About St. Matthew's · Voorheesville, New York
St. Matthew's Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of Voorheesville, New York, in Albany County, belonging to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. The community's roots stretch back to 1916, when Catholic families in this small rural town — many of Italian, Polish, and Irish heritage — began worshipping at a mission church from St. Lucy's in Altamont; it was formally established as its own parish in 1962. Today the parish serves about 845 households at 25 Mountainview Street with weekend and weekday Masses, monthly First Friday Adoration, a Confirmation program, an intergenerational faith-formation curriculum called Generations of Faith, and a wide network of outreach ministries including Family Promise and a high-school service club called H.O.P.E. Club. Father Rick Lesser, appointed in January 2021 by Bishop Scharfenberger, serves as pastor in tandem with Christ the King Parish in Westmere.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- Saint Matthew the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Rick Lesser
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
St. Matthew's is a welcoming, mid-sized Catholic community of roughly 845 households at the heart of Voorheesville, where weekend Masses, weekday Masses, monthly First Friday Adoration with Benediction, and quarterly Anointing of the Sick give parishioners regular ways to worship together. Lifelong faith formation is built around the intergenerational Generations of Faith program — with sessions held on the first weekend of each month from October through May — alongside dedicated Confirmation, First Communion, and OCIA tracks for adults entering the Church. A vibrant network of outreach ministries (Family Promise, Walking with Moms in Need, Birthright, the Alzheimer's Care Team, Senior Soup Meals, and the high-school H.O.P.E. Club) makes it easy for newcomers to put faith into action alongside their neighbors.
Mass times at St. Matthew's
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday at 8:00 AM (before the 8:30 AM Mass)
- After the Saturday Vigil Mass
- During Adoration on First Friday (9:00–11:00 AM)
- By appointment — email Fr. Rick Lesser at the parish office
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: Adoration following the 8:30 AM Mass, with Benediction at 11:00 AM
Our History
A small Catholic community formed in Voorheesville long before the parish was established. In July 1916 Father Michael McCaffrey of St. Lucy's in Altamont began celebrating Mass at the Voorheesville Athletic Association on Main Street. Within the year, the Catholic Building Fund Association was organized; after difficulty purchasing property, a site at the top of the hill on Center Street and the dead end of Pleasant Street was chosen. The groundbreaking was held in early August 1916, the cornerstone was laid December 3, 1916, and the first Mass was celebrated on Christmas 1916. Bishop Thomas F. Cusack dedicated the new church to Saint Matthew on Sunday, June 17, 1917. Despite having its own building, Saint Matthew's remained a mission of St. Lucy's for nearly fifty years.
- 1916: First Mass celebrated in Voorheesville at the Athletic Association
- Dec. 3, 1916: Cornerstone of original church laid
- Christmas 1916: First Mass in new mission church
- June 17, 1917: Church dedicated to Saint Matthew by Bishop Thomas F. Cusack
- 1936: Willman family donates bell tower and Meneely bell
- Sept. 1960: 13 acres purchased from Clifford Severson on Mountainview Street
- 1961: Father Boleslaus Dobrzynski receives permission to borrow up to $75,000 for new mission church
- April 7, 1962: Bishop William A. Scully issues decree establishing Saint Matthew's as a parish
- 1980: First expansion of the 1961 church, dedicated by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard
- June 29, 1996: Ground broken for Parish Center
- May 31, 1997: Parish Center dedicated
- Easter 2001: First Mass after worship-space renovation; rededicated by Bishop Hubbard June 10, 2001
- 2012: Golden Anniversary — 845 registered households under Father Tom Chevalier
- 2014: Father Christopher DeGiovine assigned as pastor
- Oct. 31, 2020: Father DeGiovine retires
- Jan. 1, 2021: Father Rick Lesser appointed pastor by Bishop Scharfenberger
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Father Rick Lesser and supported by a team of deacons and lay pastoral associates organized around Liturgy, Faith Development, Administration, Hospitality, and Music. The staff directory on the parish website lists phone extensions so parishioners can reach the right person directly.
- Rev. Rick Lesser — Pastor
- Deacon Nick Ascioti — Pastoral Associate for Faith Development
- Christina Kocher — Pastoral Associate for Administration
- Andrea Freeman — Pastoral Associate for Liturgy
- Chrisi Young — Pastoral Associate for Faith Development, Grades 6–12
- Melissa Usher — Pastoral Associate for First Communion
- Peggy McQuade — Pastoral Associate for Hospitality
- Carl Alexandrov — Pastoral Associate for Liturgy and Music
- Michael Markham — Parish Bookkeeper
- Tom Lenseth — Building Manager
About Our Pastor
Father Rick Lesser was appointed by Bishop Scharfenberger as Pastor of St. Matthew's Church, Voorheesville and Pastor of Christ the King Parish, Westmere. Father Lesser works with both communities through the celebration of the Eucharist and leading the parishes in the ministry of Jesus. Before entering seminary he was a veterinarian; he was widowed in 2005 and ordained in the Diocese of Albany in 2015 at age 60. He also serves the diocese in Diaconate Vocations.
- Appointed January 1, 2021 by Bishop Scharfenberger
- Also Pastor of Christ the King Parish, Westmere
- Coordinates Diaconate Vocations for the Diocese of Albany
Generations of Faith — Lifelong Faith Formation
Generations of Faith (GOF) is St. Matthew's intergenerational faith-formation program for everyone from kindergarten through adults. Rather than a 'drop-off' model, GOF gathers the whole household together once a month for Mass, a shared meal, and breakout sessions. The 2025–2026 theme is "The Liturgical Year." Two session times are offered each month, with registration forms available on the parish website; contact Deacon Nick Ascioti with questions.
- Two monthly sessions: Saturdays 5:15–7:45 PM or Sundays 9:30–11:45 AM
- Both sessions begin with Mass and a shared meal
- Open to families, individuals, couples, K through adult
- 2025–2026 monthly dates: Oct. 4–5, Nov. 1–2, Dec. 6–7, Jan. 10–11, Feb. 7–8, March 7–8, April 18–19, May 1–2
- Coordinator: Deacon Nick Ascioti
Sacramental Preparation
First Communion, Confirmation, and OCIA each have their own formation tracks but are rooted in the parish's Generations of Faith program. Families with children baptized and in 2nd grade or higher may enroll in First Communion preparation; teens in 6th–12th grade prepare for Confirmation across an October-through-fall cycle that includes teen-only Sunday evening sessions beginning in February. Adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church are welcomed through OCIA, with parish sponsors walking alongside candidates.
- First Communion — for baptized children in 2nd grade or higher; requires participation in Generations of Faith and a September parent meeting
- First Reconciliation — celebrated before First Communion, with age-appropriate catechesis
- Confirmation — preparation begins Oct. 4–5, 2025; teen-only Sunday evening sessions added Feb. 2026; ends with Confirmation Liturgy in Fall 2026
- Confirmation Peer Mentors — already-confirmed teens help lead small groups
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) — weekly meetings, faith sharing, study, and rituals; sponsors must be practicing, Confirmed Catholics
- Contact: Melissa Usher (First Communion), Chrisi Young (Confirmation Grades 6–12)
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical life at St. Matthew's is supported by a dedicated Music Ministry under Pastoral Associate for Liturgy and Music Carl Alexandrov, alongside Andrea Freeman as Pastoral Associate for Liturgy. Volunteers serve as Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers, Greeters, Sacristans, Altar Servers, and in Altar Linens care. The Resurrection Choir provides music at funeral liturgies, and a Rosary and Novena devotion is offered regularly.
- Pastoral Associate for Liturgy — Andrea Freeman
- Pastoral Associate for Liturgy and Music — Carl Alexandrov
- Liturgy Committee
- Resurrection Choir (funerals)
- Lector, Usher, Greeter, Sacristan, Altar Server ministries
- Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays
Outreach & Social Justice
St. Matthew's runs an active Community Service / Social Justice ministry portfolio reaching neighbors across the Capital Region. The parish hosts families experiencing homelessness through Family Promise, supports pregnant and parenting women in need through Walking with Moms in Need and Birthright, walks with those facing Alzheimer's through the Alzheimer Care Team, and offers Senior Soup Meals to local seniors. A Respect Life group and a Pastoral Care Team that visits the housebound, chronically ill, and those in assisted living or the hospital round out the outreach.
- Family Promise — St. Matthew's serves as a host site for families served by Family Promise of the Capital Region
- Walking with Moms in Need — parish-based process supporting pregnant and parenting women
- Birthright support
- Alzheimer Care Team — provides support to individuals and families living with Alzheimer's or memory impairment
- Pastoral Care Team — visits to homebound, chronically ill, assisted living, and hospital
- Respect Life
- Senior Soup Meals — Hospitality Committee serves complimentary soups to local seniors
H.O.P.E. Club — High-School Outreach
St. Matthew's H.O.P.E. Club (Helping Out People Everywhere) is a group of high-school students who serve people in the community through monthly volunteer opportunities. All high-schoolers are welcome; many use it to fulfill required Key Club or National Honor Society service hours while building friendships and helping others.
- Open to all high-school students
- Monthly volunteer opportunities in the wider community
- Fulfills service-hour requirements for school organizations
Parish Life & Hospitality
Pastoral Associate for Hospitality Peggy McQuade coordinates the many ways parishioners can serve one another and welcome visitors. From the Greeters who greet at the door to Funeral Ministry, Shawl Ministry, and Parish Council, hospitality at St. Matthew's is both a practical and a spiritual commitment.
- Hospitality Committee — meals, setup, and Senior Soup Meals
- Greeters
- Funeral Ministry
- Shawl Ministry
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Committee
- Office Assistance
- Collection Counter
Joining the Parish
New parishioners are warmly welcomed. Registration forms are available on the parish website and at the Parish Office, and registration places a family or individual on the parish mailing list so they receive timely information about parish life, sacramental preparation, and ministries.
- Complete a registration form (PDF available online or at the Parish Office)
- Stop by or call the Parish Office at (518) 765-2805
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Diocese & Wider Church
St. Matthew's is one of the parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, which lists the parish on its official site with the full Mass and Reconciliation schedule. Father Rick Lesser also serves as Pastor of Christ the King Church in Westmere under Bishop Scharfenberger.
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany — parent diocese
- Bishop: the Most Reverend Edward B. Scharfenberger
- Father Rick Lesser also pastor of Christ the King, Westmere
- Parish listed at rcda.org/parishes/parish/st-matthews-church-voorheesville-ny
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Matthew's by phone, email, or in person at the Mountainview Street office during business hours. The official website hosts the parish registration form, Generations of Faith registration, First Communion and Confirmation forms, the weekly bulletin, and the full schedule of services.
- Address: 25 Mountainview Street, Voorheesville, NY 12186
- Phone: (518) 765-2805
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stmatthewsvoorheesville.org/
- Diocese listing: https://www.rcda.org/parishes/parish/st-matthews-church-voorheesville-ny
- GCatholic ID: 18099
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael McCaffrey1916 onward (mission priest from St. Lucy's, Altamont)
Said the first Mass in the original 1916 church building while it was still a mission.
- Father Boleslaus Dobrzynskiaround 1961
Received permission from Bishop Scully to borrow up to $75,000 to build the new mission church on Mountainview Street.
- Father James McManus1962–1968
First resident pastor of the newly erected parish.
- Father John Sise1968
Succeeded Father McManus briefly in 1968.
- Father Harold Sartoris1968–1971
Served as pastor until 1971.
- Father John Keefe1971–1976
Succeeded Father Sartoris in 1971.
- Father Arthur Toole1976–2004
28-year pastorate; oversaw 1980 church expansion, 1996–97 Parish Center, and 2001 worship-space renovation.
- Father Tom Chevalier2005–2014
Shepherded the parish through its Golden Anniversary in 2012, when 845 households were registered.
- Father Christopher DeGiovine2014–2020
Retired October 31, 2020; continued celebrating weekend Masses through end of December 2020.
- Father Rick Lesser2021–present
Appointed by Bishop Scharfenberger effective January 1, 2021; also serves as pastor of Christ the King, Westmere.