About St. Philip Neri · Grand Gorge, New York
St. Philip Neri is a small Catholic mission church in Grand Gorge, a hamlet in the northern Catskills of New York State. Together with Sacred Heart Church in neighboring Stamford, it forms the two-church Sacred Heart Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, administered from the Sacred Heart Rectory on Harper Street. The parish traces its origins to the mid-1920s and celebrated its 100th anniversary in October 2025 with a Mass led by Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger of Albany. The church sits along NY Route 30 in Grand Gorge and offers Sunday Mass and weekly Reconciliation, with weekday liturgies and Eucharistic Adoration centered at Sacred Heart in Stamford. The combined parish describes itself as an evangelizing community of Christian disciples, welcoming permanent, seasonal, and weekend residents as well as visitors to the northern Catskills.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- St. Philip Neri (Philip Romolo Neri, 1515–1595), Apostle of Rome and founder of the Congregation of the Oratory
- Rector
- Rev. Paul J. Mijas (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
St. Philip Neri offers an intimate Catholic worship experience in the heart of the northern Catskills, with Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. and Reconciliation before Mass at 7:30 a.m. Worshippers are invited into a parish family that also includes Sacred Heart Church in Stamford, with weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and the full sacramental life celebrated across the two sites. Parishioners participate in Faith Formation, OCIA (RCIA), Respect Life advocacy, vocations sponsorship, social events such as bingo and the annual picnic, the Flag Day Parade in Stamford, and a community Food Pantry — a tangible sign of the parish's mission 'to become an evangelizing community of Christian disciples.'
Mass times at St. Philip Neri
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30 am (at St. Philip Neri, Grand Gorge, before the 8:00 am Mass)
- Friday 11:00 am (at Sacred Heart Church, Stamford)
- Saturday 3:30 pm (at Sacred Heart Church, Stamford, before the 4:00 pm Vigil Mass)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm (First Fridays, alternating weekly with Sacred Heart Church, Stamford)
- Friday 11:00 am (Eucharistic Adoration at Sacred Heart Church, Stamford, preceding the noon Mass)
About St. Philip Neri
St. Philip Neri is the Grand Gorge mission church of Sacred Heart Parish, sharing a pastor and parish staff with Sacred Heart Church in nearby Stamford, NY. The church sits on NY Route 30 in the northern Catskills and is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. According to the parish's own website, the combined mission of Sacred Heart and St. Philip Neri 'is to become an evangelizing community of Christian disciples by growing in our personal relationship with Jesus, by deepening our understanding, enthusiasm, and love for the Catholic faith, by increasing our confidence and courage to share the faith with others, and by faithfully living the Gospel in the world.'
- Mission church of Sacred Heart Parish (Diocese of Albany)
- Sunday Mass at 8:00 am
- Parish Office / Rectory at 27 Harper Street, Stamford, NY 12167
St. Philip Neri History
The parish's own history page tells the story of its patron, St. Philip Neri (Philip Romolo Neri), the 16th-century Apostle of Rome who founded the famous 'Society of Saint' — the Congregation of the Oratory. The website emphasizes the saint's lifetime in Rome, his rules for community life, and the titles by which he is honored. The Grand Gorge church building itself was erected around the mid-1920s and on Sunday, October 13 (announced as the 100th anniversary), the parish welcomed Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger and Father Paul J. Mijas for a celebratory Mass followed by a festive luncheon. The parish described the day as 'a very special day in the storied history of St. Philip Neri in Grand Gorge.'
- 100th anniversary celebrated October 12–13, 2025
- Anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger with Father Paul J. Mijas
- Festive luncheon enjoyed by all after the Mass
- Parishioner Theresa Gier coordinated memorabilia collection in advance of the celebration
St. Philip Neri the Saint
According to the parish's history page, St. Philip Neri was born in 1515 and spent his life in Rome, where he founded the Society of Saint — the Oratorians — and earned the title 'Apostle of Rome.' The parish lists several of the patron's traditional titles and notes his enduring influence on Catholic community life through the Oratorian rules he established.
- Born 1515, died 1595
- Founder of the Congregation of the Oratory
- Honored as 'Apostle of Rome'
Sacraments
Sacred Heart Parish prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church. Infant baptism is encouraged within roughly two months of birth, with parents asked to meet with the pastor at least a month before the desired date. Children of catechetical age (~7 and older) follow a tailored preparation plan, and adults enter through the OCIA (RCIA) process. First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are typically received in second grade after at least one year of Faith Formation. The parish asks engaged couples to contact the pastor at least six months before their desired wedding date — before booking a reception venue — for marriage preparation (pre-Cana).
- Baptism — infants, children of catechetical age, and adults (via OCIA)
- First Reconciliation — typically Advent/Lent of second-grade year
- First Holy Communion — second grade, after at least one year of Faith Formation
- Confirmation — preparation through Faith Formation
- Reconciliation — weekly schedule, by appointment, and seasonal Penance Services
- Marriage — six months' notice to the pastor, before booking a reception venue
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish's Faith Formation program supports families in passing on the Catholic faith to children, with catechists recruited from the parish to teach the Faith Formation curriculum. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion takes place in second grade. For adults, the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) Team meets regularly with catechumens (non-Christians) and candidates (non-Catholic Christians) for both instruction and faith-sharing sessions on the journey toward full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Adults discerning Catholicism are invited to 'take your time and listen to God's call.'
- Faith Formation Director: Mrs. Carleen Russell — [email protected]
- First Reconciliation and First Communion typically in second grade
- OCIA / RCIA team for adults (1–2 year journey)
- Catechist recruitment and youth ministry involvement
- Parish Office: (607) 652-7170 — [email protected]
Parish Life and Ministries
Sacred Heart Parish — together with St. Philip Neri — supports a wide range of lay ministries and committees. The Respect Life Committee advocates for the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death and organizes collections (Mother's Day Baby Shower, school supplies, clothes for the homeless) and trips such as the March for Life. The Vocations Committee sponsors two discerners in the Diocese of Albany and assigns individual parishioner households to take a chalice home weekly to pray for priestly vocations. The Social Committee hosts regular bingo and family fun nights, the Annual Picnic Committee organizes the parish picnic, and the Flag Day Parade Committee builds the parish float for Stamford's June 14 parade. The parish also sends 10–14 youth and chaperones to the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) every two years.
- OCIA / Adult Faith Formation Team — Fr. Paul Mijas (607) 652-7170
- Respect Life Committee — Parish Office (607) 652-7170
- Vocations Committee — Parish Office (607) 652-7170
- Social Committee — Jim & Roxie King (518) 299-3011
- Faith Formation Catechists / Youth Ministry — Carleen Russell, [email protected]
- National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) — Pat Dengler (607) 267-7862
- Men's Prayer Group, Mondays 7 pm at Sacred Heart — Paul Wenner (607) 652-4055
- Annual Picnic Committee — volunteers needed
- Flag Day Parade Committee — Stamford, June 14
Outreach: Food Pantry
The parish operates a Food Pantry as a practical expression of Catholic social teaching and neighborly charity. The Food Pantry is coordinated by Mrs. Katie Ryerson and is a key point of contact for parishioners and neighbors in need.
- Food Pantry coordinator: Mrs. Katie Ryerson — (910) 545-3324
Parish Staff and Leadership
Sacred Heart Parish, which includes St. Philip Neri, is administered by a small team led by Fr. Paul J. Mijas and supported by a parish secretary, a faith formation director, parish trustees, and ministry leaders. Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger serves as the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Albany.
- Administrator: Fr. Paul J. Mijas
- Secretary: Mrs. Kelly Bauer
- Faith Formation Director: Mrs. Carleen Russell — [email protected]
- Trustees: Mrs. Carole Trotta and Mr. Al Martel
- Food Pantry: Mrs. Katie Ryerson — (910) 545-3324
- Diocesan Bishop: Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger
Contact and Office Hours
Parish correspondence is handled through the Sacred Heart Rectory/Parish Office at 27 Harper Street in Stamford, NY. The phone line, email, and office hours below serve both Sacred Heart Church and St. Philip Neri.
- Parish Office: (607) 652-7170
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 27 Harper Street, Stamford, NY 12167
- Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Closed: Monday & Friday
Welcome and Visitors
The parish explicitly welcomes new, seasonal, weekend, and visiting worshippers to its two churches: 'We're happy that you have joined us today and want you to know that you're always welcome here.' Whether attending Mass, a retreat, a prayer group, a Bible study, or a class, newcomers are invited to share their gifts and talents with the parish family.
- Welcomes permanent, seasonal, and weekend residents
- Invites participation in parish activities and ministries
- Encourages those considering Catholicism to attend parish events