About St. Mary's Crescent Church · Waterford, New York
St. Mary's Church, Crescent is a Roman Catholic parish in Waterford, New York, serving the Crescent area of the Halfmoon Township in Saratoga County. Established in April 1868 by the Most Reverend John Conroy, the second Bishop of Albany, it was originally named The Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish. Today the parish serves over 1,200 families with weekend and daily Masses, faith formation programs, a nursery school, and a wide range of ministries. The parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and is led by a pastor, parochial vicar, deacon, and a dedicated lay staff.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- The Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (originally); now known as St. Mary's
- Rector
- Fr. Dan McHale
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
St. Mary's Crescent is a vibrant parish of over 1,200 families that has welcomed Catholics from the Crescent, Halfmoon, Rexford, and Clifton Park area since 1868. It offers weekend Masses (Saturday Vigil and three on Sunday), two daily Masses, livestreamed liturgy, OCIA for those becoming Catholic, a nursery school, full faith formation programs, and a Mercy Monday evening confession opportunity each month. With a parish center, a chapel for daily Mass, and an active lay staff and deacon, the parish combines the warmth of a small historic community with the depth of ministries typical of a much larger parish.
Mass times at St. Mary's Crescent Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM
- Second Saturday of every month 3:45–4:15 PM
- Mercy Monday — first Monday of each month, 5:00–8:00 PM
Parish History
Established in April 1868 by the Most Reverend John Conroy, second Bishop of Albany, when about six Catholic families in the Crescent area came together to build a church so they could worship. Originally known as The Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the parish served as an out-mission of St. Patrick's Church in Cohoes from 1886 to 1927, when it gained a resident pastor and took the name St. Mary's. From those six founding families the parish has grown to over 1,200 families serving Crescent, Halfmoon, Rexford, and Clifton Park.
- Founded April 1868 by Bishop John Conroy
- Original name: The Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Out-mission of St. Patrick's, Cohoes, 1886–1927
- Name changed to St. Mary's Church, October 1, 1927
- Original founding families: six
- Current parish families: over 1,200
The Church Buildings
St. Mary's has had three church buildings on the same site. The first, described by Pastor Rev. Brady in 1885, was a two-story wooden frame structure with a main altar, Sacred Heart picture, cabinet organ, Stations of the Cross, a stove, and about 18 cane-bottom chairs; the pastor and his sister lived upstairs. The present (third) church was built on the same site, with groundbreaking April 5, 1964 and dedication December 20, 1964, seating about 400. A 2001 renovation added a connector to the parish center, gathering space with baptismal font, and an air-conditioned chapel housing the Holy Tabernacle for daily Mass.
- First church: 2-story wooden frame, c. 1868
- Present church: groundbreaking April 5, 1964; dedicated December 20, 1964; seats ~400
- 2001 renovation: connector, gathering space, daily Mass chapel
Art, Statuary & Cultural Heritage
Two notable sculptures mark the parish's Marian founding and its regional Catholic heritage. A 2,000-pound Indiana limestone statue of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, sculpted by Albany artist Joseph Faul, stands in the foyer and was dedicated August 24, 2004 as a tribute to the parish's founding name. In 2008 a sculpture of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, the 'Lily of the Mohawks' and first Native American to be beatified, was installed; she was sculpted by Sr. Loretta Hoag, DC.
- Statue of the Expectation of the BVM by Joseph Faul — dedicated Aug 24, 2004
- Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha sculpture by Sr. Loretta Hoag, DC — installed 2008
- Stations of the Cross (present from the first church, 1868)
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Mary's is served by a pastor, parochial vicar, deacon, and a deeply committed lay staff covering faith formation, ministry coordination, administration, music, and maintenance. Deacon Andy Grebe, who with his wife joined St. Mary's in 2001, was ordained in May 2013 and appointed Parish Life Coordinator in February 2024.
- Fr. Dan McHale — Pastor
- Fr. Jim O'Rourke — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Andy Grebe — Parish Life Coordinator (since Feb 2024)
- Jeanne Gracon — Pastoral Associate for Pastoral Care
- Rachel Collet — Faith Formation Director
- Tina Burke — Ministry Coordinator
- Sarah Moreau — Administrative Coordinator
- Mary Ellen Sochor — Administrative Assistant
- Wayne Hawkins — Music Director
- Tim Balfe — Maintenance
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation moved fully to the St. Mary's campus in 1974 when the Parish Center was completed with classrooms. Rachel Collet directs the program, which now serves the parish's many families. Children are no longer bused to St. Mary of the Assumption's parochial school in Waterford for CCD/Sunday School classes.
- Faith Formation Director: Rachel Collet
- Classes held on campus since 1974 Parish Center completion
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adults becoming Catholic
Nursery School
Established in 1975 to serve the growing population of younger parishioners and families in the surrounding community, the Nursery School remains a fixture of parish life alongside Faith Formation and the Parish Center.
- Founded 1975
- Hosted in the Parish Center (built 1974)
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults interested in becoming Catholic are invited to learn through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. Information sessions are open regardless of which parish the inquirer belongs to.
- OCIA sessions advertised on the parish calendar
- Open to all, not only St. Mary's parishioners
Parish Center & Facilities
The St. Mary's Parish Center, completed in 1974, includes a gymnasium, kitchen, classrooms, and office space and is the hub for Faith Formation, Nursery School, parish gatherings, and ministries. The 2001 renovation linked it directly to the church via a connector that holds the gathering space and baptismal font.
- Gymnasium, kitchen, classrooms, offices
- Connector to church with baptismal font (2001)
- House on the Hill — two-family residence for retired diocesan priests (renovated 2002–2004)
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Mary's is directed by Music Director Wayne Hawkins. The Sunday 10:30 AM Mass is livestreamed on YouTube, with recordings available for later viewing.
- Music Director: Wayne Hawkins
- Livestreamed Sunday 10:30 AM Mass on YouTube
Visiting & Newcomers
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Mary's. The parish offers clearly published Mass and Confession times, handicap-accessible parking off Church Hill Road, and a parish office open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Address: 86 Church Hill Rd, Waterford, NY 12188
- Office hours: Mon–Thu, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Phone: (518) 371-9632
- Handicap parking on the right as you face the church
Diocese & Canonical Status
St. Mary's Church, Crescent is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. It is listed on the diocesan website alongside its current Mass and Reconciliation schedule. Historically, from 1886 to 1927, it was administered as an out-mission of St. Patrick's Church in Cohoes.
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
- Out-mission of St. Patrick's, Cohoes (1886–1927)
- St. Edward the Confessor (Elnora) was created from St. Mary's in 1967
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Brady1885
Pastor in 1885; described the first church building in a written document
- Rev. Leo O'Haire1915
Founded St. Leo's Church at Dunsbach Ferry in 1915 as a related parish