From Georges Place to an 800-Seat Church on Carman Road
St. Madeleine Sophie Parish traces its beginning to November 26, 1939, when Bishop Gibbons celebrated the first Mass in Georges Place, a rented dance hall on a country road in western Albany County. The congregation took the name of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, a French foundress born in Joigny on December 12, 1779, who labored for more than sixty years to build Catholic schools through the Society of the Sacred Heart, founded in Paris on November 21, 1800. She was beatified in 1908 and canonized in 1925, fourteen years before Bishop Gibbons started the parish in her honor. A small white church was dedicated on April 15, 1951, and the population around it grew steadily for half a century. In 2003, Bishop Howard Hubbard consecrated a new 800-seat church on the existing 27-acre parish complex, the building most parishioners fill today. The parish counts about 2,300 families.
St. Gabriel the Archangel: A Parish Born from a Growing Suburb
At 3040 Hamburg Street, St. Gabriel the Archangel was established on June 8, 1956, when Father Joseph Honan was named the founding pastor. The first Mass was held in the Carman Fire Hall on June 10, and the newly built church opened its doors on November 3, 1957, with 500 founding families. Vatican II reshaped the parish in the 1970s, bringing a parish council, liturgical renewal, and a choir that moved from the loft to the main floor to be closer to the assembly. Father Leo Markert, the pastor with the longest tenure, expanded ministry opportunities, especially for youth, and opened the rectory and parish activities to all. St. Gabriel's celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 4, 2006. The parish honors the messenger archangel described in both Testaments, who announced the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, and whose feast day falls on September 29.
The "Called to Be Church" Linking
Following the Albany Diocese's "Called to Be Church" initiative launched in October 2006, Bishop Howard Hubbard announced in January 2009 that St. Gabriel the Archangel would be linked to St. Madeleine Sophie. Mrs. Annette Brooks became St. Gabriel's Parish Life Director, while Rev. James Belogi and Rev. Robert Powhida served as Sacramental Ministers. In 2010, the Faith Formation programs were combined under Donna Simone as Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation, with Alex Saucedo assisting at St. Gabriel's. The parishes began sharing Mass schedules, the Easter Triduum, and liturgical ministers, and joined the diocesan three-year "Amazing God" Evangelization Initiative with themes including "God is Love" and "Filled with the Spirit." The "Re-Igniting Faith" diocesan initiative shapes the work of both parishes in new forms of evangelization.
Mass Schedule Across the Linked Community
St. Madeleine Sophie and St. Gabriel the Archangel form a parish network with Our Lady Queen of Peace and St. Margaret of Cortona, sharing Sunday and weekday Mass coverage across the western Schenectady area. The Saturday Vigil is offered at 4:00 PM at St. Madeleine Sophie. Sunday Masses are celebrated at 7:30 AM at St. Gabriel the Archangel, 9:00 AM at St. Madeleine Sophie (livestreamed), 10:30 AM at St. Gabriel the Archangel, and 7:00 PM at St. Madeleine Sophie. Weekday Masses are scheduled at 9:00 AM at St. Gabriel on Monday and Thursday and at 9:00 AM at St. Madeleine Sophie on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Weekday Masses at 7:30 AM are also available at Our Lady Queen of Peace on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Sacraments of Reconciliation, Adoration, and Healing
Confessions are heard every Saturday at 3:00 PM at St. Madeleine Sophie and every Sunday at 11:40 AM at St. Gabriel the Archangel, with no appointment needed. Appointments can also be arranged through the parish offices for either church. Every second Monday from 6 to 8 PM, St. Madeleine Sophie opens its doors for Eucharistic Adoration, an invitation the parish extends to anyone longing to "go away with Him to a quiet place and rest for a while" in "quiet prayer and adoration," refreshed by "His most merciful gaze." Confessions are offered during this time. The Anointing of the Sick is available on request.
Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact the parish office six months to a year in advance. Parents preparing for a child's Baptism are asked to call at least six weeks ahead for Baptismal instructions. Adults and older children seeking membership in the Roman Catholic Church are welcomed through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), with the sacraments celebrated at the Easter Vigil. Those discerning Holy Orders or Religious Life are referred to the Office of Vocations at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.
Faith Formation from Nursery through Confirmation
Faith Formation is coordinated across both parishes under Donna Simone and Terri Bouchard, both serving as Pastoral Associates for Faith Formation. Children in Grades 1-5 and Grades 6-10 follow annual calendars for their catechetical classes, with an 8th grade class led by Catechist Brian Sheridan. First Eucharist and Confirmation are available to students who have met the program requirements. A parallel OCIA track serves older students and adults seeking Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation.
Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) is offered during Sunday Masses, allowing younger children to hear the Sunday readings at their own level. The Mohawk Catholic Young Adult Group for ages 18-39 meets monthly for Bible study, gathering at St. Gabriel's church basement to discuss how effective prayer can drive a deeper relationship with God. The Albany branch of the Christ Child Society, which meets at the parishes, produces layettes for newborns in need, comfort bags for women and children in shelters, and holiday gifts and meals for area families with children.
Music Ministry and the Livestream
Justine Crevatas serves as Music Director for both parishes and welcomes singers, instrumentalists, and musical friends of all abilities. St. Gabriel the Archangel has an Adult Choir for ages 18 and up and a Youth/Teen Ensemble. St. Madeleine Sophie offers the Joyful Heart Choir, an adult ensemble that rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 7 PM and leads music three times a month at the 9 AM Mass and once a month at the 4 PM Mass, a Youth Choir for children and teens in Grades 2-12 (rehearsing twice a month on Sundays from 10:15 to 11:30 AM and singing once a month at the 9 AM Mass), and the Resurrection Choir, which meets on an as-needed basis to provide musical comfort at funerals.
The 9 AM Sunday Mass at St. Madeleine Sophie is livestreamed, along with Holy Days, Confirmation, Christmas, and funerals and weddings upon request. Anna Hartz coordinates the Livestream Ministry, with training provided and no special skills required. Archived Masses are available on Vimeo, and a "Furthering Your Faith" video series continues on YouTube.
Hands-On Service in the Capital Region
Both parishes put faith into action through a network of Christian Service ministries. The Family Promise Ministry assists homeless families during host weeks, with volunteers needed for meal preparation, overnight stays, and fellowship. The Twinning Group prepares monthly meals for the St. John's / St. Ann's Welcome Table, where parishioners also serve lunch on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM. The Salvation Army Soup Kitchen in Schenectady is served every four to six weeks and typically feeds about 150 people.
Parish food pantries provide food and emergency assistance to local families, with additional food baskets and gift cards at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The Homebound Parishioner Visitation ministry brings Communion and a caring presence to those unable to attend Mass due to illness or disability, with training and support provided. Works of Mercy, a separate initiative, partners with county agencies to connect those in need with others. The Women's Club meets monthly in the St. Gabriel gym for fellowship, friendship, and food, with leadership from President Joanne Russell.
St. Madeleine Sophie School
St. Madeleine Sophie School, opened in 1960 through the enterprising efforts of a group of parents, now serves the Guilderland and Schenectady area from 3510 Carman Road under Principal Kelly Sloan. The school includes a 3 and 4 year old nursery and pre-K program, a computer lab, after-school care, and a summer camp. The multi-use parish center, dedicated on May 21, 1977, was built with the help of enthusiastic and skilled parishioners and continues to host year-round parish, school, faith formation, youth ministry, and community activities.
Visiting and Getting Connected
St. Madeleine Sophie is at 3500 Carman Road, Schenectady, NY 12303, reachable at 518-355-0421 or parishoffice@smsparish.org. St. Gabriel the Archangel is at 3040 Hamburg Street, Schenectady, NY 12303, at 518-355-6600 or stgaberectory@aol.com. St. Madeleine Sophie School is at 3510 Carman Road (518-355-3080). Online giving is available through WeShare for each parish, the MyParish App brings bulletins, schedules, and announcements to a phone, and the parishes are active on Facebook and YouTube.