About St. Paul's Mission (St. Joseph Parish) · Rock City Falls, New York
St. Paul's Catholic Church is a mission church of St. Joseph's Parish in Greenfield Center, New York, situated in the small hamlet of Rock City Falls in Saratoga County. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and shares its pastoral leadership, faith formation programs, and bulletin with the mother parish in Greenfield Center. The community offers a weekly Sunday Mass at 12:30 p.m., a monthly weekday Mass on the second Monday of the month at 9:00 a.m., and a popular Sunday evening Holy Rosary gathering at 7:00 p.m. that welcomes newcomers and provides rosaries and prayer guides. Its mission statement is simple and heartfelt: 'to Serve God and to Welcome ALL People to God's Love.'
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Simon Udemgba, Ph.D. (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
St. Paul's Mission offers the warmth of a small rural Catholic community rooted in Rock City Falls since 1874, with a mission statement that explicitly says 'to Serve God and to Welcome ALL People to God's Love.' The mission hosts a Sunday Mass, a monthly weekday Mass on the second Monday, a vibrant 7:00 p.m. Sunday Holy Rosary gathering that welcomes newcomers and provides rosaries and guides, and shares its faith formation program (K–9th grade) and bulletin with the neighboring mother parish at St. Joseph's in Greenfield Center.
Mass times at St. Paul's Mission (St. Joseph Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM at St. Joseph's, Greenfield Center
- By appointment with Fr. Simon ([email protected])
Sunday Evening Holy Rosary
Every Sunday at 7:00 PM, St. Paul's in Rock City Falls hosts a community praying of the Holy Rosary. The parish describes the rosary as 'one of the most cherished prayers of our Catholic Church' and invites all parishioners — newcomers included — to attend. Rosaries and prayer guides are made available, and someone is usually on hand early to show newcomers how to pray it.
- When: every Sunday, 7:00 PM
- Where: St. Paul's, 771 Route 29, Rock City Falls
- Open to all — newcomers always welcome
- Rosaries and prayer guides are provided
Pastoral Staff & Pastoral Council
The mission is served by a small pastoral team that oversees both St. Joseph's and St. Paul's, supported by a lay Pastoral Council that shares in pastoral planning and decision-making.
- Rev. Simon Udemgba, Ph.D. — Parish Administrator
- Margie Carroll — Pastoral Associate for Parish Administration
- Deacon Timothy Kilpeck — Permanent Deacon
- Joe Ficaretta — Volunteer Organist (St. Joseph's)
- Ed Esposito — Volunteer Guitarist (St. Paul's)
- Joe Varone — Faith Formation Coordinator (Adult Faith Formation)
- Director of Liturgical Music — Position Open
- Pastoral Council 2025 members: Katie Cronin, Dan Elinskas, Randy Miczek, Valerie Reside, Greg Tranchina, Kathy Zanella
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish offers faith formation for children in Kindergarten through 9th grade, plus adult faith formation and Confirmation preparation. Classes meet at St. Joseph's in Greenfield Center; families from St. Paul's Mission are welcome to register using the online form linked from the parish website.
- K–9th grade: twice a month on Sunday mornings, 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM at St. Joseph's
- Adult Faith Formation — coordinated by Joe Varone
- Confirmation Orientation and Sacramental records — Margie Carroll
- Online registration via the parish website
About Fr. Simon Udemgba
Father Simon Udemgba, Ph.D., is the Parish Administrator of St. Joseph's, Greenfield Center, and St. Paul's Mission, Rock City Falls. Born in Nigeria, he was ordained a priest on August 24, 1996, earned his master's degree at St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie, NY, and a doctorate from Capella University in Minnesota. He has served the Diocese of Albany for over two decades, including as parochial vicar at Mary Magdalene Church in Pocantico Hills (1997–2001) and at Peter Young Housing, Industry and Treatment (2009–2016). Since 2011 he has been at St. Joseph's/St. Paul's, and in December 2021 was additionally named Parochial Administrator of Holy Mother and Child Parish in Corinth/Lake Luzerne. He is also an adjunct professor at The Sage Colleges.
- Ordained: August 24, 1996
- Appointed Sacramental Minister at St. Joseph's / St. Paul's: 2011
- Appointed Parish Administrator: effective January 6, 2018
- Additional role: Parochial Administrator, Holy Mother and Child Parish, Corinth / Lake Luzerne (since January 1, 2022)
Parish Mission & Welcome
The parish mission statement — prominently displayed on the website — reads: 'Our mission is to Serve God and to Welcome ALL People to God's Love!' Visitors are invited to introduce themselves, register with the parish via the online registration form, and join any of the Masses, devotions, or faith formation offerings.
- Parish registration form available on the website
- Bulletin and Calendar accessible via tabs on the parish website
- All people welcomed at Mass, rosary, and faith formation events
Diocese & Institutional Affiliations
St. Paul's Mission is a worship site of St. Joseph's Parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. It is listed in the diocesan parish directory and in the GCatholic database as a mission of St. Joseph's, Greenfield Center, which itself was established in 1940.
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
- Mother parish: St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 3159 Route 9N, Greenfield Center, NY 12833
- Parish phone (St. Joseph's office): (518) 893-7680
- Diocese website: rcda.org
Contact & Practical Information
Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to call or email Fr. Simon or the parish office for inquiries about sacraments, Mass intentions, registration, or to arrange Reconciliation by appointment.
- St. Paul's Mission address: 771 Route 29, Rock City Falls, NY 12863
- Parish phone: (518) 893-7680
- Email Fr. Simon: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stjosephschurchgreenfieldcenter.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Simon Udemgba, Ph.D.2011–present (Parish Administrator since January 6, 2018)
Born in Achara/Uturu, Nigeria; ordained to the priesthood on August 24, 1996 (per The Evangelist, 2020); previously parochial vicar at Mary Magdalene Church, Pocantico Hills (1997–2001); worked at Peter Young Housing, Industry and Treatment (2009–2016); assigned to St. Joseph's/St. Paul's as Sacramental Minister in 2011; appointed Parish Administrator by Bishop Scharfenberger effective Jan. 6, 2018; additionally named Parochial Administrator of Holy Mother and Child Parish, Corinth/Lake Luzerne, effective Jan. 1, 2022.