About St. Joseph · Schenectady, New York
St. Joseph's Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Schenectady, New York, founded in 1862 by German Catholic immigrants and long served by Franciscan priests. The parish is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and worships at 600 State Street, with a parish office at 225 Lafayette Street. It runs a K–11 Faith Formation program, an outreach drop-in center called St. Joseph's Place serving the Hamilton Hill neighborhood, and maintains its own cemetery on Kings Road. The Sunday 9:30 a.m. Mass is televised locally, a quiet testament to the parish's deep roots in the wider Schenectady community.
- Established
- 1862
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Dominic P. Isopo
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
St. Joseph's is a small, historic downtown parish where worship, formation and outreach are tightly woven together. It offers daily noon Mass Monday through Friday, a televised Sunday liturgy, a Faith Formation program serving children Pre-K through 11th grade, and a tangible commitment to its neighbors through St. Joseph's Place, a drop-in center serving the Hamilton Hill area. Visitors are warmly welcomed, and registration forms are available at the church entrances for anyone who wishes to make this 1862 community their parish home.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Each weekday following the 12:15 pm Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday: 12:45 pm – 1:15 pm (First Fridays)
Parish Identity & Welcome
St. Joseph's identifies itself in its bulletin masthead as 'Historic St. Joseph's Church — A Roman Catholic Community founded in 1862,' with the church at 600 State Street and the parish office at 225 Lafayette Street, Schenectady, New York 12305. The parish website, hosted on the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany platform, invites visitors to 'Welcome to our Parish' and notes that 'All are welcome to join our Parish. Registration Forms may be found at the Church entrances.'
History of the Parish
The German Catholic community that became St. Joseph's began organizing on January 23, 1859, when roughly 75 members met in Gottfried Blum's marble shop. After losing an initial State and Albany Streets site, benefactor Joseph Harreker bought a frame church on Center Street, which was dedicated on June 29, 1862 by Rev. Alphonse Zoeller, O.M.C., of Utica. Franciscan Fathers from Utica staffed the parish until 1868, when Rev. Maurus Ramssauer became pastor and the parish was incorporated on April 16, 1869. His successor, Rev. J. Henry Cluever, D.D., built the present church: cornerstone July 29, 1877, dedicated March 3, 1878 by Bishop Francis McNeirny.
- 1859 — Founding meeting of ~75 German Catholic families in Gottfried Blum's marble shop
- 1862 — First church (Center Street frame building) dedicated June 29
- 1868 — Franciscan Fathers withdraw; Rev. Maurus Ramssauer becomes pastor
- 1869 — Parish incorporated April 16
- 1876 — Rev. J. Henry Cluever, D.D. succeeds as pastor
- 1877 — Cornerstone of present church laid July 29
- 1878 — Present church dedicated March 3 by Bishop Francis McNeirny
Architecture & Building
The present St. Joseph's Church was designed by architect M. J. Cummings of Troy, New York, and built by Jacob Van Zandt of Schenectady. Its construction cost was about $27,286, exclusive of furnace, organ and altars. The parish proudly preserves the 1877–78 building as a downtown Schenectady landmark.
Pastoral Staff & Administration
The parish is led by Rev. Dominic P. Isopo, Pastor. The staff also includes a Sacristan/Bulletin Editor, Bookkeeper, Administrative Assistant, Music Director, Director of Faith Formation, and Cemetery Superintendent, along with two Sisters of St. Joseph (CSJ) who co-coordinate St. Joseph's Place outreach.
- Rev. Dominic P. Isopo — Pastor
- Donald W. Penta — Sacristan / Bulletin Editor ([email protected])
- Ann Marie Coons — Bookkeeper
- Ann Shattuck — Administrative Assistant
- Mark C. Reilly — Music Director
- Arlene Parisi — Director of Faith Formation ([email protected])
- Matthew D. Mountain — Cemetery Superintendent
- Sr. Linda Neil, CSJ — St. Joseph's Place co-coordinator
- Sr. Cathy Kruegler, CSJ — St. Joseph's Place co-coordinator
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Faith Formation Program serves children from Pre-K through 11th grade, including sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation. Classes for Grades K–5 meet on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m., and Grades 6–11 meet on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Both sessions are held at the old St. Paul's School, 2777 Albany Street at Kings Road. The director, Arlene Parisi, can be reached at (518) 377-8886, ext. 3.
- Pre-K through Grade 11 Faith Formation
- First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation preparation
- Grades K–5 — Monday evenings, 6:30 p.m.
- Grades 6–11 — Tuesday evenings, 6:30 p.m.
- Location: Old St. Paul's School, 2777 Albany Street at Kings Road
- Director: Arlene Parisi
Sacraments
St. Joseph's celebrates Baptism on the first weekend of the month during Mass, with a required baptism preparation class. Reconciliation is offered daily after the 12:15 p.m. Mass or by appointment. Engaged couples are asked to contact the Parish Office at least nine months before setting a marriage date, and no other plans or deposits should be made until a church date is secured. The Anointing of the Sick and visits from Visitation Ministers can be arranged through the Parish Office for the sick, aged or homebound.
- Baptism — first weekend of the month during Mass; prep class required
- Reconciliation — daily after 12:15 p.m. Mass, or by appointment
- First Eucharist and Confirmation — through Faith Formation
- Matrimony — contact Parish Office at least 9 months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick / Visitation — by request through Parish Office
Outreach: St. Joseph's Place
St. Joseph's Place is an outreach ministry of St. Joseph's Church, a drop-in center serving the Hamilton Hill area of Schenectady at 837 Albany Street (518-374-2683, ext. 115). It is co-coordinated by Sr. Linda Neil, CSJ and Sr. Cathy Kruegler, CSJ, and is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. This ministry reflects the parish's long-standing commitment to its immediate neighbors, particularly those most in need.
- Location: 837 Albany Street, Schenectady, NY 12307
- Phone: (518) 374-2683, ext. 115
- Co-coordinators: Sr. Linda Neil, CSJ and Sr. Cathy Kruegler, CSJ
- Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri — 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
St. Joseph's Cemetery
St. Joseph's Cemetery is located at 100 Kings Road, Schenectady, New York 12304, and has been part of the parish since its earliest days (Father Oderic of the original Franciscan community purchased the original cemetery on East Avenue for $300). Today it is administered by Superintendent Matthew D. Mountain, by appointment at (518) 372-8805 or [email protected]. Lots are available for monument, shrine and private mausoleums.
- Address: 100 Kings Road, Schenectady, NY 12304
- Superintendent: Matthew D. Mountain
- Phone: (518) 372-8805 (by appointment)
- Email: [email protected]
- Lots available for monument, shrine and private mausoleums
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Joseph's is directed by Music Director Mark C. Reilly. The parish also reaches beyond its walls by taping the Sunday 9:30 a.m. Mass and airing it on local cable Channel 1301 on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. and the following Sunday at 2:00 p.m., allowing homebound parishioners and others in the wider community to share in the parish's principal Sunday liturgy.
- Music Director: Mark C. Reilly
- Sunday 9:30 a.m. Mass televised on Channel 1301
- Airing schedule: Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. and following Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Visiting & Getting Involved
The parish welcomes new parishioners — registration forms are available at the church entrances. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. As a small downtown parish, St. Joseph's relies on the involvement of its members in Faith Formation, the Music Ministry, St. Joseph's Place outreach, Visitation Ministry to the sick and homebound, and the annual Diocesan Appeal. Visitors are warmly invited to 'Come and Worship With Us.'
- New parishioner registration forms at the church entrances
- Parish office hours: Mon–Thu, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Phone: (518) 374-4466
- Email: [email protected]
- Ways to get involved: Faith Formation, Music Ministry, Visitation Ministry, St. Joseph's Place, Diocesan Appeal
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Alphonse Zoeller, O.M.C.1862
Dedicated the first St. Joseph's Church (frame church on Center Street) on June 29, 1862.
- Franciscan Fathers (Revs. Leopold, Oderic, Alphonse, Pius and others)1862–1868
Staffed the parish from Utica; Father Pius served as the first residing pastor.
- Rev. Maurus Ramssauer1868–1876
Took over after the Franciscans withdrew in October 1868; parish incorporated April 16, 1869.
- Rev. J. Henry Cluever, D.D.1876–
Built the present State Street church; cornerstone 1877, dedicated 1878.
- Rev. Dominic P. Isopo
Current pastor.