About St. Kateri Tekakwitha (Union Street Church) · Schenectady, New York
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Albany serving the Schenectady and Niskayuna communities of New York's Capital Region. The parish was formed on July 1, 2012 through the merger of two historic congregations — St. Helen's Church (Niskayuna) and Our Lady of Fatima (Schenectady) — and operates as one parish with two worship sites: the Union Street church at 1803 Union Street and the Rosa Road church at 2216 Rosa Road, located 2.7 miles apart. It is pastored by Rev. Robert 'Father Bob' Longobucco and is supported by two permanent deacons, a parish school (St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish School), and a full staff of pastoral associates overseeing youth ministry, faith formation, adult faith formation, music, and bereavement care.
- Established
- 2012
- Patron
- St. Kateri Tekakwitha (patroness of ecology, the environment, and Native peoples; 'Lily of the Mohawks')
- Rector
- Rev. Robert 'Father Bob' Longobucco
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish offers a rare 'best of both worlds' setup: one Catholic family with two historic worship sites just 2.7 miles apart, so Mass-going families can choose the location and time that fits their week. The parish runs a full Faith Formation program for children and youth, a robust adult faith formation ministry, dedicated youth ministry for grades 6–12 with a Christian Service component, a music ministry tradition rooted in 43+ years of continuous leadership, and a Bereavement Ministry that walks with grieving families. The on-site St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish School (nursery through grade 5) and the parish's Helping Hands outreach reflect a community that welcomes newcomers, prays joyfully, and 'acts justly,' as the parish mission puts it.
Mass times at St. Kateri Tekakwitha (Union Street Church)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Union Street)
- Friday 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM (Rosa Road)
- By appointment (call the parish office)
Parish History
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish was formed on July 1, 2012 by the merger of St. Helen's Church (Niskayuna, founded 1926) and Our Lady of Fatima (Schenectady, founded 1955) — two parishes that had already been in a cluster relationship since 1994 and that share Bishop William A. Scully as a common founder figure. The Union Street church was dedicated by Bishop Scully in 1955 and reconfigured in a 1991 renovation that produced today's semi-circular worship space. Our Lady of Fatima's Rosa Road church opened the same year Scully dedicated St. Helen's and grew to about 740 households. Rather than closing one site, diocesan leadership kept both worship sites open under one pastor and one staff, which Rev. Robert Longobucco calls 'one of the most positive experiences we've had in any of our mergers.'
- 1926 — St. Helen's founded as an outgrowth of St. John the Evangelist; first pastor Rev. Joseph A. Dunney
- 1955 — Current St. Helen's (Union Street) church completed and dedicated by Bishop William A. Scully
- 1955 — Our Lady of Fatima founded by Bishop William Scully at 2216 Rosa Road
- 1991 — St. Helen's renovation: altar moved, semi-circular worship space, new entrance
- 1994 — St. Helen's and Our Lady of Fatima enter a cluster parish relationship
- July 1, 2012 — Merger into St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish, both worship sites kept open
- Sept. 15, 2018 — St. Helen's celebrates 75th anniversary
- June 1, 2024 — Parish pilgrimage of about 44 parishioners between the two sites
Two Worship Sites
The parish operates 'one church with two worship sites, 2.7 miles apart.' This unique setup means Sunday Mass is celebrated at both locations: 9:30 AM at Union Street and 11:30 AM at Rosa Road, with the Saturday Vigil at 5:00 PM at Union Street. Weekday Masses are split between the two campuses as well.
- Union Street (former St. Helen's) — 1803 Union Street, Schenectady/Niskayuna, NY 12309
- Rosa Road (former Our Lady of Fatima) — 2216 Rosa Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
- Distance between sites: 2.7 miles
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Rev. Robert 'Father Bob' Longobucco, supported by two permanent deacons and a full pastoral and administrative team that covers youth, faith formation, adult faith formation, music, bereavement, and parish operations.
- Rev. Robert Longobucco — Pastor
- Deacon Thomas Sharrow
- Deacon Greg Mansfield
- Mr. Lawrence Grimmer — Parish Manager
- Mrs. Toni LaFond — Bookkeeper
- Mr. Joe Peters — Receptionist
- Mr. Dominick Giaquinto — Director of Music Ministry
- Mrs. Lisa Kuban — Pastoral Associate for Youth Ministry (6–12) and Christian Service
- Mrs. Kimberly Munks — Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation
- Mrs. Sharon Maneri — Bereavement Ministry Coordinator
- Kristine Rooney — Pastoral Associate for Adult Faith Formation and Pastoral Care
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish is staffed by dedicated Pastoral Associates and runs from early childhood through high school. Children attend the parish school from nursery through grade 5, with youth ministry continuing grades 6 through 12 and a Christian Service component. The parish also runs 'Becoming Catholic' (OCIA / RCIA) for adults and older children discerning entry into the Catholic Church.
- St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish School (nursery through grade 5)
- Faith Formation program (children)
- Youth Ministry for grades 6–12 with Christian Service component (Lisa Kuban)
- Adult Faith Formation (Kristine Rooney)
- Becoming Catholic / Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish School
Located on the Rosa Road campus, the parish school serves students from nursery through fifth grade as part of the parish's wider evangelizing mission. Principal Jennifer Chatain led the school through the 2012 merger and renaming, working alongside Pastor Fr. Bob Longobucco and parish manager Larry Grimmer.
- Nursery through Grade 5
- On-site at the Rosa Road campus
- Pastoral leadership from Fr. Bob Longobucco (Pastor) and Larry Grimmer (Parish Manager)
Music & Liturgy Ministries
Music Ministry is led by Director of Music Ministry Mr. Dominick Giaquinto, continuing a tradition more than four decades long. Past music minister George Bollock served first Our Lady of Fatima and then St. Kateri Tekakwitha parish for 43 years, retiring in 2018 to the acclaim of parishioners and pastor alike. Bollock's leadership spanned choir direction, organ playing, planning liturgies, overseeing music for funerals and weddings, and lending his art-history-trained eye to renovations.
- Director of Music Ministry: Mr. Dominick Giaquinto
- Choir and parish music at both worship sites
- Music for funerals, weddings, Holy Week, and Sunday Masses
- George Bollock served as music minister for 43 years (Our Lady of Fatima → St. Kateri) before retiring in 2018
Bereavement & Pastoral Care
A distinct Bereavement Ministry is coordinated by Mrs. Sharon Maneri, providing funeral support to grieving families. Pastoral Care for adults is provided by Pastoral Associate Kristine Rooney, who also guides adult faith formation and the parish's involvement in initiatives such as the 2024 Pilgrims of Hope for Creation walk between the two worship sites.
- Funeral bereavement support coordinated by Sharon Maneri
- Pastoral Care for adults by Kristine Rooney
- Helps organize parish pilgrimages and formation events
Outreach: Helping Hands
Helping Hands is the parish's outreach/charity ministry and is highlighted on the parish website's main navigation. It is part of the parish's stated mission to 'act justly' as an evangelizing Roman Catholic community that welcomes all.
- Helping Hands outreach listed on parish website navigation
- Connected to the parish's mission of welcoming all and acting justly
Parish Mission
Stated on the parish school website and consistent across parish materials: 'We are an evangelizing Roman Catholic community of Christ's disciples that welcomes all, prays joyfully, grows in faith, proclaims God's kingdom, and acts justly.'
- Evangelizing Roman Catholic community
- Welcomes all
- Prays joyfully
- Grows in faith
- Proclaims God's kingdom
- Acts justly
Sacraments
The parish's Sacraments page coordinates preparation for the seven Catholic sacraments plus the OCIA process for those becoming Catholic. Contact the parish office at (518) 346-6137 for scheduling and preparation programs.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (First Communion)
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
- Becoming Catholic / OCIA
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (518) 346-6137 or email the pastor at [email protected]. The full staff email directory (using @stkateriparish.org addresses) and a 'Mass Times & Directions' map for both worship sites are available on the official website. The weekly bulletin is published online.
- Parish Office: (518) 346-6137
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stkateriparish.org/
- Diocese of Albany parish page: rcda.org/parishes/parish/saint-kateri-tekakwitha-parish-schenectady-ny
- Online bulletin available on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Robert 'Father Bob' Longobucco2012–present
Led the 2½-year merger study; shepherded the union of St. Helen's and Our Lady of Fatima into St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish and continues as pastor of both worship sites.