St. Joseph

Welcome & Mission

The mission of St. Joseph's Parish Family is to foster a community of faith living out God's work on earth. The church was established in 1869 by immigrants adhering to a universal core belief of Catholic faith, and the parish seeks to further this faith commitment through worship, education, pastoral care, ministry, and service to the larger community. Visitors and parishioners alike are welcomed as part of a parish family rooted in the rolling hills between the Hudson River and the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Parish History

St. Joseph's traces its origins to January 24, 1869, when the first Mass in Greenwich was offered in Temperance Hall. The original church opened on July 24, 1870, and the present Hill Street church was dedicated in 1910. From 1879 to 1997 the parish was served by the Augustinian Order, before staffing transitioned to the Diocese of Albany and the parish joined the Battenkill Cluster.

• 1869 — First Mass in Greenwich (Temperance Hall, Jan 24)
• 1870 — First St. Joseph's Church opened July 24
• 1879 — First resident pastor (Fr. Thomas A. Field, O.S.A.) arrives
• 1881 — St. Joseph's Cemetery founded (Nov 6, 67+1 acres from Charles & Sarah Stevens)
• 1910 — Present church on Hill Street dedicated
• 1997 — Augustinians relinquish the parish; diocesan staffing begins
• 1994–1997 — Battenkill Cluster formed with Holy Cross (Salem) and St. Patrick (Cambridge)

Mass & Sacrament Schedule

St. Joseph's offers a simple, accessible schedule built around a livestreamed Sunday Mass and two weekday Masses, with the Sacrament of Reconciliation available after each Mass and Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesday mornings.

• Sunday Mass: 10:30 am (Livestreamed on YouTube)
• Wednesday Mass: 9:00 am
• Friday Mass: 9:00 am
• Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesday 8:10 am
• Reconciliation: Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday — after Mass

Staff & Parish Leadership

The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Martin J. Fisher, supported by Associate Pastor/Parochial Vicar Rev. Joseph Tuan Pham, Sacramental Minister Fr. Tom Zelker, Parish Life Director Jeff Peck, and Pastoral Associate Mary Anne Brown, RN, BSN, MA. A Faith Formation Coordinator (Emil Simoneau), Music Minister/Cantor (Joseph Varone), Administrative Assistant (John Wescott), Custodian (Emma Wescott), and a Pastoral Associate for Business and Administration round out the team.

• Rev. Martin J. Fisher — Pastor
• Rev. Joseph Tuan Pham — Associate Pastor / Parochial Vicar
• Fr. Tom Zelker — Sacramental Minister
• Jeff Peck — Parish Life Director
• Mary Anne Brown, RN, BSN, MA — Pastoral Associate
• Joseph Varone — Music Minister / Cantor
• Emil Simoneau — Faith Formation Coordinator
• John Wescott — Administrative Assistant
• Emma Wescott — Custodian

Battenkill Cluster

St. Joseph's is one of four parishes in the Battenkill Cluster, a cooperative grouping formed under diocesan pastoral planning that allows neighboring parishes to share sacramental and administrative resources. Together with Holy Cross in Salem, St. Patrick in Cambridge, and Notre Dame Visitation in Schuylerville, St. Joseph's forms a regional Catholic community serving Washington County and the surrounding area.

• Holy Cross Church — North Main Street, Salem, NY — (518) 854-7626
• St. Patrick's Church — South Park Street, Cambridge, NY — (518) 677-2757
• Notre Dame Visitation — Pearl Street, Schuylerville, NY — (518) 695-3391
• Cluster sacramental sharing coordinated by Fr. Tom Zelker

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith formation at St. Joseph's is coordinated by Emil Simoneau and is part of the parish's commitment to passing on the Catholic faith established by its immigrant founders. Programming extends through the school year and across age levels, complementing sacramental preparation and the wider religious education offered across the Battenkill Cluster.

• Faith Formation Coordinator: Emil Simoneau
• Religious education across age levels
• Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation in coordination with cluster parishes

Music & Liturgy

Music at St. Joseph's is led by Music Minister/Cantor Joseph Varone, who supports the sung liturgy at the parish's Sunday and weekday Masses and at Eucharistic Adoration. The music ministry is integral to the parish's worship life and complements the simple, accessible weekly schedule.

• Music Minister / Cantor: Joseph Varone
• Music at Sunday 10:30 am Mass (livestreamed)
• Music at Wednesday and Friday morning Masses

Pastoral Care & Outreach

Pastoral care is central to the parish's mission of service to the larger community. Pastoral Associate Mary Anne Brown (RN, BSN, MA) brings a nursing and pastoral background to the role, supporting parishioners in times of need, while Jeff Peck serves as Parish Life Director coordinating parish life activities and outreach across the Battenkill Cluster.

• Pastoral Associate: Mary Anne Brown, RN, BSN, MA
• Parish Life Director: Jeff Peck
• Cluster-wide sacramental and pastoral coordination

Visiting & Contact

St. Joseph's welcomes visitors to its Sunday and weekday Masses and to its Wednesday morning Eucharistic Adoration. The Rectory Office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, and the parish can be reached by phone or email for sacramental scheduling, faith formation inquiries, or general parish business.

• Mailing address: 36 Bleeker Street, Greenwich, NY 12834
• Physical/church address: 35 Hill Street, Greenwich, NY 12834
• Phone: (518) 692-2159
• Email: [email protected]
• Rectory Office Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri — 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
• Livestream: YouTube — Saint Joseph Catholic Church Greenwich New York