About Immaculate Heart of Mary · Watervliet, New York
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Watervliet, New York, also serving the neighboring village of Green Island. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and is currently led by Father Don Rutherford. The parish worships at the renovated former Immaculate Conception Church building at 2416 7th Avenue in Watervliet. Its mission, as stated on the parish website, is to 'proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to praise His name, by being a Christ-centered, welcoming, unified community' through worship, the sacraments, catechesis, evangelization, and service. The parish runs a food pantry, Mary's Kitchen soup ministry, faith formation for all ages, and a wide range of prayer, outreach, and bereavement ministries.
- Established
- 2005
- Patron
- Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Don Rutherford (Fr Don Rutherford)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
Immaculate Heart of Mary is the consolidated Catholic home for Watervliet and Green Island, formed to be a single welcoming community out of six historic parishes. A parishioner or visitor can worship at Sunday Masses (7:30 am and 11:00 am), weekday Masses Tuesday–Thursday at 9:00 am, and Saturday Vigil at 4:00 pm, with Tuesday morning adoration and Saturday confessions. The parish feeds neighbors through Mary's Kitchen on Mondays and a Food Pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays, surrounds the homebound with Friendly Visitors, Communion calls, the Prayer Tree, and a Prayer Blanket Ministry, and walks families through every sacrament from baptism through matrimony and Anointing of the Sick. With active Faith Formation for all ages, RCIA, a Rosary Society, a Funeral Choir, Lazarus Bereavement Ministry, a Right to Life group, and a Welcome Ministry, there is a place for almost anyone to belong and serve.
Mass times at Immaculate Heart of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm (also by arrangement through the parish office)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:30 am – 11:00 am (following the 9:00 am Mass)
Welcome and Parish Mission
The official parish website opens with a clear mission statement: 'Our Mission at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish is to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to praise His name, by being a Christ-centered, welcoming, unified community.' The parish sees itself as 'called to holiness,' celebrating God's love through prayer and worship, the Eucharist and other sacraments, catechesis, evangelization, and service, while striving to be 'good stewards of our time, talent and treasure.' New parishioners are explicitly invited to register by calling the parish office at 518-273-6020.
- Mission: proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ
- Called to holiness through prayer, worship, Eucharist, catechesis, evangelization and service
- Parish registration by phone through the parish office
History of the Parish
Immaculate Heart of Mary was created in 2005 when the Diocese of Albany merged six Watervliet and Green Island parishes into one community. The name, chosen by parishioner vote, deliberately echoes two of the closing churches — Sacred Heart of Mary and Immaculate Conception. Through stages of closure (2006, 2010–2011) the parish eventually consolidated into a single worship site at the renovated Immaculate Conception Church on 7th Avenue, formally dedicated in October 2011 by Bishop Howard Hubbard. Funding came largely from the sale of the closed parishes.
- Founded May 15, 2005 (Pentecost Sunday) by merger of six parishes
- Forming parishes: St. Brigid's, St. Patrick's, St. Joseph's, Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Sacred Heart of Mary
- Name chosen by parishioner vote (Immaculate Heart of Mary — 379 votes)
- Three worship sites (2006–2011): St. Brigid's, St. Patrick's, St. Joseph's
- Consolidated worship site dedicated October 7, 2011 by Bishop Howard Hubbard
Parish Staff and Clergy
The Contacts page of the parish website lists the current leadership and office staff. Father Don Rutherford serves as pastor. Shawn Allen is the Business Administrator, with Judith Pope as Administrative Assistant and Mary Beth Knapik as Secretary. Sharon Kowalski coordinates Faith Formation, and Linda Dunbar handles Sacramental Records and archives. The founding pastor, Rev. L. Edward Deimeke — a former U.S. Air Force chaplain — led the 2005 merger and the consolidation into the current worship site.
- Pastor: Fr Don Rutherford
- Business Administrator: Shawn Allen
- Administrative Assistant: Judith Pope
- Secretary: Mary Beth Knapik
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Sharon Kowalski
- Sacramental Records / Archivist: Linda Dunbar
- Founding Pastor: Rev. L. Edward Deimeke
Parish Office, Hours and Location
The Parish Life Center, where the office is located, sits at 2416 7th Avenue, Watervliet, NY 12189. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm; the office is closed on Fridays. The Faith Formation Ministry Center is one block away at 2425 7th Avenue. The phone number is 518-273-6020 (extensions 301 and 302 for the office) and the fax is 518-273-3978; general email is [email protected].
- Parish Life Center: 2416 7th Avenue, Watervliet, NY 12189
- Faith Formation Ministry Center: 2425 7th Avenue
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 am – 3:30 pm (closed Friday)
- Phone: 518-273-6020 • Fax: 518-273-3978 • Email: [email protected]
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation at Immaculate Heart of Mary serves children, youth and adults, with sessions held Sunday mornings from 9:30 am to 10:45 am, followed by the 11:00 am Family Mass. There is a two-year preparation period for the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation, and children must participate in parish catechetical programs for one full year before immediate preparation for a given sacrament. Fees are $40 per child or $50 per family of two or more, with accommodations available. The Faith Formation calendar runs from October through May and includes Family Masses, a Pasta Dinner, World Youth Day, Resurrection and Thanksgiving activities, Advent and Lenten events, Living Stations, a Parish Christmas Party, May Crowning, First Eucharist, and Confirmation.
- Sunday morning sessions 9:30–10:45 am, followed by 11:00 am Family Mass
- Two-year sacramental preparation (Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation)
- Fees: $40/child or $50/family of 2+
- Year-long catechetical program with Family Masses, retreats, and special events
- RCIA and adult sacramental preparation also offered
Ministries and Parish Life
The parish organizes its lay life around three internal offices — Prayer and Worship, Education, and Administration — and a wide range of outreach and parish groups. Outreach to the sick and homebound is served by Friendly Visitors, Communion to the Homebound, the Prayer Tree Team, and a Prayer Blanket Ministry. Social outreach includes a parish Food Pantry and Mary's Soup Kitchen. Parish groups include the Rosary Society, Funeral Choir, Lazarus Bereavement Ministry, Right to Life, and a Welcome Ministry for newcomers.
- Outreach to the sick/homebound: Friendly Visitors, Communion to the Homebound, Prayer Tree, Prayer Blanket Ministry
- Social Outreach: Food Pantry (Tue/Thu 9–10 am), Mary's Soup Kitchen (Mon 3–5 pm)
- Parish groups: Rosary Society, Funeral Choir, Lazarus (Bereavement) Ministry, Right to Life, Welcome Ministry
Sacraments
Immaculate Heart of Mary prepares and celebrates all the usual Catholic sacraments. Parents are asked to call the parish office before a baby is born to arrange Baptism. Couples should contact the parish as soon as an engagement is announced to begin Matrimony preparation. Children prepare for Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation through the parish Faith Formation program, while adults and older children go through the RCIA. Anointing of the Sick is administered on the first full weekend of every month immediately following Mass, and is also available by calling the parish office for the seriously ill or hospitalized.
- Baptism — arrange before the baby is born
- Matrimony — arrange as soon as the engagement is announced
- Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation — two-year preparation for children; RCIA for adults
- Anointing of the Sick — first full weekend of each month after Mass, or by request
Outreach and Service to the Community
Two concrete works of mercy anchor the parish's outreach. Mary's Soup Kitchen (also called Mary's Kitchen) serves meals most Mondays from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and the parish Food Pantry distributes food on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 10:00 am. The parish also runs a Thanksgiving Food Delivery program each November and supports a Right to Life group. The historic St. Patrick's building was even kept in use after closure to house the soup kitchen until renovations were complete.
- Mary's Soup Kitchen — most Mondays, 3:00–5:00 pm
- Food Pantry — Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00–10:00 am
- Thanksgiving Food Deliveries (November)
- Right to Life ministry
Prayer, Devotions and Holy Week
Beyond the regular Mass and adoration schedule, the parish publishes a robust calendar of seasonal devotions. Tuesdays feature Eucharistic Adoration from 9:30 to 11:00 am after the 9:00 am Mass. Lent includes weekly Friday Stations of the Cross and Living Stations presented by the Faith Formation youth. The parish celebrates a Christmas Eve Family Mass at 4:30 pm, a May Crowning, and an Easter Sunday Mass typically celebrated by the Bishop of Albany. The detailed Holy Week and Easter schedule is posted each year on the parish home page.
- Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration 9:30–11:00 am
- Stations of the Cross on Fridays in Lent, with Living Stations by youth on Good Friday
- Christmas Eve Family Mass 4:30 pm
- May Crowning
- Easter Sunday Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Albany
Stewardship and Giving
The parish website points visitors to a 'We Share' tab for online giving, emphasizing that tithing commitments help the parish continue to operate. Weekly bulletins (PDF) are posted on the parish site with further news, upcoming events, and stewardship articles.
- Online giving through WeShare (link from parish website)
- Weekly bulletin posted in PDF on the parish website
- Parishioners encouraged to register and contribute time, talent, and treasure
Livestream and Online Presence
Immaculate Heart of Mary streams its Masses live on Vimeo via the parish's event page (vimeo.com/event/572225), allowing shut-ins and those away to participate. The parish also distributes its weekly bulletin online as a PDF and shares announcements on its Weebly site.
- Livestreamed Masses via Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/event/572225)
- Weekly bulletin published online
- General contact email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. L. Edward Deimeke2005 – circa 2011
Founding pastor; former U.S. Air Force chaplain. Led the merger of six parishes, the 2006 closures of Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Sacred Heart of Mary, and the 2011 consolidation into the renovated Immaculate Conception worship site.
- Rev. Don Rutherfordcurrent
Listed as pastor on the parish's official Contacts page.