About St. John the Baptist · Valatie, New York
St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic parish in Valatie, New York, serving the northern part of Columbia County as part of the Catholic Community of Northern Columbia County (CCNCC). Founded in 1869 and seated at 1025 Kinderhook Street, it shares a single pastor with two sister parishes — St. James in Chatham and St. Joseph in Stuyvesant Falls — forming one tri-parish Roman Catholic community that ministers in English and Spanish. Weekend Mass is offered Saturday evening and Sunday morning at St. John's, with weekday Mass on Thursdays.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Father Steve Matthews
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist welcomes parishioners into a warm, multi-parish Roman Catholic community where one pastor shepherds three churches across northern Columbia County in two languages. The parish runs a rich faith-formation program for children through high school (including Confirmation preparation), supports active lay groups like the Knights of Columbus, the Elves, St. John's Workers, and a Bereavement Ministry, and offers a yearly Golf Scramble that funds youth ministry. Newcomers can register online and become part of a community that gathers for worship, serves its neighbors, and walks together through every stage of life.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Reconciliation Services are scheduled periodically at each parish; for an appointment with the Pastor call the CCNCC office at 518-758-9401
- Note: A third-party directory also references Reconciliation at 3 PM on Saturdays — confirm with the parish office
Adoration times
- First Fridays: 11:05 AM Mass followed by Eucharistic Adoration at St. James Church, Chatham
Welcome to the Catholic Community of Northern Columbia County (CCNCC)
St. John the Baptist is part of a tri-parish Roman Catholic community in northern Columbia County, New York, joined with St. James (Chatham) and St. Joseph (Stuyvesant Falls) under one pastor. The community ministers in two languages and gathers for Mass, devotions, formation, and outreach across all three churches. The welcome message on the parish website reads: 'No matter where you are in life or on faith's journey, you are welcome here!'
- Three churches, three parishes, two languages, one pastor
- Central Tri-Parish Office located at 1025 Kinderhook Street, Valatie, NY 12184
- Main phone: (518) 758-9401 · Email: [email protected]
History of St. John the Baptist, Valatie
St. John the Baptist was established in 1869 in Valatie, a hamlet in Columbia County, New York, in the Diocese of Albany. Over more than 150 years it has served generations of Catholic families across the villages and farms of northern Columbia County. The parish later joined with neighboring St. James (Chatham) and St. Joseph (Stuyvesant Falls) into a tri-parish Catholic community that shares a pastor, central office, and ministries today.
- Founded 1869 (per GCatholic)
- Located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
- Central tri-parish office housed at the St. John the Baptist campus
Parish Staff and Clergy
The Catholic Community of Northern Columbia County is led by a pastor supported by pastoral associates and administrative staff. The staff listing on ccnccparishes.org identifies Father Steve Matthews as Pastor for the tri-parish community, along with key lay staff for administration, faith formation, communications, music ministry, and parish office support.
- Father Steve Matthews — Pastor
- Debbie Halpin — Pastoral Associate for Administration and Business Manager
- Ann Valley — Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
- Brian Fores — Communications and Media
- Kimberly Layton — Administrative Assistant
- Music Director — Director of Music Ministry (name listed on Staff page)
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
The parish provides year-round faith formation for children and youth from Kindergarten through High School, preparing them for the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation. Students learn about the Catholic faith and complete community-service projects benefiting those less fortunate.
- Kindergarten through Grade 5 — Sundays 9:15 AM - 10:30 AM (classes start in September)
- Middle School — Thursdays 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (classes start in October)
- High School Grade 9 — Sundays 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM
- High School Grade 10 (Confirmation Class) — Sundays 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM
- Confirmation Rehearsal at St. Mary's Church, Hudson, with the Sacrament of Confirmation celebrated there in spring
- First Eucharist Rehearsal and celebration in May
- Faith Formation Office: 518-758-1828
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
For adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, the parish offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). The process culminates each year at the Easter Vigil with the reception of the three Sacraments of Initiation.
- RCIA inquiry through the CCNCC office
- Easter Vigil reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
Parish Ministries and Groups
Lay life at St. John the Baptist is supported by a number of active ministries and parish groups that meet on a regular schedule and serve the wider community. These include spiritual, service-oriented, and social groups for adults of all ages.
- Knights of Columbus — meets 1st Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM
- The Elves — social and community-service crafters meet Tuesday mornings 9:30-11:30 AM in the church lower level to make items for their holiday boutique
- St. John's Workers — volunteer maintenance crew meeting Tuesdays around 10 AM for cleanup, painting, and repair projects at the church
- Bereavement Ministry — assists families in planning funeral rites after a loss; call the parish office at 518-758-9401
- Altar Servers — sign up on the bulletin board on the ramp
- Annual Golf Scramble at Olde Kinderhook Golf Club — fundraiser for Youth Faith Formation; 9 AM registration, 10 AM shotgun start
Sacraments at St. John the Baptist
The tri-parish community prepares and celebrates all seven sacraments with parishioners, with Mass and devotional schedules coordinated across all three parishes. The parish office asks families to begin sacramental preparation well in advance, especially for weddings and Confirmation.
- Baptism — celebrated in all CCNCC parishes; call 518-758-9401 to schedule
- Reconciliation / First Eucharist — preparation in faith formation classes; celebrated in spring
- Confirmation — high-school preparation, with rehearsal and celebration at St. Mary's Church, Hudson
- Marriage — schedule a priest or deacon at least six months before your proposed date
- Anointing of the Sick / Pastoral Visits — for the homebound (note on new-parishioner form)
- Funerals — weekday Masses and memorial services preferred; Bereavement Ministry assists with all aspects of the rites
New Parishioner Registration
New families and individuals can register with St. John the Baptist (or St. James or St. Joseph) through the parish website. Registration allows the parish to keep in touch with you about news, events, and to schedule pastoral visits to the homebound.
- Online registration form on ccnccparishes.org/new-parishioner
- Indicate whether your parish is St. John the Baptist (Valatie), St. Joseph (Stuyvesant Falls), or St. James (Chatham)
- Indicate whether anyone in the household is homebound and would like to receive Communion or a pastoral visit
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. George P. Fleming
Listed as pastor of St. John the Baptist on third-party parish directory joinmychurch.com; current CCNCC staff page identifies Father Steve Matthews as Pastor of the tri-parish community.
- Father Steve Matthews
Current Pastor of the Catholic Community of Northern Columbia County (St. John the Baptist, St. James, St. Joseph) per ccnccparishes.org staff listing.