About St. Pius X · Loudonville, New York
St. Pius X Catholic Church is a parish in Loudonville, a suburb just north of Albany, New York, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. It runs from a long-established parochial school (K-8) and serves about 80 lay ministries, with weekend Masses offered four times each Sunday and daily Mass Monday through Friday. The parish traces its roots to a 1916 mission chapel in Loudon and grew into an independent parish in 1951, taking its present name from Pope St. Pius X when the cornerstone was laid in 1954. Today it continues to emphasize faith formation for children and youth, Eucharistic Adoration, hospitality, and outreach to those in need.
- Established
- 1951
- Patron
- St. Pius X
- Rector
- Rev. James J. Walsh
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
St. Pius X offers four Sunday Masses (including a noon Mass), a daily Mass Monday through Friday, weekly Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel each Tuesday afternoon, and Saturday confession — making it easy to plug into the rhythm of Catholic life. A K-8 parish school has been part of the campus since 1951, and faith formation continues for children, teens, and young adults with a tiered confirmation program (Foundations, Called, Disciples, and Sent). With more than 80 lay ministries — including a Meal Ministry, Music Ministry, altar servers, RCIA, family ministry, and wedding ambassadors — parishioners of every age and schedule can find a way to serve and to belong.
Mass times at St. Pius X
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday, 4:00–4:45 PM in the Chapel (first-come, first-served)
- Advent Penance Service (seasonal)
- Lenten Penance Service (seasonal)
Adoration times
- Tuesday, 1:30–6:00 PM in the Chapel (Eucharistic Adoration; one-hour volunteer slots available)
Our Story & Parish History
Catholic families in the Loudonville area once traveled long distances to attend Mass at churches in Albany and Watervliet; in 1916 a mission chapel was established under St. Francis de Sales in West Albany and the parish was incorporated as the Church of St. Pius V. It became an independent parish on September 23, 1951, with the Rev. Gerald H. Kirwin as its first resident pastor, and was rededicated to St. Pius X on the date of his canonization in 1954. The present church was dedicated in 1969 as the first new church in the diocese after Vatican II, and a new Parish Life Center was added in 2022.
- 1916: First Mass celebrated in the Loudon Town Hall by Father James E. Kelly, pastor of St. Francis de Sales.
- 1916: Mission chapel cornerstone laid on Loudon Road; parish incorporated June 15, 1916.
- September 23, 1951: Bishop Edmund F. Gibbons establishes St. Pius V as an independent parish.
- May 29, 1954: Cornerstone laid; parish renamed for St. Pius X on the date of his canonization.
- September 25, 1969: Bishop Edwin B. Broderick dedicates the current church — the first post-Vatican II church in the Diocese of Albany.
- 2020: Groundbreaking for a 15,000-square-foot Parish Life Center.
- April 3, 2022: Ribbon cutting and blessing of the Parish Life Center by Bishop Ed Scharfenberger.
Meet the Staff & Clergy
St. Pius X is served by a pastor, an associate pastor (parochial vicar), a permanent deacon, a school principal, a director of religious education, a youth & young adult minister, a family ministry coordinator, music and marketing directors, an audio-visual director, a business manager, and parish secretaries. The pastor, Father Jim Walsh, has served since July 2013 and led the construction of the Parish Life Center.
- Pastor — Rev. James J. Walsh
- Associate Pastor (Parochial Vicar) — Father Daniel Vallejo ([email protected])
- Deacon — Marty Dinan
- School Principal — Ashley Battipaglia
- Director of Religious Education (K-8) — Mary Nardolillo
- Youth & Young Adult Minister — Kirsty Canavan
- Family Ministry Coordinator — (staff page)
- Music Director — Brian Hoffman ([email protected])
- Marketing Director — John Wilhelm
- Audio-Visual Director — Jessica Morelli ([email protected])
- Business Manager — Tom Callan
- Parish Secretary & Newcomers Coordinator — Heidi Cummins
- Parish Council — Matt Rucinski (President), Kevin Quaranto, Eileen Murphy, Carm Turpin, Nate Maloney
Sacraments
Information and preparation pathways for all seven sacraments are provided on the parish website, with a special emphasis on baptism and marriage preparation that involves parish volunteers (Wedding Ambassadors, Baptism Ambassadors, and Stole Makers).
- Baptism — multiple weekend dates each year; first-time parents attend a Baptismal Prep Class.
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:00–4:45 PM in the Chapel; Advent and Lenten Penance Services.
- First Holy Communion — 2nd grade and older; register via the Religious Education Coordinator.
- Confirmation — two-year youth program (9th and 10th grade); Adult Confirmation also offered.
- Matrimony — 'To Have and To Hold' marriage preparation; arrange at least six months in advance.
- Anointing of the Sick — every Tuesday after the 9:00 AM Mass, or by appointment.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Pius X runs from kindergarten through high school. Mary Nardolillo directs the K-8 program, while Kirsty Canavan leads youth and young adult ministry. The youth track is built around four named programs — Foundations (grades 6–8), Called (first year of confirmation prep), Disciples (high school fellowship), and Sent (immediate Confirmation preparation).
The Journey — Youth Ministry & Confirmation
The parish's youth faith formation pathway moves students through four stages: Foundations (middle school basics, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays), Called (first Confirmation-prep year, monthly classes), Disciples (high school fellowship, 1st & 3rd Tuesdays), and Sent (twelve sessions of immediate Confirmation prep). Catholic-school students are exempt from Called's monthly classes but must still meet service, retreat, and family-project requirements.
- Foundations — grades 6–8, meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays
- Called — 1st year of Confirmation prep, monthly classes followed by 12 PM Mass
- Disciples — high school fellowship, meets 1st and 3rd Tuesdays
- Sent — final Confirmation prep, 12 sessions (1:00–2:30 PM)
St. Pius X School (K–8)
The parish school opened in the fall of 1954 with kindergarten through grade 4 and a grade was added each subsequent year. From the start it was staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, who served as the primary faculty until the late 1990s when dwindling religious vocations made it no longer feasible. The original 1954 church/auditorium building is still in use today as the school gymnasium. The current principal is Ashley Battipaglia.
Parish Ministries
The parish lists more than 80 ministries on its website, organized around Prayer & Worship, Faith Development, and Outreach. Volunteers of all ages — from students in 4th grade (altar servers) to adults (RCIA, Adult Confirmation, Wedding Ambassadors) — are invited to serve.
- Meal Ministry (frequently noted as one of the most popular ministries)
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Altar Servers (grades 4–12)
- Music Ministry
- Hospitality Ministry
- Ushers and Altar Linens
- Baptism Prep Classes, Ambassadors, and Stole Makers
- Wedding Ambassadors & Wedding Rehearsals
- Prayer Group
- RCIA — Bob Quimby ([email protected])
- Adult Confirmation — Peter Ranalli, Robert Murphy
- Religious Education (K-8) — Mary Nardolillo
- Youth Ministry & Confirmation Core Teams
- Young Adult Ministry
- Family Ministry
- Advent/Lenten Breakfasts
The Parish Life Center
Construction began in October 2020 on a 15,000-square-foot Parish Life Center designed around three goals: helping people deepen their faith, helping people in pain, and helping people create and build relationships. Bishop Edward Scharfenberger blessed the finished building at a ribbon cutting on April 3, 2022. The Parish Life Center hosts youth ministry, family ministry, and many of the parish's 80+ lay ministries.
Plan Your Visit & Contact
St. Pius X is easy to reach from anywhere in the greater Albany area. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM to 4:30 PM, and multiple weekend Masses plus Saturday confession make it simple to find a time to stop in.
- Address: 23 Crumitie Road, Loudonville, NY 12211
- Phone: (518) 462-1336
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:15 AM–4:30 PM
- Website: http://www.stpiusxloudonville.org/
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 PM
- Sunday Masses: 8:00, 10:00, and 12:00 AM/PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Gerald H. Kirwin1951–1970
First resident pastor; oversaw acquisition of the Burt Farm, construction of the church/auditorium (1954), the school, and the present church (dedicated 1969). Later named Monsignor. Resigned 1970 due to ill health.
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph P. Conway, V.G.1970–1978
Succeeded Msgr. Kirwin.
- Rev. Thomas C. Brown1978–1990
Succeeded Msgr. Conway.
- Very Rev. Michael A. Farano, V.G.1990–2013
Began December 1990.
- Rev. James J. WalshJuly 2013–present
Led the parish through construction of the Parish Life Center (groundbreaking 2020, ribbon cutting/blessing 2022).