About Christ the King · Albany, New York
Christ the King Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Westmere/Güilderland area of Albany, New York, part of the Diocese of Albany. Founded in 1957, the parish serves more than 1,800 registered families through over 30 ministries, daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays, and a new whole-family Faith Formation program. Its mission, in its own words, is 'to make Jesus Christ present, both inside and outside the Parish, for Jesus offers the fullness of life and the salvation of souls.' The parish is widely noted for offering an ASL-interpreted and livestreamed 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- Christ the King (Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Reverend Rick Lesser
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
Christ the King is a vibrant, mid-sized suburban parish of more than 1,800 families with over 30 active ministries — so nearly anyone can find a way to plug in, whether through faith formation, youth ministry, music, hospitality, the Knights of Columbus, food pantry outreach, or one of the prayer and support groups. The parish's Tuesday all-day Eucharistic Adoration (9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.), weekly Reconciliation, daily Mass Tuesday through Thursday, and a livestreamed and ASL-interpreted Sunday Mass reflect a community that welcomes everyone — including Deaf and hard-of-hearing Catholics, homebound parishioners, LGBTQ+ Catholics and allies (Come As You Are), and those in prison (Residents Encounter Christ). A parish school (nursery through grade 8) with a year-round daycare, plus a new whole-family Faith Formation model, make it an especially good fit for young families.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:30 AM - 8:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
History of Christ the King Parish
Christ the King Catholic Church was founded in 1957 in response to the postwar growth of Albany's western suburbs. In 1956, Bishop William Scully of the Diocese of Albany purchased 61 acres in Guilderland to relieve overflow from St. Margaret Mary's in Albany and St. Madeleine Sophie's in Guilderland. The first church was dedicated by Bishop Scully on December 8, 1957. The parish grew rapidly, opening Christ the King School in 1960 staffed by the Sisters of Mercy, and the community now includes more than 1,800 families. A 60th jubilee Mass was celebrated by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard in December 2018. The parish has continued to evolve — most recently launching a new whole-family Faith Formation model replacing weekly classroom catechesis.
- Founded December 8, 1957
- Established by Bishop William Scully on 61 acres in Guilderland
- Sister parish schools: overflow from St. Margaret Mary's (Albany) and St. Madeleine Sophie's (Guilderland)
- 60th jubilee Mass celebrated by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, December 2018
- More than 1,800 registered families today
Parish Staff & Clergy
Christ the King is led by Pastor Rev. Rick Lesser ([email protected]), supported by Rev. Des Rossi (Priest in Residence) and Rev. Tom Berardi (Sacramental Minister). The diaconal team includes Deacon Tony Cortese and Deacon Joe Markham (Deacon Emeritus). Pastoral associates lead Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Parish Life, and Music, with additional administrative, bookkeeping, media, and facilities staff.
- Rev. Rick Lesser — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Des Rossi — Priest in Residence
- Rev. Tom Berardi — Sacramental Minister
- Deacon Tony Cortese
- Deacon Joe Markham — Deacon Emeritus
- Marge Stockwell — Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation (518-464-4776, [email protected])
- Rebecca Hanson — Pastoral Associate for Youth Ministry
- Tom Tommell — Faith Formation Administrative Assistant
- Lou Ann Cleary — Pastoral Associate for Parish Life
- Melinda Conroy — Pastoral Associate for Music
- Linda Carducci — Administrative Assistant
- Michael Markham — Bookkeeper
- Sarah Guerra — Media Coordinator
- Gina Luce — Facilities Supervisor; James Murphy — Building Operations & Grounds
Sacraments
Christ the King prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptism requires a preparation class on the first Sunday of the month at 5:30 PM and should be scheduled at least three months in advance. First Communion is open to children in grade 2 and older. Confirmation and OCIA (for adults) are coordinated through the Faith Formation Office. Couples should contact the parish office for Marriage preparation; Reconciliation is heard Saturday at 3:00 PM and by appointment.
- Baptism (preparation class 1st Sunday 5:30 PM; schedule 3 months ahead)
- First Communion — Grade 2+
- Confirmation
- Marriage — contact parish office
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — non-baptized adults, baptized Christians, and uncatechized Catholics
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
- Funerals — contact parish office
Family Faith Formation & Religious Education
For the 2025–2026 program year, Christ the King has launched a new Family Faith Formation (FFF) model that gathers the whole parish — parents, children, youth, couples, singles, and seniors — eight times per year rather than the previous weekly classroom model. Each gathering includes Mass together, a shared meal, and age-appropriate breakout sessions. The fee is $35 per person, capped at $140 per household, with reduced cost or sensitivity for First Communion and Confirmation years; cost is never a barrier to participation.
- 8 gatherings per year (replacing 24 weekly class meetings)
- Saturday 4 PM Mass OR Sunday 11 AM Mass followed by meal and breakout sessions
- Catechists serve all ages
- Open to families with children, youth, couples, and singles
- Contact: [email protected] or (518) 464-4776
- Director: Marge Stockwell; Youth Ministry: Rebecca Hanson
Youth Ministry
Teens gather on Thursdays at 7:00 PM in the Knights Room (with occasional relocation to the Rectory Lower Level) for fellowship, Bible study, and discussion aimed at understanding the Catholic faith as a practical 'manual' for daily life. The parish also runs a popular Youth Choir for Grades 2-12.
- Teen Bible study — Thursdays 7:00 PM, Knights Room
- Youth Choir (Grades 2-12) — rehearses Sundays 10:00-10:40 AM; sings at 11 AM Mass 1st Sunday of month
- Rebecca Hanson — Pastoral Associate for Youth Ministry
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music ministry at Christ the King is led by Melinda Conroy, Pastoral Associate for Music, and includes a Youth Choir for Grades 2-12 that rehearses on Sundays between the 8:00 and 11:00 AM Masses and sings at the 11:00 AM Mass on the first Sunday of each month. Volunteer choirs and instrumentalists, cantors, and lectors support weekend and seasonal liturgies throughout the year.
- Music Ministry led by Melinda Conroy
- Youth Choir (Grades 2-12) — Sundays 10:00-10:40 AM, sings 1st Sunday at 11 AM
- Art & Environment ministry designs liturgical décor
Christian Service & Outreach
The parish operates more than 30 ministries, with a strong emphasis on Christian service to neighbors in need — from local food pantries to prison ministry and support for foster children. Christ the King parishioners regularly serve the Guilderland Food Pantry, prepare and serve meals at St. John's-St. Ann's Outreach Center, sew prayer shawls for the homebound, and make pillowcases for children in foster care.
- Food Pantry (Guilderland Food Pantry) — Margaret Carle, (518) 496-2555
- Lunch Bunch — meals 1st Tuesday every other month at St. John's-St. Ann's Outreach — Nancy Tyrell, (518) 765-4139
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — Mary Ann Markham, (518) 456-5301
- Pillow Cases for Foster Kids — Mary Pat Crevatas, (518) 605-2436
- Visitation Ministry (homebound, hospitals, nursing homes) — Kathy Kavanaugh, (518) 869-6520
- Residents Encounter Christ (REC) — prison ministry
- Knights of Columbus — Robert Murphy, (518) 456-6356
Pastoral Care & Support
In addition to its service ministries, Christ the King offers several groups for spiritual and emotional support — including a monthly Grief & Loss Support Group, a Senior Circle for older parishioners, a Family Life & Respect Life ministry, a Diversity Ministry, and the parish's 'Come As You Are' listening sessions for LGBTQ+ Catholics and allies.
- Grief & Loss Support Group — 3rd Tuesday of the month — Nancy Acemoglu, (518) 421-1995
- Senior Circle — Tina Bosco, (518) 456-8030
- Family Life & Respect Life — Vicky Myers, (518) 400-0778
- Diversity Ministry — Dr. John Potenciano, (518) 209-5565
- Come As You Are — for LGBTQ+ Catholics and allies
Hospitality & Parish Life
Lou Ann Cleary serves as Pastoral Associate for Parish Life, coordinating the Hospitality Ministry that provides food and beverages for parish events and Sunday Masses. The parish community also gathers for special events such as the Wonderfully Made Tea Party, young-adult bingo nights, and seasonal fundraisers benefitting outreach partners like the Guilderland Food Pantry.
- Hospitality Ministry — Margaret Carle, (518) 496-2555
- Lou Ann Cleary — Pastoral Associate for Parish Life
- Christmas / Easter / seasonal parish celebrations
- Young-adult events and family fellowship
Christ the King School
Christ the King School opened in 1960 with the Sisters of Mercy staffing its classrooms. Today it serves nursery school through Grade 8, and includes a full-time, year-round daycare center. The school building also serves as the gathering space for the new Family Faith Formation meals and breakout sessions.
- Opened 1960
- Originally staffed by the Sisters of Mercy
- Nursery through Grade 8
- Full-time, year-round daycare center
- Used as gathering space for Family Faith Formation meals and breakouts
Parish Office & Visiting
The parish office is located at 20 Sumter Avenue, Albany, NY 12203, with office hours Monday-Thursday from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM and Friday from 8:30 AM to noon. The parish can be reached by phone at (518) 456-1644 or by email through the parish office or diocesan email ([email protected]). Bulletin announcements, Mass intentions, online giving, and event registration are available via the parish website at ctkparishny.org.
- Address: 20 Sumter Avenue, Albany, NY 12203
- Phone: (518) 456-1644
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM-2:00 PM; Fri 8:30 AM-noon
- Email: [email protected]
- Online giving: ctkparishny.org/giving
- Bulletins: ctkparishny.org/bulletins
- Mass intentions: ctkparishny.org/mass-intentions
- Events: ctkparishny.org/events
Diocese & Affiliations
Christ the King Parish is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, whose offices tag the parish in social media (@albanydiocese). The parish is listed in the diocese's official parish directory at rcda.org and is featured in regional Catholic publications including The Evangelist, which covered its 60th jubilee in 2018. Independent Catholic directories such as GCatholic confirm the parish's 1957 founding and its address.
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
- Diocese parish directory: rcda.org/parishes/parish/christ-king-church-albany-ny
- GCatholic Church ID: 18080
- Diocese social: @albanydiocese
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Leo Donovanfirst pastor (1957)
Founding pastor of Christ the King Parish.
- Rev. Robert Hart
Past pastor.
- Rev. David Berberian
Past pastor.
- Rev. Butler
Past pastor, serving at the time of the parish's 60th jubilee in 2018.
- Rev. James Fitzmauriceas of 2018
Administrator of the parish in 2018.
- Rev. Rick Lessercurrent
Current Pastor.