About St. Edward the Confessor · Clifton Park, New York
St. Edward the Confessor is a Roman Catholic parish in Clifton Park, New York, part of the Diocese of Albany. It was established in 1967 when it was carved out of the growing St. Mary's Parish in Crescent to serve the booming suburban population along the Northway. Today it is a vibrant, family-oriented community led by Pastor Fr. Daniel McHale, offering three Sunday Masses, a Saturday Vigil, daily weekday Masses, a monthly Spanish Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and a livestream of the Saturday Vigil. The parish is known for its robust Faith Formation programs (now serving over 1,200 students), a distinctive Behavioral Mental Health Ministry, an active Knights of Columbus council, and a wide array of ministries for children, youth, and adults.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- St. Edward the Confessor (King Edward the Confessor of England)
- Rector
- Fr. Daniel McHale (Fr. Dan McHale)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
St. Edward's offers a full sacramental and parish life — three Sunday Masses plus a Saturday Vigil, daily weekday Mass, monthly Spanish Mass, Eucharistic Adoration twice a week, and Saturday confessions — making it easy for busy families and working adults to stay rooted in the Eucharist. The parish invests heavily in the next generation: its Faith Formation program now serves more than 1,200 children, supported by an active Youth Ministry, Altar Server program, Children's Liturgy of the Word, and Magnifikit missalettes. It also stands out for ministries you don't find everywhere — a Behavioral Mental Health Ministry with a dedicated annual Healing Mass and monthly support group led by a psychiatric social worker — alongside a Knights of Columbus council, RCIA/OCIA, Music Ministry, and outreach to those in need. Newcomers can register online or simply stop by the parish office Monday–Thursday 8:30 am–3:30 pm or Friday 8:30 am–12:00 pm.
Mass times at St. Edward the Confessor
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- 1st Friday of the month: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM (in the chapel)
- Friday: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Parish Identity & History
St. Edward the Confessor was founded in 1967 when it was separated from St. Mary's Parish in Crescent to serve the fast-growing suburban communities of southern Saratoga County in the wake of the Northway (I-87) opening. The congregation initially gathered at the Locust Lane Clubhouse at Clifton Knolls before the church was completed in 1969 across the road on Clifton Park Center Road, where it remains today. The parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and is named for St. Edward the Confessor, the 11th-century King of England whose feast is celebrated on October 13.
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Daniel McHale, with Fr. Jim O'Rourke serving as Parochial Vicar and Fr. Patrick Butler as Pastor Emeritus. Four deacons minister at the parish: Deacon Walt MacKinnon, Deacon Rit DiCaprio, Deacon Eddie Trevino (who coordinates Baptisms), and Deacon Alex, who was preparing for priestly ordination at the parish's most recent communications. The lay staff includes Parish Administrator Andrew Sutton, Digital Media & Communications Coordinator Kim Parker, Pre-K–5th Grade Faith Formation Coordinator Noreen Hayden, Music Ministry Director Mary Jo Brue, Pastoral Care Director Mary Ann Sekellick, and maintenance staff David Ford and Shawn Muldoon.
- Pastor: Fr. Daniel McHale ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Jim O'Rourke, ext. 228 ([email protected])
- Pastor Emeritus: Fr. Patrick Butler ([email protected])
- Deacons: Walt MacKinnon, Rit DiCaprio, Eddie Trevino, Alex
Mass & Worship Schedule
The parish celebrates Mass nine times a week, including three Sunday Masses (7:30, 9:00, and 11:00 AM), a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM, and weekday Masses on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings at 9:00 AM. A Spanish-language Mass is offered on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month at 6:00 PM. The Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil Mass is livestreamed each week and archived on YouTube through the Diocese of Albany platform.
- Weekend Masses: Sat 4:00 PM Vigil; Sun 7:30, 9:00, 11:00 AM
- Weekday Masses: Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat at 9:00 AM
- Spanish Mass: 1st & 3rd Saturday at 6:00 PM
- Livestream: Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Edward's serves more than 1,200 students — roughly double the program's original capacity — and is led by Noreen Hayden for Pre-K through 5th grade, with continued formation through the upper grades. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during the 11:00 AM Mass for children in Kindergarten through 2nd Grade from Labor Day to Memorial Day, and the parish distributes Magnifikid missalettes to children ages 6–12 to help them follow and pray with the Mass. The parish's 2016 expansion project was driven largely by the need to grow youth and religious-education space.
- Pre-K–5 Faith Formation Coordinator: Noreen Hayden ([email protected])
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (K–2) at 11:00 AM, Sept–May
- Magnifikid missalette program for ages 6–12
- RCIA / OCIA (Becoming Catholic) — Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM
Youth & Family Life
Beyond Faith Formation, the parish runs an active Youth Ministry whose high point is the annual Living Stations of the Cross performed by the young people. Altar Server training is offered to any child who has received First Communion and older, with new sessions scheduled after Sunday Masses. The parish also welcomes children into the liturgical life of the Church with age-appropriate materials and welcomes families with assisted hearing devices available through the ushers.
- Youth Group / Youth Ministry
- Altar Server training (open to First Communicants and older)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (K–2)
- Magnifikid Sunday missalettes
Behavioral Mental Health Ministry
St. Edward's distinctive Behavioral Mental Health Ministry hosts an annual Healing Mass — celebrated by Fr. Daniel McHale and open to all who are affected by mental-health challenges, their families, and friends — as well as a monthly confidential support group for family and friends of those navigating mental illness. The support group is facilitated by Kevin Moran, a psychiatric social worker with more than 25 years of experience, and meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM in the social hall (no meetings in July or August).
- Annual Healing Mass for those affected by mental health challenges
- Monthly support group: 2nd Thursday at 6:30 PM in the social hall
- Facilitator: Kevin Moran, LCSW (25+ years in mental health care)
- All group sharing is strictly confidential
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music Ministry is led by Director Mary Jo Brue and includes adult and youth ensembles supporting the parish's weekend and holy-day liturgies. The parish also relies on a corps of liturgical volunteers — lectors, ushers, altar servers, and sound operators — and is actively recruiting new volunteers to assist at Mass. Assisted hearing devices are available upon request from the ushers.
- Music Ministry Director: Mary Jo Brue ([email protected])
- Adult choir and Youth Ensemble
- Lectors, ushers, altar servers, and sound operators needed
- Assisted hearing devices available from ushers
Knights of Columbus — Robert SCo Council #11064
Parishioner men of the parish are served by Knights of Columbus Council #11064, which runs popular parish-wide fundraisers and fellowship events including drive-through chicken BBQs (typically $15 for a half-chicken dinner), Lenten fish fries, parish breakfasts, and social meetings with Faith Talks. The council maintains its own YouTube channel (@stedwardskofc) with recordings of parish-picnic, social-meeting, and dinner videos and livestreams Faith Talks presented by Fr. Dan.
- Council #11064 at St. Edward the Confessor
- Chicken BBQ drive-through take-out dinners
- Lenten fish fries and parish breakfasts
- YouTube: youtube.com/@stedwardskofc
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Families seeking Baptism should contact Deacon Eddie Trevino; First Communion and First Reconciliation preparation is coordinated through Noreen Hayden. Couples preparing for Marriage, adults preparing for Confirmation through RCIA/OCIA, those needing Anointing of the Sick, and men discerning Holy Orders are all welcomed and accompanied by the parish staff and clergy. Confession is available Saturday afternoons and on First Fridays, or by appointment with Fr. Dan.
- Baptism — contact Deacon Eddie Trevino
- First Communion / First Reconciliation — contact Noreen Hayden
- Confirmation (including adult RCIA/OCIA) — Thursdays 6:30 PM
- Marriage (contact Fr. Dan)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders (vocations discernment and support)
- Reconciliation — see Confession schedule
Visiting & New Families
New families are warmly welcomed at St. Edward's. Registration can be completed online (English or Spanish forms available) or in person at the parish office. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM and Friday 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM, and the main phone line is (518) 371-7372 ext. 221 for new-member inquiries. The 'I'm New Here' page on the parish website answers practical questions about Mass times, confession, hearing assistance, children's programs, and finding the church.
- Parish Registration available online (English & Spanish)
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–3:30 PM; Fri 8:30 AM–12:00 PM
- New-member line: (518) 371-7372 ext. 221
- Assisted hearing devices available at Mass
Contact, Location & Communications
The parish is located at 569 Clifton Park Center Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065, with the main office reachable at (518) 371-7372 (fax 518-371-1206) and a general email at [email protected]. The parish communicates through its website stedwardsny.org, an Instagram account (@st.edwardtheconfessorny), and a Facebook page (facebook.com/stedwardscliftonpark); the affiliated Knights of Columbus council runs a YouTube channel at @stedwardskofc.
- Address: 569 Clifton Park Center Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065
- Phone: (518) 371-7372
- Fax: (518) 371-1206
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stedwardsny.org
- Instagram: @st.edwardtheconfessorny
- Facebook: facebook.com/stedwardscliftonpark
- Knights YouTube: @stedwardskofc