About Our Lady of Fatima · Delanson, New York
Our Lady of Fatima Church is a small Roman Catholic parish of roughly 300 households serving the village of Delanson in rural Schenectady County, New York. Founded in December 1952 by Bishop Edmund F. Gibbons of Albany, it grew out of a mission that St. Vincent de Paul parish in Cobleskill had tended in the area since 1872. Today the parish is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, follows an intergenerational Generations of Faith (GIFT) model of faith formation, and runs a parish food pantry along with other outreach ministries such as the Angel Tree, area group-home visits, and Adopt-A-Highway.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- Our Lady of Fatima
- Rector
- Fr. Thomas Zelker
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
Our Lady of Fatima is a close-knit parish family of about 300 households in the village of Delanson, where every member is welcomed as a potential new family member. The parish follows the Generations of Faith (GIFT) intergenerational model of lifelong faith formation, gathering all ages around seasonal potluck meals and shared study — most recently of the Sacraments through the Gospel of John. Its disciples put faith into action through a parish food pantry, the Angel Tree Christmas ministry, visits to an area group home, an Adopt-A-Highway commitment, and Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowls. Small enough to know your neighbor, rooted in a tradition reaching back to 1872, it is a parish that both worships together and serves together.
Mass times at Our Lady of Fatima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 2:00 pm (per the Diocese of Albany parish listing)
- Saturday 3:30 pm–3:50 pm (per Discover Mass)
About Our Lady of Fatima Parish
Our Lady of Fatima Church is a Roman Catholic parish of about 300 households in the village of Delanson, New York, in the rural hills west of Schenectady. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and is led by Fr. Thomas Zelker as pastor, supported by a small staff of pastoral associates, a music director, a bookkeeper, and office staff. The parish describes itself as 'a family… and growing,' and states that 'our doors are always open to new family members. All are welcome!'
- About 300 households
- Part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
- Pastor: Fr. Thomas Zelker
- Welcome message: 'Our doors are always open to new family members.'
History: From Railroad Mission to 1952 Parish
Catholic life in Delanson dates to 1872, when Father John Brosman, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul in Cobleskill, began traveling by train to the village to celebrate Mass and administer the sacraments. For more than twenty years this monthly journey — made possible by the Delaware & Hudson Railroad that gave the village its very name — was how local Catholics received pastoral care. After eight decades as a mission, the community was formally established as an independent parish in December 1952 by the Most Reverend Edmund F. Gibbons, Bishop of Albany, with Father Casey as its first pastor.
- 1872: parish begins as a mission of St. Vincent de Paul, Cobleskill
- Father John Brosman traveled from Cobleskill to Delanson by train
- December 1952: established as a parish by Bishop Edmund F. Gibbons
- Father Casey served as the first pastor
- Village name 'Delanson' combines 'Delaware' and 'Hudson' from the D&H Railroad
Parish Staff and Leadership
Day-to-day parish life is shepherded by a pastor and a committed lay staff. Pastoral Associates handle sacramental catechesis and faith formation; the Food Pantry Director coordinates one of the parish's largest outreach ministries; and a Music Director leads worship. Trustees, Pastoral Council, and Finance Council provide governance, supported by a Prayer and Worship Committee and a Church Committee.
- Fr. Thomas Zelker — Pastor
- Laura Countryman — Pastoral Associate for Sacramental Catechesis
- Sena Monaco — Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation / Food Pantry Director
- Carol Wilber — Music Director
- Kristine Zedaker — Bookkeeper
- Brenda Rowley — staff
- Janet Ingro — Office Staff
- Trustees: Addie Breitenstein and Jeannette Coppolo
- Pastoral Council President: Paul Reveal; Vice President: Michael Pagano; Secretary: Mary Ann Conway
Faith Formation — Growing in Faith Together (GIFT)
Our Lady of Fatima follows the Generations of Faith model of intergenerational, lifelong faith formation. Rather than age-graded classroom catechesis, the parish gathers all ages together several times a year — typically with a potluck meal after Mass — to study a common theme. Recent seasons have explored 'Renewal,' a deeper study of the Sacraments in relation to the Gospel of John, and First Eucharist and Confirmation preparation through a 'SPIRIT' process of ritual, prayer, faith sharing, mentorship, and reflection.
- Seasonal schedule: September–December, January–April, May–August
- Gatherings held after Saturday 4 pm Mass or Sunday 11 am Mass
- Family activities, children's coloring kits, and a parish app
- Companion website: olfgrowinginfaith.weebly.com
- First Eucharist preparation for children age 7+ active in GIFT for one year
- Confirmation for 10th grade and above, held each Spring
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church. Sacramental preparation is rooted in the SPIRIT process — a year of ritual, prayer, faith sharing, mentorship, reflection, and liturgy. Children preparing for First Eucharist must be at least 7 and have been active in GIFT for a full year; Confirmation candidates must be in 10th grade or above and active in GIFT for at least one year. Adults seeking Baptism or full communion are welcomed through the RCIA process.
- Baptism — contact Parish Office (518-895-2788)
- Marriage — contact Parish Office 6 months to 1 year in advance
- First Eucharist — contact Laura Countryman, 518-895-2313, [email protected]
- Confirmation — Spring each year
- RCIA — contact the Parish Office
Outreach and Service
Service is a defining mark of Our Lady of Fatima. The parish food pantry is one of its largest ministries, supported through the Angel Tree Christmas gift program for pantry clients. Parishioners also visit residents of an area group home, keep a stretch of highway clean through the Adopt-A-Highway program, and support Catholic Relief Services through Rice Bowls. A Prayer Ministry prays for anyone in need of prayer — requests can be made to James Keller.
- Parish Food Pantry
- Angel Tree Ministry (Christmas gifts for food pantry customers)
- Area group home visits
- Adopt-A-Highway
- Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowls
- Prayer Ministry — contact James Keller, 518-295-7970, [email protected]
Liturgical Ministries and Committees
Worship is supported by a roster of lay liturgical ministers and standing committees. Coordinators organize Eucharistic Ministers, Greeters, Lectors, and Counters; a Prayer and Worship Committee and a Church Committee care for the liturgical and physical life of the building. The Knights of Columbus are active in the parish community.
- Eucharistic Ministers — Carole Hoffmann (518-875-6575)
- Greeters — Mary Ann Conway (518-895-2797)
- Lectors — Josephine Errichetto
- Counters — Kris Zedaker (518-864-7491)
- Prayer and Worship Committee: Mary Ann Conway, Pat Van Slyck, Carol Wilber, Laura Countryman
- Church Committee: Margie Raymo, Mary Ann Conway, Ellen Snowdon, Paul Reveal, Gaye Smith, Janet Korwan
- Finance Council: Addie Breitenstein, Jim Nichols, Pat Van Slyck, Lewis DeFilippo
- Knights of Columbus
Devotions and Special Events
Beyond Sunday and weekday Mass, the parish offers seasonal devotional opportunities. Most notably, during Lent the parish hall is transformed into a Labyrinth of Peace — a 'pilgrimage of conversion' where the community 'walks quietly in the footsteps of Christ' over a Saturday and Sunday. Bulletin listings also show ongoing Prayer Ministry gatherings and parish-app content for daily faith formation at home.
- Labyrinth of Peace — Lenten pilgrimage of conversion in Our Lady of Fatima Hall
- Parish Prayer Ministry
- Seasonal GIFT gatherings with potluck meals
- Children's coloring and reflection kits during services
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Casey1952–
First pastor of Our Lady of Fatima; described the new church as 'accommodating three hundred people' with a 'noble bell tower' and a sanctuary with 'a beautiful altar.'