About Church of St. Mary · Rensselaer, New York
The Church of St. Mary at Clinton Heights is a Catholic parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, serving about one thousand parishioners in the town of East Greenbush and the greater Rensselaer area in southern Rensselaer County, New York. Founded in 1927 as a mission church of St. John's Church in the city of Rensselaer, the parish worships in what was originally the gymnasium of its parish school — a space that became its worship home in 1961 after the original mission church burned down during the school's construction. The parish shares its sacramental life with the linked Parish of St. John the Evangelist & St. Joseph in the city of Rensselaer, with weekend Masses at both locations. Current pastor (as of mid-2024) is Fr. Samuel Bellafiore.
- Established
- 1927
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish name: Church of St. Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Samuel Bellafiore (appointed by Bishop Scharfenberger effective June 15, 2024; a diocesan announcement in May 2026 named Fr. Stephen Yusko as incoming pastor effective July 1, 2026)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a close-knit parish of about one thousand households in the East Greenbush / Clinton Heights area that takes stewardship of time, talent and treasure seriously and welcomes people of every age and stage of life. Worship is centered on weekend Masses at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday (livestreamed at 8 AM) and daily Masses in a prayerful space with a small mission-church heart. Members can join more than two dozen active ministries — from RCIA, Youth Ministry and Family Formation, to the Music Ministry, Bereavement Ministry, Rosary Altar Society, Habitat for Humanity, Family Promise, Pastoral Care / Home Visitation, the Our Lady of Medjugorje Prayer Ministry, and a Parish Pastoral Council that actively invites parishioner voices into parish decisions.
Mass times at Church of St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 5:00 PM at St. Mary's Church (Reconciliation Room just inside the main entrance; face-to-face or behind a curtain)
Adoration times
- Monday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Adoration)
About St. Mary's at Clinton Heights
St. Mary's at Clinton Heights is a Catholic parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany serving about one thousand households in the town of East Greenbush and the greater Rensselaer, NY area. Founded in 1927 as a mission of St. John's Church in the city of Rensselaer, the parish describes itself as 'young, vibrant' and is committed to worship, service and spiritual growth. Its mission statement emphasizes deepening faith and fostering a welcoming environment for individuals and families.
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany parish
- Located at 163 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer, NY 12144
- Town of East Greenbush / Clinton Heights neighborhood
- Linked sacrally with the Parish of St. John the Evangelist & St. Joseph, Rensselaer
Parish History
The parish traces its roots to 1927, when it was established as a mission church of St. John's Church in the city of Rensselaer to serve Catholics living in what is now the Clinton Heights / East Greenbush area. The original small mission church served the community for more than three decades.
- Founded 1927 as a mission of St. John's Church, Rensselaer
- 1961 — original mission church burned down while the new parish school was under construction
- 1961 onward — the school gymnasium was pressed into service as the temporary worship space
- That same gymnasium remains the parish's worship space today, described by the parish as 'a wonderfully prayerful environment for our worship'
Pastoral Leadership
The parish is led by Fr. Samuel Bellafiore, appointed by Bishop Edward Scharfenberger effective June 15, 2024 as pastor of St. Mary's at Clinton Heights together with the Parish of St. John the Evangelist & St. Joseph; he additionally serves the diocese as Coordinator of Campus Ministry. He succeeded Fr. Tom Konopka, whose signed welcome letter remains the centerpiece of the parish's online introduction. In May 2026, Bishop Mark O'Connell announced that Fr. Stephen Yusko would become pastor effective July 1, 2026, with Fr. Bellafiore moving to a new diocesan role as Director of RCDA Vocations and Director of RCDA Campus Ministry. Deacon Al Censullo serves as Pastoral Associate for Service & Liturgy.
- Fr. Samuel Bellafiore — Pastor (effective June 15, 2024)
- Fr. Tom Konopka — previous pastor
- Deacon Al Censullo — Pastoral Associate for Service & Liturgy
- Fr. Stephen Yusko — incoming pastor (announced May 2026, effective July 1, 2026)
Parish Staff & Office
Beyond the pastor and deacon, the parish is staffed by lay pastoral associates and administrative personnel who coordinate faith formation, liturgy, finances and parish operations.
- Mrs. Maureen E. Billa — Pastoral Associate for Evangelization, Catechesis, and Administration ([email protected], ext. 12)
- Deacon Al Censullo — Pastoral Associate for Service & Liturgy ([email protected], ext. 20)
- Fr. Samuel Bellafiore — Pastor (ext. 19)
- Mr. Trevor Lanier — Administrative Assistant to the Pastor ([email protected], ext. 10)
- Ms. Imani Payne — Interim Operations Manager ([email protected], ext. 13)
- Mr. Michael Markham — Comptroller ([email protected], ext. 17)
- Mrs. Donna Fitzgerald — Trustee (1st term)
- Ms. Kate Dorgan — Trustee (1st term)
Sacraments
St. Mary's prepares parishioners for and celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Preparation typically begins through the Parish Office, with first Reconciliation and First Eucharist in 2nd grade and Confirmation in the fall of 11th grade. The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) process welcomes non-baptized adults and baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Baptism — 1st and 3rd Sundays; pre-baptismal preparation required
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — 2nd grade
- Confirmation — fall of 11th grade; typically with the Bishop
- Marriage — 9 months' notice to Parish Office
- Anointing of the Sick — by request; seasonal communal celebrations offered
- OCIA / RCIA — for adults seeking initiation or full communion
- Holy Orders & Consecrated Life — discernment through Fr. Sam and AlbanyVocations.org
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Mary's aims to create opportunities and a parish-and-family atmosphere of learning about faith on all levels — from kindergarten through senior adults. The flagship program is Family Formation, a home-based, family-centered catechetical program for children in kindergarten through 10th grade, designed around the principle that 'Parents are the primary educators in the faith' (General Directory for Catechesis 255).
- Family Formation — K–10 monthly parish gathering + weekly Home Lessons
- Three-year catechetical cycle covering the Creed, Morality, Sacraments and Prayer
- Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Eucharist (2nd grade) and Confirmation (fall of 11th grade)
- Liturgy of the Word for Children (ages 4–8)
- RCIA / OCIA for adults
- Youth Ministry — service, spiritual and social opportunities for teens
- Coordinator: Mrs. Maureen E. Billa, Pastoral Associate for Evangelization, Catechesis, and Administration
Ministries
The parish organizes its many ministries into four groupings — Liturgical, Pastoral Service, Evangelization & Catechesis, Community Life, and Administration — and invites parishioners to share their time and talent. More than two dozen named ministries are listed on the parish website.
- Liturgical — Hospitality, Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Music Ministry, Childcare at Liturgy
- Pastoral Service — Bereavement, Pastoral Care, Home Visitation, Good Samaritans, Reverence for Life, Our Lady of Medjugorje Prayer Ministry, Rosary Altar Society
- Evangelization & Catechesis — Faith Formation, RCIA, Baptismal Preparation, Youth Ministry, Evangelization Committee
- Community Life — Habitat for Humanity, Family Promise
- Administration — Parish Pastoral Council, Parish Stewardship Council, Finance Committee, Buildings & Grounds, Liturgy Committee
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry leads the community in song 'in a reverent and joyful manner so as to inspire its members to deepen their relationship with God.' Inquiries can be directed through Deacon Al Censullo or the Parish Office.
- Coordinated through Deacon Al Censullo, Pastoral Associate for Service & Liturgy
Outreach & Charity
Parishioners are involved in several outreach efforts serving the wider community of Clinton Heights, East Greenbush, Rensselaer and southern Rensselaer County.
- Habitat for Humanity — building homes in partnership with families in need
- Family Promise — hosting program for families experiencing homelessness
- Good Samaritans Ministry — material and spiritual assistance to those in need
- Reverence for Life Ministry — faith-filled advocacy for the sanctity of life at all stages
Prayer & Devotional Life
Beyond the Sunday Mass schedule, the parish sustains several ongoing devotional and prayer gatherings.
- Eucharistic Adoration — Monday 6:00–7:00 PM
- Reconciliation — Thursday 5:00 PM
- Our Lady of Medjugorje Prayer Ministry — prays for world peace and priests
- Rosary Altar Society — supports other ministries and charitable causes
Visiting & Contact
St. Mary's welcomes visitors and newcomers. The Parish Office is open at the parish address, with staff available by phone and email during the week. A Parish Registration / Census Form is available on the parish website.
- Address: 163 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer, NY 12144-3521
- Phone: (518) 449-2232
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish website: https://www.stmaryny.org/
- Sister parish location (for SJESJ daily Masses / Saturday Vigil): 54 Herrick St, Rensselaer, NY 12144
- Parish livestream: 8:00 AM Sunday Mass on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Tom Konopka
Previous pastor; signed the parish's online 'Welcome' letter describing the parish's history and community life.
- Fr. Samuel BellafioreEffective June 15, 2024
Appointed by Bishop Scharfenberger as pastor of St. Mary's Clinton Heights and the Parish of St. John the Evangelist & St. Joseph; also Coordinator of Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Albany. A May 2026 diocesan announcement named Fr. Stephen Yusko to succeed him effective July 1, 2026.