denominations and walks of life. It welcomes ecumenical events such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Service and joint services with the Episcopal Cathedral of All Saints, and its Neo-Gothic nave is a favored venue for choirs, orchestras and visiting soloists.
- Welcomes visitors and pilgrims of all denominations
- Hosts the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Service
- Joint services with the Episcopal Cathedral of All Saints
- Concert venue for the Albany Symphony, Albany Pro Musica, Empire State Youth Orchestra
- Performances by Boston Brass and tenor Anthony Kearns