About Transfiguration Parish (Schaghticoke location) · Schaghticoke, New York
Transfiguration Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Albany serving northern Rensselaer County, New York, from two worship sites — one in the village of Schaghticoke (17 South Main Street) and one in Speigletown, a hamlet of Troy (50 Hillview Drive), where the rectory and administrative offices are located. Though the parish as such dates only from 2010, its roots run back to 1839, and today it is a multi-generational, family-oriented community offering daily and weekend Mass, Reconciliation, an active Faith Formation program for grades K–10, RCIA for adults, a parish Council, a Justice and Service Committee, a Knights of Columbus council, and live-streamed liturgies for the homebound. Its mission statement reads: 'We are a Catholic community united by love, illuminated by the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ,' gathering to worship through Sacred Liturgy, prayer and Sacraments and to proclaim the Christian message through evangelization, faith formation, and service.
- Established
- 2010 (formed July 1, 2010 by merger of Holy Trinity and St. Bonaventure's; parish roots trace to St. John's, Schaghticoke, founded September 6, 1839)
- Patron
- The Transfiguration of the Lord (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Father Ed Kacerguis (Sacramental Minister)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Why belong here
Transfiguration Parish is a welcoming two-site Catholic family rooted in the village and hamlet communities of northern Rensselaer County — Schaghticoke's 1839-era Catholic heritage and Speigletown's 1970-founded neighborhood — and at the Schaghticoke site Catholics will find Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses, weekday Communion services, a Reconciliation schedule, and a chapel at Speigletown for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. The parish actively forms children and adults (Faith Formation K–10, RCIA), runs a Ministry of Service and Justice that supplies Thanksgiving and Easter baskets and supports Catholic Relief Services / Catholic Charities, sustains a Knights of Columbus council, and live-streams Saturday Mass for the homebound. It's the kind of small-Rensselaer-County parish where you'll quickly recognize names, serve your neighbors in real ways, and still draw on Mass traditions and devotional art passed down for nearly two centuries.
Mass times at Transfiguration Parish (Schaghticoke location)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–3:45 pm at the Speigletown Site (parish website)
- Saturday 3:00 pm Speigletown (Diocese of Albany listing)
Adoration times
- The Speigletown chapel is available for prayer and quiet reflection in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament
Our History
Transfiguration Parish is the latest chapter in nearly two centuries of Catholic life in northern Rensselaer County. The parish traces its roots to St. John's, Schaghticoke, founded September 6, 1839 — eight years before the Diocese of Albany itself was established. From that parish, St. Monica's (late 1860s) and Our Lady of Good Counsel (1889) grew as mission churches; in 1888, St. Monica's was raised to parish status and itself took on missions at Buskirk (St. Bridget's) and Pittstown (St. George's, which became its own parish in 1917).
- 1839 — St. John's founded in Schaghticoke (September 6)
- Late 1860s — St. Monica's mission church established from St. John's
- 1888 — St. Monica's becomes a parish; takes on missions St. Bridget's (Buskirk) and St. George's (Pittstown)
- 1889 — Our Lady of Good Counsel mission church established from St. John's
- 1917 — St. George's, Pittstown, becomes a separate parish
- November 13, 1970 — St. Bonaventure's Parish founded in Speigletown
- April 22, 2001 — St. John's, St. Monica's, and Our Lady of Good Counsel merge to form the Church of the Holy Trinity
- July 1, 2010 — Holy Trinity and St. Bonaventure's merge to form Transfiguration Parish under 'Called to be Church'
Sacred Heritage Carried Forward
Sacred art and devotional items from the predecessor parishes have been preserved. The Schaghticoke church's stained-glass windows were donated by the first ten pastors of St. Monica's Church, and the Stations of the Cross in Schaghticoke were hand-carved in Italy for St. Monica's and remain as fixtures carried through the 2001 and 2010 mergers.
Worship Sites & Facilities
Transfiguration Parish operates two distinct worship sites. The Schaghticoke church (17 South Main Street, Schaghticoke, NY 12154) preserves the older devotional heritage of the area's nineteenth-century Catholic foundations. The Speigletown site (50 Hillview Drive, Troy, NY 12182) is the administrative hub and is home to the rectory, offices, Faith Formation classrooms, a large parish hall, an outdoor patio and barbecue pit (added to enhance community life), and a separate chapel for prayer and quiet reflection in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
- Schaghticoke site — 17 South Main Street, Schaghticoke, NY 12154
- Speigletown site (offices & rectory) — 50 Hillview Drive, Troy, NY 12182
- Speigletown chapel — reserved for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament
- Speigletown parish hall — with outdoor patio and BBQ pit
Livestream for the Homebound
The parish live-streams its 4:00 pm Saturday Mass from Speigletown to its Facebook page and YouTube channel, and the recordings are archived on the parish website. The parish notes that for some homebound parishioners 'the televised Mass is the only Mass they attend all week,' and the parish actively seeks volunteers to help operate the streaming computer for this ministry.
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC65S8ALJ_rRdZ4en_MXDE7Q
- Available on the parish Facebook page
- Recordings linked on the parish website
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is offered for children in grades K–10, with regular sessions held at the Schaghticoke site (e.g., 10:00 am sessions listed on the parish calendar). The program is split by grade band, with separate coordinators.
- Grades K–5 — Coordinator Toni Fogarty (518-569-3383; [email protected])
- Grades 6–10 — Coordinator Jim Johnson (518-788-8902; [email protected])
- Sessions at 10:00 am at the Schaghticoke site
- Adult RCIA — inquiries through the parish office (518-235-0337)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Baptism, and Marriage, and offers preparation for each. Baptisms and weddings are arranged by calling the church office; marriage preparation is required for all couples and should be arranged at least six months in advance.
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:30–3:45 pm at Speigletown
- Baptism — arrangements via the church office; Baptismal Preparation available
- Marriage — at least 6 months advance notice; marriage preparation program required
- RCIA — for adults exploring the Catholic faith
Parish Staff & Lay Leadership
The parish team includes the Sacramental Minister, a Parish Life Coordinator (a diocesan staff role supporting parish life), administrative assistants, Faith Formation coordinators, trustees, and volunteer ministry leaders.
- Sacramental Minister — Father Ed Kacerguis
- Parish Life Coordinator — Elizabeth Thayer ([email protected])
- Administrative Assistants / Bulletin — Brad Fogarty & Mary Ellen Crucetti ([email protected])
- Faith Formation Coordinators — Toni Fogarty (K–5) & Jim Johnson (6–10)
- Trustees — Teresa Beamish, Margaret Rice
- Cleaning & Maintenance — Marge and Ken Stronach
Ministry of Service and Justice
The Justice and Service Committee works to involve the whole parish in Catholic Social Teaching through concrete acts of charity and justice. Annual projects include collecting and distributing Thanksgiving dinner baskets, Easter baskets for children at local elementary schools, and adopting families at Christmas. The committee works in solidarity with Catholic organizations and humanitarian efforts such as Catholic Relief Services, Food for the Poor, and Catholic Charities USA. Donation boxes at the church entrances also support local schools that send home weekend food with children in need.
- Thanksgiving dinner baskets for community members
- Easter baskets for children at local elementary schools
- Adopt-a-Family at Christmas
- Partnerships with Catholic Relief Services, Food for the Poor, Catholic Charities USA
- Ongoing food donation boxes for local schools' weekend backpack programs
Ministry of Administration and Finance
A set of committees under the Ministry of Administration and Finance supports the operational life of both worship sites and the parish mission. Members of these committees consult with the pastor, assist with buildings and grounds, communications, financial planning, and pastoral discernment.
- Buildings and Grounds — maintains both sites; plans and supervises projects
- Clerical Assistance — supports the office staff and mailings
- Communications — publicizes liturgical, spiritual, and social events
- Communications – Website — maintains the parish website and calendar
- Finance Committee — advises the pastor on budgeting, savings, investments
- Pastoral Council — meets monthly with the pastor; members discerned yearly for two-year terms
Knights of Columbus
Transfiguration Parish hosts a council of the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic fraternal service organization. The parish contact for the council is Louis N. Chmielewski.
- Council contact: Louis N. Chmielewski ([email protected])
Cemetery
Inquiries about parish cemetery matters are directed through the main parish office at 518-235-0337.
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The parish's administrative offices are located at 50 Hillview Drive, Troy, NY 12182, and are open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. The Schaghticoke church sits at 17 South Main Street in the village. Phone 518-235-0337; fax 518-235-8726; email [email protected]. Saturday Mass from Speigletown is live-streamed to the parish's Facebook page and YouTube channel, with recordings available on the parish website.
- Phone: 518-235-0337
- Fax: 518-235-8726
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
- Facebook: Transfiguration Parish page (livestream)
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC65S8ALJ_rRdZ4en_MXDE7Q
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Pastors of St. John's, Schaghticoke (founded 1839)1839–2001
First Catholic parish in Schaghticoke, predating the Diocese of Albany; merged with St. Monica's and Our Lady of Good Counsel to form the Church of the Holy Trinity on April 22, 2001.
- Pastors of St. Monica's (mission from St. John's, 1860s)Late 1860s–1888 mission; 1888–2001 parish
First ten pastors of St. Monica's donated the stained-glass windows now at the Schaghticoke worship site.
- Pastors of Our Lady of Good Counsel (mission from St. John's)1889–2001
Merged with St. John's and St. Monica's into Holy Trinity in 2001.
- Pastors of the Church of the Holy Trinity2001–2010
Formed April 22, 2001 by the merger of St. John's, St. Monica's, and Our Lady of Good Counsel.
- Pastors of St. Bonaventure's, Speigletown1970–2010
Parish founded November 13, 1970; merged into Transfiguration Parish on July 1, 2010.
- Father Ed Kacerguis (Sacramental Minister)Current
Listed as Sacramental Minister on the parish website.