About St. John the Evangelist · Schenectady, New York
St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish in Schenectady, New York, served from the Diocese of Albany and joined with neighboring St. Anthony's Church as a family of parishes. The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Richard Carlino, with a staff that includes two deacons, a religious brother, a religious education director, an organist/choir director, and a business manager. Its centerpiece is one of the most imposing churches in upstate New York — a massive Medina sandstone basilica designed by Troy architect Edward Loth and dedicated in 1904.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist (Apostle and Evangelist)
- Rector
- Rev. Richard Carlino
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist offers the experience of one of the most architecturally striking Catholic churches in upstate New York — a soaring sandstone basilica built by Irish-American Catholics in 1904 — while remaining a warm, welcoming parish rooted in family and neighborhood life. Worship is supported by an active Music Ministry under organist/choir director Carl Hackert, weekly devotions (Miraculous Medal Novena with Rosary and Benediction on Mondays), and a Saturday Vigil Mass livestreamed on YouTube. The parish runs combined Faith Formation for Grades 1–10 with neighboring St. Anthony's, shares outreach through the Human Concerns Committee and Schenectady Inner City Ministry (SICM), and offers a Spanish-language Mass on Sundays at St. Anthony's, making it both a historic landmark parish and a living, inclusive community.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM at St. Anthony's Church
- By appointment only at St. John the Evangelist (call Fr. Carlino at 518-372-3381 ext 9 no later than 3:00 PM the Wednesday before)
About St. John the Evangelist Parish
St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Albany located at 806 Union Street in Schenectady, New York. Its mission statement calls the parish to 'proclaim and model faithful discipleship to Jesus Christ by maintaining a warm, open, and inclusive fellowship of families and individuals determined to grow in God's grace, to serve our local church and community, and to reach out with love to God's people in all the world.' The parish operates today as part of a family of parishes with neighboring St. Anthony's Church.
- Mailing address: 806 Union Street, Schenectady, NY 12308
- Office phone: (518) 372-3381
- Fax: (518) 372-0992
- Pastor: Rev. Richard Carlino
History of the Parish
The parish was founded by Irish-American Catholics in Schenectady's late-19th-century boom, when immigrants from across Europe were reshaping the city around the American Locomotive Company and General Electric. The diocese purchased the prominent corner of Nott Terrace and Union Street in 1892, and Monsignor John L. Reilly spent the next decade raising funds and planning a church of unprecedented scale. The cornerstone was laid on July 8, 1900; the first Mass was celebrated on St. Valentine's Day, 1904, and the formal dedication followed in 1905. Monsignor Reilly served as founding pastor until his death in 1945, when Monsignor Finn succeeded him.
- Land purchased 1892 for $18,000
- Cornerstone laid July 8, 1900
- First Mass celebrated February 14, 1904
- Formal dedication album issued 1905
- Founding pastor: Rt. Rev. Monsignor John L. Reilly (1904–1945)
Architecture & Building
The church was designed by Edward Loth of Troy, N.Y., whose European training shaped its monumental style. The finished structure is more than 120 feet square, seats over 1,700 worshippers, and rises roughly 220 feet, with small corner towers and a soaring central spire originally built of steel and glass to throw light down onto the sanctuary. The striking red exterior is Medina sandstone barged down the Erie Canal from western New York, while the interior is finished in white Carrera marble altars, statuary, and sculpted plaster walls. Tall 'greenhouse' windows flood the nave with daylight, and stained-glass windows were imported from the Royal Bavarian Art Institute in Munich.
- Architect: Edward Loth (Troy, N.Y.)
- Exterior: red Medina sandstone from western New York
- Interior: white Carrera marble and sculpted plaster
- Stained glass: Royal Bavarian Art Institute, Munich
- Central spire: 220+ feet with 14-foot gilded cross
The 1904 Hutchings-Votey Pipe Organ
The Boston firm of Hutchings-Votey built and installed the church's electro-pneumatic pipe organ, completed in 1904 at a cost of $15,000. With 51 stops and more than 3,000 pipes, it was a major instrument for its day and is notable for including what is believed to be the first known use of a reed saxophone stop in a pipe organ.
- Builder: Hutchings-Votey of Boston
- 51 stops, 3,000+ pipes
- First known use of a reed saxophone stop in a pipe organ
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is served by Pastor Rev. Richard Carlino, two deacons, a religious brother in pastoral care, and lay staff in faith formation, music, business, and parish administration. Direct-dial extensions connect parishioners to each member of the team through the parish office.
- Rev. Richard Carlino — Pastor (dial ext. 9)
- Deacon Andrew Haskins — [email protected]
- Deacon Eric Ramirez — [email protected]
- Br. Ron McClosky — Pastoral Care
- Dianne Galarneau — Religious Ed. (Grades 1–10) and Adult Faith Formation (ext. 226)
- Carl Hackert — Director of Music / Organist-Choir Director
- Danielle DePaula — Business Manager (ext. 221)
- Debbie May — Parish Secretary (ext. 223)
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
St. John the Evangelist and its partner parish St. Anthony's together publish the combined Mass schedule. The Saturday Vigil Mass at St. John is at 4:00 PM, and the Sunday Mass at St. John is at 10:30 AM. Daily Masses Monday through Saturday are celebrated at 8:00 AM at St. Anthony's Church. Holy Day schedules are listed in the parish bulletin.
- Saturday Vigil (St. John's): 4:00 PM
- Sunday (St. John's): 10:30 AM
- Sunday at St. Anthony's: 8:30 AM, 11:45 AM (Spanish), 4:00 PM
- Daily Mass Mon–Sat at St. Anthony's: 8:00 AM
- Communion Prayer Services Wed/Fri/Sat at 8:00 AM in the St. John's Office Chapel
Devotions & Livestream
Beyond Mass, the parish gathers for Miraculous Medal Novena with Rosary and Benediction on Monday evenings, and participates in joint St. Anthony and Miraculous Medal Novenas on Wednesdays at St. Anthony's. The Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil Mass is livestreamed on the parish's YouTube Live channel for those unable to attend in person.
- Miraculous Medal Novena, Rosary and Benediction — Monday 7:30 PM at St. John's Parish Office
- St. Anthony / Miraculous Medal Novenas — Wednesday 12:00 noon at St. Anthony's
- Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil Mass livestreamed on SJE YouTube Live Channel
Faith Formation & Parish School
St. Anthony's and St. John the Evangelist have combined their Faith Formation programs for Grades 1–10, with all classes now held at the St. John's Parish Center under Director Dianne Galarneau. The parish also operates St. John's School at the same Union Street address, serving PreKindergarten through Grade 6 and holding membership in the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).
- Faith Formation Grades 1–10 — at St. John's Parish Center
- Adult Faith Formation — Dianne Galarneau, ext. 226
- St. John's School — PreK–6, 806 Union Street, (518) 393-5331
- Member of National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
Music Ministry
The parish's Music Ministry fosters full and active participation of the assembly in the liturgy, both in the church and in the parish school. The parish Organist and Choir Director is Carl Hackert, and school liturgical coordination is handled by Dianne Galarneau.
- Organist / Choir Director: Carl Hackert
- School Liturgical Coordination: Dianne Galarneau
Human Concerns & Outreach
The Human Concerns Committee is a service group working to better the lives of the poor and disabled in the community. The parish is a member church of the Schenectady Inner City Ministry (SICM), and the Hospitality/Outreach subcommittee coordinates efforts across the family of parishes to welcome new members and reconnect with those who have drifted from the Church.
- Member church of Schenectady Inner City Ministry (SICM)
- Hospitality / Outreach Subcommittee
- Meets second Thursday of the month in the evening
Communications Committee
The Communications Committee supports and unifies communication efforts across the family of parishes and works with Youth Ministry and parish volunteers.
Sacraments — Marriage
Couples preparing for marriage must attend a wedding appointment with the parish wedding coordinator no later than one year before their desired wedding date; both bride and groom must be present. Diocesan Pre-Nuptial Investigation forms, current baptismal certificates, and Pre-Cana registration with the Albany Diocese (518-453-6644, [email protected]) are required. Organists are arranged separately: Carl Hackert (518-469-5718) for St. John's and Mark Reilly (518-331-8047) for St. Anthony's.
- Wedding appointment 1+ year before desired date
- Pre-Nuptial Investigation forms required
- Pre-Cana registration: 518-453-6644
- Organist: Carl Hackert, 518-469-5718
Getting Involved & Pastoral Care
New parishioners are invited to register as members. Parishioners admitted to a hospital or nursing home are asked to specify 'St. John the Evangelist Church' and 'Catholic' at the time of admission so that pastoral care can be arranged.
- Register as a member via the parish website
- On admission to a hospital or nursing home, specify parish name and religion
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rt. Rev. Monsignor John L. Reilly1904–1945
Founding pastor who acquired the land and commissioned the church; served until his death in 1945.
- Monsignor Finn1945–
Became pastor in 1945 upon the death of Monsignor Reilly; continued the parish's Irish-American pastoral tradition.