About St. Anthony of Padua · Troy, New York
St. Anthony of Padua is a Roman Catholic parish in Troy, New York, founded in 1892 to serve the Italian immigrant community of the city. Originally established as a national parish by Rev. John Santoro for twenty-three Italian families, it has been in the pastoral care of the Franciscan Friars (Order of Friars Minor) since 1926. Located at 28 State Street in downtown Troy, the parish today continues its mission to 'minister spiritually, sacramentally and physically to all who enter our doors' under the leadership of Fr. Richard J. Donovan, OFM, who became pastor in October 2017. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Albany and is recognized as a Hispanic shrine of St. Anthony in the United States.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Fr. Richard J. Donovan, OFM
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua is a welcoming downtown Troy parish with deep roots as a historic Italian-American Catholic community founded in 1892 and faithfully served by Franciscan friars since 1926. It offers daily Mass, two Sunday Masses, Saturday Vigil, Eucharistic Adoration during Lent, the Rosary on Wednesdays, and a range of ministries including Lectors, Communion Ministers, and pastoral care for the sick and homebound. The parish runs alongside The Roarke Center, a downtown outreach offering crisis intervention and advocacy to people in Troy, and operates St. Peter's Cemetery. Whether you are drawn by its Franciscan spirituality, its Italian Catholic heritage, or simply looking for a friendly parish family in the Capital Region, St. Anthony's offers a simple, faithful home.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–4:00 pm in Church
- Saturday by appointment in the Friary
- Or by appointment — please call the Friary (518-273-8622)
Adoration times
- Friday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during Lent only)
Parish History
St. Anthony of Padua was founded in 1892 by Rev. John Santoro as a national parish for Troy's Italian Catholic families. From its humble beginnings in the basement of St. Mary's Church on Third Street — and a converted Ferry Street structure — the parish grew rapidly through the great waves of Italian immigration, and in 1907 moved into a former Unitarian church at Fourth and State Street. Between 1957 and 1965, under the leadership of Rev. Thomas DeLuca, OFM, the parish built its first new buildings: a school, rectory, parish hall, and gymnasium. The current State Street church was dedicated on May 15, 1965 by Bishop William A. Scully. Since 1926 the parish has been entrusted to the Franciscan Friars of the Province of the Immaculate Conception, with Fr. Richard J. Donovan, OFM, welcomed as its latest Franciscan pastor in October 2017.
- 1892 — Founded by Rev. John Santoro for 23 Italian families
- 1905 — Purchased former 1876 Unitarian church at Fourth & State
- 1907 — First church building dedicated by Bishop T.M.A. Burke
- 1923–1925 — Fr. Lawrence Fantino serves as pastor
- 1926 — Care entrusted to Franciscans; Rev. Thomas Belli, OFM, first Franciscan pastor
- 1957–1965 — School, rectory, hall, and gymnasium built under Rev. Thomas DeLuca, OFM
- May 15, 1965 — Current church dedicated by Bishop William A. Scully
- October 2017 — Fr. Richard J. Donovan, OFM, begins as pastor
Franciscan Heritage
Since 1926, St. Anthony of Padua has been served by the Order of Friars Minor (the Franciscans) of the Province of the Immaculate Conception. The Franciscan tradition emphasizes humility, simplicity, Gospel poverty, and pastoral closeness to the people — values that continue to shape the parish's identity more than a century after its founding.
- Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans)
- Province of the Immaculate Conception
- Continuous Franciscan pastoral care since 1926
Pastoral Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by its Franciscan pastor alongside a friar in residence, a deacon, and lay staff and trustees. Pastoral council and finance committees provide lay leadership for the parish's mission.
- Fr. Richard J. Donovan, OFM — Pastor (since October 2017)
- Fr. Primo Piscitello, OFM — In Residence
- Deacon Charles Z. Wojton
- Suzanne Turner — Parish & Cemetery Business Manager
- Mary Jo Hughes — Organist
- Michael Lis — Organist
- Paul Dellio — Trustee
- Margaret Fitzgerald — Trustee
- Clement Campana — Parish Pastoral Council President
Devotions: Rosary & Novenas
The parish gathers to pray the Rosary every Wednesday after the 7:15 am Daily Mass. Parish novenas have been temporarily suspended as of the most recent bulletin.
- Rosary — Every Wednesday after Daily Mass
- Novenas — Temporarily suspended (please check the bulletin for updates)
Sacraments
St. Anthony of Padua prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to make arrangements at least six months in advance and attend a one-day Pre-Cana program. Baptisms are scheduled by calling the Friary.
- Baptism — Call to schedule
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:30–4:00 pm or by appointment
- Eucharist — See Mass Schedule
- Anointing of the Sick — Arranged through Pastoral Care
- Matrimony — Six months' notice required; Pre-Cana program required
- Pastoral Visitation / Communion calls to the sick and homebound
Ministries & Lay Leadership
Parishioners serve the parish through liturgical and pastoral ministries, including Lectors, Communion Ministers, and pastoral care for the hospitalized and homebound. The Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Committee, along with elected Trustees, provide lay governance and oversight of parish life and finances.
- Lectors
- Communion Ministers
- Pastoral Care
- Parish Pastoral Council — President: Clement Campana
- Parish Finance Committee
- Parish Trustees — Paul Dellio, Margaret Fitzgerald
Outreach: The Roarke Center
The parish operates alongside The Roarke Center at 107 Fourth Street in Troy, an outreach ministry that offers crisis intervention and advocacy to people in Troy. The center can be reached at (518) 273-8351. It reflects the parish's mission to minister 'spiritually, sacramentally and physically to all who enter our doors.'
- The Roarke Center
- 107 Fourth Street, Troy
- Phone: (518) 273-8351
- Services: crisis intervention and advocacy
St. Peter's Cemetery
St. Anthony of Padua operates St. Peter's Cemetery, which is managed together with the parish office by Parish Business Manager Suzanne Turner. Cemetery inquiries can be directed to the Friary at (518) 273-8622.
- St. Peter's Cemetery
- Managed through the parish office
- Contact: (518) 273-8622
Visit & Contact
St. Anthony of Padua is located at 28 State Street, Troy, NY 12180. Parish office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The church is open for private prayer and visits Monday through Thursday from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm, and on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only during Mass times. The parish livestreams its 9:00 am Sunday Mass on YouTube.
- Address: 28 State Street, Troy, NY 12180
- Phone: (518) 273-8622
- Fax: (518) 273-2731
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Church open for private prayer: Mon–Thu 7:00 am – 2:00 pm; Fri/Sat/Sun during Mass only
- Livestream: Sunday 9:00 am on YouTube
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Santoro1892 (founding pastor)
Organized the twenty-three Italian families of Troy into a national parish in 1892.
- Fr. Lawrence Fantino1923–1925
Final non-Franciscan pastor; served during the transition to Franciscan care.
- Rev. Thomas Belli, OFM1926
First Franciscan pastor assigned to the parish.
- Rev. Thomas DeLuca, OFM
Pastor during the major 1957–1965 building campaign; new parish hall/gymnasium named in his honor; celebrated the 1965 Dedication Mass of the current church.
- Fr. Richard J. Donovan, OFM2017–present
Welcomed as pastor in October 2017.