About Our Lady of the Snow (Mission of Our Lady of Victory Church) · Grafton, New York
Our Lady of the Snow is a Catholic mission church located at 31 Owen Road in the rural town of Grafton, New York, and serves as the Grafton outpost of Our Lady of Victory Church in nearby Troy. Originally founded as St. John Francis Regis Parish in 1912 in a converted creamery, the community built its current church in 1996 and was renamed Our Lady of the Snow in 2009 when it merged with Sacred Heart of Berlin under Bishop Howard Hubbard's 'Called to be Church' initiative. The mission is best known for its scenic grounds, an outdoor Stations of the Cross and Marian Grotto for prayer, and the OLV-OLS Food Pantry, which serves families in need every Saturday. It celebrates one Sunday Mass each week at 11:00 AM and is pastored together with Our Lady of Victory and Christ Sun of Justice Parish at RPI as part of a regionalized Catholic community in the Diocese of Albany.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Snow (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Father Thomas Morrette
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Snow offers a peaceful, rural Catholic home in the Grafton hills with a single Sunday Family Mass at 11:00 AM, surrounded by a Marian Grotto and an outdoor Stations of the Cross that make the grounds themselves a place of prayer. The mission is also the home of the OLV-OLS Food Pantry, open every Saturday morning to serve families in need, giving parishioners a hands-on way to live the works of mercy. As a mission of Our Lady of Victory in Troy, it shares the larger parish's faith formation, RCIA, music ministry, Knights of Columbus and Columbiettes councils, and sacramental life, while keeping the close-knit feel of a small country church.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Snow (Mission of Our Lady of Victory Church)
Weekly Mass schedule
Our Lady of the Snow Mission
Our Lady of the Snow is a Catholic mission church located at 31 Owen Road in Grafton, NY, serving as the Grafton outreach of Our Lady of Victory Church in Troy. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and shares pastoral leadership, faith formation, and ministries with the larger Our Lady of Victory parish community.
- Address: 31 Owen Road, Grafton, NY 12082
- Type: Mission church (mission of Our Lady of Victory, Troy)
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
- Sunday Mass: 11:00 AM (Family Mass)
History of the Parish
The Catholic community in Grafton traces its origins to 1912, when an old creamery was converted into a place of worship for the newly established St. John Francis Regis Parish. In 1994, a capital campaign was launched to build a proper church, and within two years a new building was constructed on Owen Road off Route 2. Bishop Howard Hubbard dedicated the new church on Ascension Thursday, May 13, 1996.
- 1912: Original worship site — a converted creamery — dedicated as St. John Francis Regis Parish.
- 1994: Capital campaign launched for a new church building.
- May 13, 1996: New church on Owen Road dedicated by Bishop Howard Hubbard.
- 2009: St. John Francis Regis merged with Sacred Heart of Berlin under Bishop Hubbard's 'Called to be Church' initiative and renamed Our Lady of the Snow.
- Today: Operates as a mission of Our Lady of Victory Church in Troy, NY.
Mass and Sacraments
Our Lady of the Snow celebrates one Sunday Mass each week at 11:00 AM, often identified as the Family Mass. Sacramental preparation, including Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation, is coordinated through the parish's Faith Formation program and the Our Lady of Victory parish office.
- Sunday Mass: 11:00 AM
- Baptisms: First Sunday of the month after the 11:00 AM Mass (schedule through the parish office)
- Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation
- RCIA for adults entering the Catholic faith
OLV-OLS Food Pantry
The OLV-OLS Food Pantry is located on site at Our Lady of the Snow Mission and is one of the parish's most visible works of mercy. It serves many local families year-round, with operations currently running on Saturdays. Volunteers shop, organize, and stock the pantry, which offers frozen meats, fresh eggs and milk, fresh vegetables, non-perishables, and toiletries.
- Location: 31 Owen Road, Grafton, NY (at Our Lady of the Snow Mission)
- Hours: Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (some listings note 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
- Coordinators: Julie Darling (518-421-5070) and Gloria Kieber (518-892-6722)
- Email: [email protected]
- Donation bins located in the Gathering Areas of Our Lady of Victory in Troy and Our Lady of the Snow in Grafton
Grounds: Outdoor Stations of the Cross and Marian Grotto
The grounds of Our Lady of the Snow are part of what makes the mission distinctive. Behind the church, an outdoor Stations of the Cross runs along a gravel path near a Marian Grotto, providing a quiet space for prayer and contemplation. A new statue of the Immaculate Heart was donated and blessed on September 27, 2020 by then-Associate Pastor Father Samuel Bellafiore.
- Outdoor Stations of the Cross on a gravel path behind the church
- Marian Grotto for prayer and contemplation
- Immaculate Heart statue blessed September 27, 2020 by Father Samuel Bellafiore
Parish Ministries and Community Life
As a mission of Our Lady of Victory, Our Lady of the Snow shares in the larger parish's ministries and community life, including faith formation, music, social justice outreach, and fraternal organizations. The Social Justice Committee, in particular, operates the on-site Food Pantry and coordinates the annual Christmas Giving Tree and Backpack and School Supplies drives.
- Social Justice Committee (operates the Food Pantry; Christmas Giving Tree; Backpack & School Supplies drives)
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Caitlin Levine (children grades 1–10)
- RCIA program for non-Catholic adults
- Parish Choir and Music Ministry under Marjorie Voytko
- Knights of Columbus Council (men)
- Columbiettes Council (women)
- Pastoral Care / Christian Outreach ministry
- Early Childhood Pre-Kindergarten Program (at OLV Parish Center, Troy)
Staff and Clergy
Our Lady of the Snow is served by the pastoral team of Our Lady of Victory Church. Father Thomas Morrette has served as pastor since July 1, 2021, having previously been pastor of St. Mary's in Glens Falls. He is assisted by two deacons and parish staff who oversee faith formation, music, and the parish office.
- Pastor: Father Thomas Morrette (since July 2021)
- Deacon Willis Wolf
- Deacon Brian Lewis
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Caitlin Levine
- Music Ministry Director: Marjorie Voytko
- Parish Secretary: Danielle
Community Events
Each year Our Lady of the Snow Mission takes part in the Grafton Town Festival, an opportunity for the rural parish to engage with its wider community. Festival events include the Sister Kennan McGowan's Memorial Giant Raffle, a bake sale, and other family-friendly activities.
- Grafton Town Festival (annual)
- Sister Kennan McGowan's Memorial Giant Raffle
- Bake sale
Visiting Our Lady of the Snow
Our Lady of the Snow welcomes visitors and newcomers to its Sunday Family Mass at 11:00 AM. Those wishing to register as parishioners of the Our Lady of Victory – Our Lady of the Snow community can download a Parish Registration Form from olvols.org or contact the parish office during office hours (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM).
- Sunday Mass: 11:00 AM at 31 Owen Road, Grafton, NY
- Parish Office: 55 North Lake Ave, Troy, NY 12180
- Office Phone: 518-273-7602
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Parish Registration Form available on olvols.org