About Church of St. Peter · Saratoga Springs, New York
The Church of Saint Peter is a vibrant Roman Catholic parish centrally located at 241 Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs, New York, and has served the Spa City for over 175 years. The parish describes itself as a welcoming community that celebrates its faith through liturgy, sacraments, ministry, music, and outreach to those in need. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and operates an active Faith Formation/Youth Ministry program for grades 6–12, a parish cemetery, and an emergency Community Outreach program (the St. Peter's Needy Association). Weekday Mass is celebrated on Tuesday and Friday mornings, with a Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses filling out the liturgical week, and individual confession is heard Saturday afternoons.
- Established
- 1839
- Patron
- Saint Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. James Ebert
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
St. Peter's offers a full sacramental and pastoral life in the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs: three Sunday Masses, weekday Masses on Tuesday and Friday, Saturday confessions, and a full Faith Formation program for grades 6–12 with Confirmation preparation and OCIA for adults. The parish is also a hands-on community neighbor — its Community Outreach / St. Peter's Needy Association (SPNA) helps with rent, gas cards, food vouchers, bus passes, and utility bills, and ministries like Cooks on Call, Communion to the Homebound, Bereavement support, and the Third Age Committee give parishioners concrete ways to serve. Add in active liturgical ministries (lectors, ushers/greeters, environment decorating, children's Liturgy of the Word) and a long-standing music program under Music Director Philip Spaeth, and St. Peter's combines the stability of a 19th-century 'mother church' of Saratoga County with the energy of an active, mission-driven community.
Mass times at Church of St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM (individual absolution)
- By appointment
- Communal celebrations occur seasonally
Mass and Sacrament Schedule
The parish posts a clear, seasonally adjusted schedule on its homepage and on the Diocese of Albany parish page. The anticipated (Vigil) Mass is celebrated Saturday at 5:00 PM. Sunday Masses shift slightly with the seasons: 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM from May through October, and 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM from November through April. Weekday Mass is celebrated Tuesday and Friday at 8:00 AM, with Holy Days observed as announced.
Anointing of the Sick, Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage
Anointing of the Sick is celebrated seasonally, prior to hospitalization, and by appointment. Infant Baptism is celebrated seasonally, with adult Baptism and the reception of baptized non-Catholics normally taking place at the Easter Vigil; the Faith Formation Office handles Confirmation, and registered parishioners are asked to contact the Pastor before finalizing any marriage arrangements.
Our History
The parish's own 'Our History' page reproduces the Evangelist's 2014 article written for the 175th anniversary, drawing on archival research by Skidmore College history majors. Catholics first worshipped sporadically in Saratoga County beginning in the 17th century; after the War of 1812 Irish and French immigrants swelled the community, and in 1834 local Catholics organized under visiting priests. In 1839 John Costigan purchased the Lyceum and founded the parish. A school opened in 1855 and closed in 1882; a cemetery was added in 1862; St. Peter's Academy opened in 1926; and the Albany Diocese split the parish in 1916 to create St. Clement's in 1917. A 1931 storm led to a second major renovation, with Bishop Gibbons consecrating the rebuilt church in 1932. The 1980 renovation created today's plainer, Vatican II–style interior. A time capsule was buried at the 150th anniversary in 1989.
Parish Staff
The 'Our Staff' page lists the parish's current pastor, deacons, and lay staff. Individual email links are available by clicking each title on the page.
- Rev. James Ebert — Pastor
- Deacon Brian Levine — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Edward Solomon — Permanent Deacon
- Linda Shufelt — Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation / Youth Ministry Grades 7–12, Confirmation Preparation, Website Coordinator
- Philip Spaeth — Music Director
- Matt Castiglione — Operations Manager
- Mary Deyoe — Parish Secretary
- Monica Kelly — Administrative Assistant for Faith Formation / Youth Ministry
- Virginia D'Ambrogio & Jeffery Waldron — St. Peter's Cemetery Office
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Faith Formation covers grades 6–12 under Pastoral Associate Linda Shufelt, including Confirmation preparation. The parish also runs OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), with the new journey beginning September 21, 2025; inquiries are directed to Deacon Ed at the parish office. Monica Kelly serves as Administrative Assistant for Faith Formation and Youth Ministry.
- Faith Formation, Grades 6–12
- Confirmation Preparation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) — begins September 21, 2025
Liturgical Ministries
The 'Answer the Call, Find Your Ministry!' page invites parishioners into the liturgical life of the parish, from welcoming to proclaiming the Word to bringing Communion to those who cannot attend.
- Liturgy of the Word for Children (ages 4–7, at 9:00 AM Mass) — coordinator Rita Usher
- Lectors — training provided; needed at all Masses
- Ushers / Greeters — arrive 15–20 minutes before Mass
- Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound — coordinated by Deacon Ed
- Environment Decorating — Christmas and Easter setup
Music Ministry
Music at the parish is directed by Music Director Philip Spaeth, who is featured in the parish's online gallery playing the church's organ. The parish also has historical roots in the 1970s 'folk band' era following Vatican II, when its musicians recorded an album titled 'The Joyful Word, Reaching.'
Community Outreach and the St. Peter's Needy Association (SPNA)
The St. Peter's Outreach Program is an emergency community outreach program that works in conjunction with local agencies and churches to help those in need. The office assists with rent, gas cards, food vouchers, bus passes, and National Grid bills, funded primarily through parishioner donations.
- St. Peter's Needy Association (SPNA) — phone 518-306-5243
- Cooks on Call — home-cooked meals for parishioners and Wellspring (contact Anne Ernst)
- Bereavement Ministry
- Third Age Committee — holiday cards and Easter plants for homebound parishioners
- Bikeatoga — free bicycle repair nonprofit hosted in the church basement
- Code Blue emergency shelter space — partnership with the city of Saratoga Springs
St. Peter's Cemetery
The parish operates St. Peter's Cemetery, with the cemetery office staffed by Virginia D'Ambrogio and Jeffery Waldron and reached through the parish's main number (518-584-2375). The cemetery reflects generations of local Catholic families, including family plots, parish burials, and veteran graves.
Mass Broadcast and Online Giving
The parish livestreams Mass for those unable to attend in person and provides an online giving option from its homepage. A dedicated 'Mass Broadcast' page links to the livestream and to electronic giving.
- Livestream of Sunday Mass (link on the parish homepage and Mass Broadcast page)
- Online giving via the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Dominic Ingemieserved as 18th pastor through at least 2018
Featured in 2007 Saratogian profile as 18th pastor of the parish; referenced in 2018 Evangelist anniversary article as the then-current pastor who fostered parishioner involvement.
- Rev. Thomas Chevlaier
Celebrated the Mass for the parish's 175th anniversary in 2014, per the Daily Saratogian.