About Sacred Heart · Stamford, New York
Sacred Heart Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Albany serving the northern Delaware County communities of Stamford and Grand Gorge in the northern Catskills of upstate New York. The parish includes Sacred Heart Church at 27 Harper Street in Stamford and the mission church of St. Philip Neri at 60676 NY-30 in Grand Gorge. The community gathers for daily and weekend Masses at both locations, supported by Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, faith formation for youth and adults, and a wide network of parish organizations and charitable outreach. The current administrator is Fr. Paul J. Mijas, assisted by parish secretary Mrs. Kelly Bauer and Faith Formation Director Mrs. Carleen Russell.
- Established
- 1870
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Paul J. Mijas (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
Sacred Heart offers an unusually full Catholic life for a rural mountain parish: daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a regular confession schedule at two church locations. Members can grow in faith through adult OCIA (formerly RCIA) and youth religious education, and they can put faith into action through a remarkable range of ministries — the Gabriel Project for crisis pregnancies, the Women's Guild, the Knights of Columbus, Respect Life, Vocations, Building & Grounds, Cemetery, and Social committees, and outreach such as a local food pantry and the Flag Day parish float. Welcoming both permanent and seasonal residents of the Catskills, the parish invites anyone — visiting or newly arrived — to join its community of Christian disciples.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Fridays 11:00 AM (Sacred Heart, Stamford)
- Saturdays 3:30 PM (Sacred Heart, Stamford)
- Sundays 7:30 AM (St. Philip Neri, Grand Gorge)
- Before or after Tuesday and Wednesday Mass at Sacred Heart
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Fridays 11:00 AM (Sacred Heart, Stamford) — preceding the noon Mass
- First Saturdays 9:00 AM
History of Sacred Heart Parish
Catholic families arrived in Stamford in northern Delaware County in the late 1860s, drawn by the railroad and the new summer boarding-house trade. In 1869, Rev. Thomas Riley of Cobleskill purchased a church site in the southwest part of the village then called "Brooklyn"; the original Sacred Heart Church was built and dedicated by Bishop J.J. Conroy of Albany on October 25, 1870. That wooden church stood for 95 years until a February 1965 windstorm cracked its ceiling timbers, leading to condemnation. Construction of the present Sacred Heart Church began in April 1966 on the same site, but reoriented to face west. The parish's mission church, St. Philip Neri in Grand Gorge, marked its 100th anniversary on October 13 (2024) with Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger concelebrating. The parish history was compiled by Linda Palm in 2016.
- 1869 — site purchased by Rev. Thomas Riley of Cobleskill
- 1870 — first Sacred Heart Church built and dedicated on October 25 by Bishop J.J. Conroy
- February 1965 — severe windstorm; structure condemned
- April 1966 — new Sacred Heart Church construction begins on the same site, facing west
- 1924 — founding era of the Grand Gorge / St. Philip Neri mission (100th anniversary celebrated October 13, 2024)
- 2016 — parish history compiled by Linda Palm
Our Mission
The mission of Sacred Heart Church & St. Philip Neri Church is to become an evangelizing community of Christian disciples — growing in personal relationship with Jesus, deepening understanding and love for the Catholic faith, gaining the confidence to share the faith with others, and faithfully living the Gospel in the world. The parish welcomes permanent, seasonal, and weekend residents, as well as visitors, to participate in its activities and ministries, recognizing that each person has unique gifts and talents to serve God and neighbor.
Worship and Sacraments
The parish offers a rich sacramental schedule spanning two locations. Sacred Heart Church in Stamford hosts the Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil Mass and weekday Masses on Tuesday and Wednesday at 9:00 AM and Friday at noon (preceded by 11:00 AM Eucharistic Adoration). St. Philip Neri Church in Grand Gorge hosts Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM. Reconciliation is offered Fridays at 11:00 AM and Saturdays at 3:30 PM at Sacred Heart, and Sundays at 7:30 AM at St. Philip Neri — plus by appointment before or after weekday Mass.
- Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil Mass (Sacred Heart, Stamford)
- Sunday 8:00 AM Mass (St. Philip Neri, Grand Gorge)
- Tuesday & Wednesday 9:00 AM Mass; Friday noon Mass (Sacred Heart)
- Reconciliation: Friday 11 AM, Saturday 3:30 PM, Sunday 7:30 AM, or by appointment
- Eucharistic Adoration: Friday 11 AM; First Saturday 9 AM
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at Sacred Heart serves both adults and youth. Programming and religious education are directed by Mrs. Carleen Russell. Adults interested in becoming Catholic or completing their sacraments (OCIA / RCIA) are invited to contact the Parish Office. The parish also welcomes volunteer catechists to teach the children of the parish.
- Faith Formation Director: Mrs. Carleen Russell — [email protected]
- Contact for OCIA / Adult Sacraments: Parish Office (607) 652-7170 or [email protected]
- Catechist and youth ministry volunteers needed
Parish Organizations & Ministries
A broad network of parish groups gives members many ways to live the faith. Charitable and fraternal organizations support mothers in crisis pregnancies, local women, and the parish's broader community life, while committees handle parish buildings, the cemetery, vocations, respect life advocacy, social events, and floats for the annual Stamford Flag Day Parade.
- Gabriel Project — parish-based outreach for women facing crisis pregnancy; contact Terri Donahue (845) 399-6006
- Women's Guild — charity, fellowship, support for Maryknoll Missioner Peg Vamosy, Christmas Giving Tree, troops abroad, food pantry, Robinson Terrace
- Knights of Columbus — fraternal Catholic service organization supporting priests and parish liturgy
- OCIA Team / Adult Faith Formation
- Faith Formation Catechists / Youth Ministry
- Vocations Committee — sponsors two discerners in the Diocese of Albany
- Respect Life Committee — Mother's Day Baby Shower, School Supply drives, clothes for the homeless, advocacy trips, March for Life
- Social Committee — bingo, family fun nights, parish fellowship events
- Flag Day Parade Committee — annual Stamford parade float (June 14)
- Annual Picnic Committee — coordinates cooking, setup, and cleanup
- NCYC — parish delegation to the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indiana
- Building and Grounds Committee — contact Len Marigliano (607) 652-9088
- Cemetery Committee — Sacred Heart Cemetery maintenance and improvement
- Food Pantry — Mrs. Katie Ryerson (910) 545-3324
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical volunteers serve in key roles that make parish worship possible. Opportunities exist for those willing to step into these ministries of service in the Sacred Heart community.
- Ministry of Ushers
- Ministry of Readers
- Contact Fr. Paul Mijas (607) 652-7170 to volunteer
Contact, Office & Staff
The Rectory and Parish Office share one location at 27 Harper Street, Stamford. Parish Office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (closed Mondays and Fridays). Fr. Paul Mijas is supported by parish secretary Mrs. Kelly Bauer and faith-formation director Mrs. Carleen Russell.
- Administrator: Rev. Paul J. Mijas
- Secretary: Mrs. Kelly Bauer
- Faith Formation Director: Mrs. Carleen Russell — [email protected]
- Office Phone: (607) 652-7170
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM