About Church of the Holy Spirit · East Greenbush, New York
The Church of the Holy Spirit is a Roman Catholic parish in East Greenbush, New York, and was the first Catholic parish established in the town. Founded in 1923 with just 50 parishioners, the parish has grown to more than 1,200 families and today serves East Greenbush and the surrounding Rensselaer County community. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and is guided by its mission to embody the Gospel through sacred Scripture and sacred tradition, summed up in the two great commandments — love of God and love of neighbor. The parish is known for its welcoming spirit, a tradition that traces back to its founding pastor, Fr. John Fox, whose ministry was marked by an openness that, in the words of a local historian, 'recognized no barrier of color, creed or racial origin.'
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- The Holy Spirit
- Rector
- Father Quy Vo
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
Church of the Holy Spirit offers a generational Catholic community in East Greenbush with a tradition of welcome that goes back to its 1923 founding. Parishioners can join a year-round rhythm of Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and Confession on Tuesday evenings, the multi-generational 'Seasons of Faith' lifelong formation program, and a wide range of ministries from altar serving and lecturing to homebound Eucharistic ministry, the Knitting and Crocheting Ministry, Social Action Team, and Hospitality. With more than 1,200 families and an active Parish Pastoral and Finance Council, it is a parish where new members can plug in quickly through liturgical, charitable, or community-building ministries.
Mass times at Church of the Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 7:00 PM (during Eucharistic Adoration)
- Saturday 3:00 PM (per Diocese of Albany parish listing)
- By appointment — call 518-477-7925
Adoration times
- Tuesday 7:00 PM (with Confession)
About Church of the Holy Spirit
Church of the Holy Spirit is a Roman Catholic parish serving East Greenbush, NY and the surrounding community. Its mission is shaped by the two great commandments — love of God and love of neighbor — and grounded in sacred Scripture and sacred tradition. The parish traces its identity to a 1923 founding community of 50 families and now serves more than 1,200 households. Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed, in continuity with the open-armed legacy of its founding pastor.
- Roman Catholic parish, Diocese of Albany
- First East Greenbush parish, founded 1923
- More than 1,200 families currently registered
- Mission grounded in the two great commandments (Mark 12:30-31)
Our History
Bishop Gibbons approved the petition to create the parish in 1923 and named Father John Fox as the first pastor. Fr. Fox, who had been an assistant at St. Peter's in Saratoga Springs, led the parish for roughly fifteen years and grew the community from 50 to 455 families. The community first met in the Hysermann family living room, then the Grange Hall, before purchasing land from the Elliott farm and building the present early-Romanesque church on Columbia Turnpike. The parish celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023 and was honored by a New York State Senate Resolution.
- 1923 — parish founded; first pastor Fr. John Fox appointed by Bishop Gibbons
- Met first in the Hysermann family living room, then Grange Hall
- Elliott farm land purchased; early Romanesque church built
- 2023 — 100th anniversary commemorated; NY Senate Resolution J1321
Pastoral Leadership and Staff
The parish is led by Father Quy Vo, Pastor, with the assistance of Deacon William Dringus. Laura Countryman directs Lifelong Faith Formation, Frank Schaefer serves as Administrative Assistant, and Harriram Tiwari supports Administration and Accounts. Contact information for each staff member is available through the parish office.
- Father Quy Vo — Pastor
- Deacon William Dringus
- Laura Countryman — Lifelong Faith Formation
- Frank Schaefer — Administrative Assistant
- Harriram Tiwari — Administration and Accounts
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at Holy Spirit is built around 'Seasons of Faith,' an intergenerational lifelong faith formation program organized along a college-semester rhythm (Summer, Fall, Spring). It includes Church Life for younger families, Simply Scripture scripture study (about six sessions per semester), Walking with the Spirit for adults and teens, and seasonal family mini-retreats during Advent and Lent. The parish was profiled in a national Catholic Parish Family Faith Formation publication as a model of Family Catechesis. Laura Countryman coordinates the program.
- Seasons of Faith — lifelong, intergenerational formation
- Church Life — monthly younger-family sessions
- Simply Scripture — ~6 sessions per semester
- Walking with the Spirit — adult/teen track
- Advent and Lent family mini-retreats
- Contact: [email protected]
Sacramental Preparation
The parish describes Sacramental Discernment as a partnership among the candidate, their family, and the parish. Baptism requires a confirmed, practicing Catholic sponsor. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist discernment begins in the Fall semester and requires candidates to be at least 7 years old by November 1 with at least one prior year of Church Life sessions. Confirmation preparation is annual in the Fall and includes 14 Walking with the Spirit sessions, additional formation, retreats, ministry investigation, and service projects, followed by a mystagogy retreat.
- Baptism — contact Laura Countryman
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — Fall discernment
- Confirmation — annual Fall preparation with 14 Walking with the Spirit sessions
- Adults — OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy as altar servers, lectors, ushers, offertory counters, and Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound. The parish welcomes new participants in liturgical ministries and invites interested members to contact the office.
- Altar Servers
- Lectors (Liturgy of the Word) — Victor Barresi, Coordinator
- Eucharistic Ministry to the Homebound — Pat Rickert, Coordinator
- Ushers
- Offertory Counters
Outreach and Community Life
The Holy Spirit Social Action Team coordinates charitable events throughout the year, and the Hospitality Ministry plans fellowship events. The Funeral Support Ministry sends cards and makes periodic phone 'visits' to homebound and care-facility parishioners. A Knitting and Crocheting Ministry contributes craft work, and the parish welcomes skilled-trade volunteers for work projects.
- Social Action Team — Kathy Weich
- Hospitality Ministry
- Funeral Support / Homebound card and phone-visit ministry
- Knitting and Crocheting Ministry
- Skilled-trade volunteer projects — [email protected]
Parish Leadership Councils
Two councils help govern the parish. The Parish Pastoral Council assists the pastor in guiding the community in its mission to advance the Gospel. The Parish Finance Council oversees parish financial administration. Members with backgrounds in finance or governance are encouraged to inquire about current vacancies.
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Parish Finance Council
- Contact the parish office for current vacancies
Pathways to a Thriving Parish
Holy Spirit is engaged in a three-year parish-wide discernment project called 'Pathways to a Thriving Parish,' funded by a grant from the Lilly Foundation. The initiative includes parish listening sessions held throughout the year and is intended to shape the parish's next chapter as it builds on its 100-year history.
- Three-year Lilly Foundation-funded project
- Parish-wide listening sessions
- Builds on 2023 centennial moment
Publications and Communications
The parish produces a weekly bulletin that lists the current ministry schedule, holy-day Mass times, and announcements. Bulletins are archived on the parish website and can be emailed directly to subscribers through the parish's publications sign-up.
- Weekly parish bulletin (online archive)
- Email subscription available via hsceg.org/publications
Office, Contact, and Visiting
The parish office is open Monday 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM and Thursday/Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, and is closed Saturday and Sunday. Staff are often available outside regular hours; visitors are encouraged to call ahead. The parish is located at 667 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush, NY 12061, and can be reached at 518-477-7925 or [email protected].
- Address: 667 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush, NY 12061
- Phone: 518-477-7925
- Email: [email protected]
- Office: Mon 9–2; Thu/Fri 9–1; Sat/Sun closed
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Fox1923–c.1938
First pastor; appointed by Bishop Gibbons; previously assistant at St. Peter's, Saratoga Springs. Grew parish from 50 to 455 in 15 years.