Sacred Heart Church

About Sacred Heart Parish

Sacred Heart Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Albany serving Castleton-on-Hudson, New York, and surrounding areas of Rensselaer and Columbia Counties. Founded in 1887 and worshipping today at 3 Catholic Way, it offers two Sunday Masses, weekday Mass at the Sisters of the Resurrection convent, the sacraments, Faith Formation for children in grades K-11, and a YouTube livestream for those at home.

Parish History

The parish traces its roots to 1887, when Bishop McNerney appointed Rev. William A. Browne as the first pastor. Land on Stimpson Avenue was bought in August 1887, the cornerstone laid in November, and the church dedicated within a year. The community had earlier worshipped in a private home and in the old Van Hoesen's Hall. Sacred Heart School opened with 82 students by 1897 but was closed in 1913. On Ash Wednesday 1919, a fire destroyed the church; a new church was built under Fr. Thomas Burns at a cost of $46,000. In 1921, Schodack Landing and Stuyvesant became a separate parish, later consolidated back under Sacred Heart in 1985. The parish marked its 100th Anniversary under Msgr. Joseph P. Conway, who served 1979–1992.

• Founded 1887 by Bishop McNerney
• First pastor: Rev. William A. Browne
• Stimpson Avenue land purchased August 19, 1887 for $3,000
• Cornerstone laid November 1887; dedicated about a year later
• Ash Wednesday fire, March 5, 1919, destroyed the church
• New church built 1919–1921 under Fr. Thomas Burns at $46,000
• 100th Anniversary celebrated under Msgr. Joseph P. Conway (pastor 1979–1992)

Mass & Sacraments

Sunday Mass is celebrated at 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM at the church. Weekday Mass (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday at 8:00 AM) is held at the Sisters of the Resurrection, 35 Boltwood Avenue, Castleton, NY. The sacrament of Reconciliation is heard each Sunday from 9:00 to 9:25 AM, before the 9:30 Mass, and by appointment through the parish office.

• Sunday: 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM
• Tue/Wed/Fri 8:00 AM at Sisters of the Resurrection, 35 Boltwood Ave
• Confession: Sundays 9:00–9:25 AM and by appointment

Live Streaming Mass

Sacred Heart live-streams Mass so that parishioners who cannot attend in person can still participate. Live and recent services are available on the parish's YouTube channel, linked from the parish website.

Pastoral Staff & Parish Staff

The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Quy N. Vo, with Rev. Brian Lehnert serving as Associate Pastor, Rev. Thomas J. Krupa as Pastor in Residence, and Deacon Tom Nash assisting. Parish staff support administration, faith formation, music, youth ministry, and facilities.

• Rev. Quy N. Vo — Pastor
• Rev. Brian Lehnert — Associate Pastor
• Rev. Thomas J. Krupa — Pastor in Residence / Priest in Residence
• Dcn. Tom Nash — Deacon
• Daniel Fudge — Pastoral Associate for Administration
• Lisa McGarvey-Davis — Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation, K-11 (518-495-5245)
• Christine Moran — Parish Secretary
• Mark Brockley — Director of Music
• Dan Forget, RN, FCN — Parish Nurse
• Barbara Berger — Youth Minister
• Kevin Konig — Groundskeeper

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith Formation at Sacred Heart serves children from Kindergarten through 11th grade and is directed by Lisa McGarvey-Davis. Families may register by calling the Faith Formation office at (518) 732-1106 or by submitting the online form on the parish website. Youth Ministry is led by Barbara Berger, expanding student participation through programs coordinated with the parish.

• Faith Formation Office: (518) 732-1106
• Director: Lisa McGarvey-Davis, (518) 495-5245
• Grades K-11
• Youth Minister: Barbara Berger

Liturgical Ministries

Parishioners serve the liturgical life of Sacred Heart as Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. The Lector ministry proclaims the readings from Sacred Scripture (except the Gospel), may announce the intentions of the Universal Prayer, and may recite the Psalm when no psalmist is present. Extraordinary Ministers assist the priest in distributing the Body and Blood of Christ during Mass. Schedules for each ministry are posted on the parish website.

• Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion — Coordinator: Sharon Martin
• Lector
• See current EM and Lector schedules at sacredheartcastleton.org/ministry-schedules

Parish Prayer & Fellowship Groups

Beyond the liturgy, Sacred Heart hosts gatherings that support the spiritual and communal life of the parish. The Workers of St. Joseph Men's Group meets monthly in the Holy Spirit Chapel and includes morning prayer, adoration, optional reconciliation, Holy Mass, and fellowship. The Mustard Seed Group meets monthly for lunch, conversation, speakers, and music, supporting parishioners in living healthy, full lives.

• Workers of St. Joseph Men's Group — third Thursday, 5:00 AM, Holy Spirit Chapel (joint venture with Holy Spirit Church, East Greenbush)
• Mustard Seed Group — second Wednesday of the month, beginning at 12:00 PM

Parish Nurse Ministry

Sacred Heart maintains a Parish Nurse ministry led by Dan Forget, RN, FCN, supporting parishioners' health and wellbeing as part of the parish's broader pastoral care.

• Parish Nurse: Dan Forget, RN, FCN

New Sacred Heart Cemetery

The parish operates the New Sacred Heart Cemetery, located at 1713-1717 S Old Post Rd, Castleton-on-Hudson, NY 12033. The cemetery property was acquired under Msgr. Joseph P. Conway, who also presided over the parish's 100th Anniversary. Those interested in purchasing plots may stop in the parish office or submit the form on the parish website.

• Address: 1713-1717 S Old Post Rd, Castleton-On-Hudson, NY 12033
• Cemetery Rules and Regulations available on parish website
• Cemetery Price List available on parish website

Parish Office & Contact

The parish office is at 3 Catholic Way, Castleton-On-Hudson, NY 12033, and can be reached at (518) 732-2155 or [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Wednesday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (closed Friday).

• Address: 3 Catholic Way, Castleton-On-Hudson, NY 12033
• Phone: (518) 732-2155
• Email: [email protected]
• Office hours: Mon–Wed 9:00 AM–1:00 PM (closed Friday)

Pastoral Succession

Since 1887 the parish has been served by a succession of pastors and administrators. The full published succession on the parish history page begins with founding pastor Rev. William A. Browne (1887) and continues through Very Rev. Thomas J. Krupa and the current pastor, Rev. Quy Vo. Many pastors — including Fr. Thomas Burns (post-1919 fire), Fr. James P. Lawlor (post-WWII renewal), Fr. James Fitzpatrick (Vatican II), and Msgr. Joseph P. Conway (100th Anniversary) — left distinct marks on the buildings and the life of the parish.

• Rev. William A. Browne — 1887 (founding pastor)
• Fr. Michael J. Looney
• Fr. Robert Reilly
• Fr. Thomas Burns — 1919 (new church after the fire)
• Fr. Francis A. Roche — Administrator
• Rev. William J. Halpin — from January 1929
• Fr. Pierre H. Levesque
• Fr. Francis Schatzlein
• Fr. Francis Gostomski
• Fr. James P. Lawlor — from 1953 (post-war renewal)
• Fr. James Minehan
• Fr. Edward English
• Fr. Joseph Halloran
• Fr. John Harzynski
• Fr. James Fitzpatrick (Vatican II)
• Msgr. Joseph P. Conway — 1979 to January 1992
• Very Rev. Thomas J. Krupa (long-serving; now Pastor in Residence)
• Rev. Quy Vo — current Pastor

Diocese & Wider Catholic Community

Sacred Heart Parish is one of the parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, whose main page for the parish lists its contact details, Mass schedule, and pastor. Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Schodack Landing has been a Mission of Sacred Heart since 1985 and was historically the site of the Shrine of St. Jude.

• Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
• Diocese parish page: rcda.org/parishes/parish/sacred-heart-church-castleton-hudson-ny
• Mission: Our Lady of the Assumption, Schodack Landing (since 1985)